14 Spraying equipment is entering one of the most transformative periods the North American agricultural sector has seen in decades. Once defined primarily by tank size, boom width, and horsepower, sprayers are now becoming rolling platforms for automation, computer vision, and nozzle‑level precision. The shift is being driven by a combination of economic pressure, herbicide resistance, environmental expectations, and the simple reality that growers need more accuracy from every pass. As a result, the sprayer has evolved from a high‑capacity machine into a data‑rich, sensor‑driven application system capable of making real‑time decisions in the field. John Deere: Integrated Intelligence and Scalable Upgrades John Deere continues to anchor the North American spraying market with a dual‑path strategy: factory‑installed intelligence on new machines and modular upgrade kits for existing fleets. At the center of this approach is the See & Spray Gen 2 platform, one of the most advanced commercial uses of computer vision and machine learning in crop production. Boom‑mounted cameras and high‑speed processors scan fields in real time, distinguishing weeds from crops with sub‑inch accuracy and activating individual nozzles only when needed. This allows operators to maintain broadcast‑level hit rates while significantly reducing herbicide use. The system is available in multiple configurations. See & Spray Gen 2 is factory‑installed on 400 and 600 Series sprayers for in‑crop targeted spraying. See & Spray Select, offered as a retrofit kit, brings optical spot‑spraying to fallow and pre‑plant acres, extending precision capabilities to older machines. At the top end, See & Spray Ultimate uses high‑definition cameras, dual tanks, and advanced processing to deliver simultaneous broadcast and targeted spraying, enabling operators to apply residuals while spot‑treating non‑residual herbicides in a single pass. Across all versions, the platform is designed to reduce input costs, improve weed control, and generate actionable field data. Deere reports that See & Spray systems have been deployed on millions of acres, cutting non‑residual herbicide use by nearly half in some operations. Deere also offers the Smart Apply intelligent spray system, an upgrade kit that enhances precision and performance for air‑blast sprayers in orchards and vineyards. Case IH: Automation and Precision Through SenseApply and AIM Command FLEX II Case IH centers its spraying strategy on two core technologies—AIM Command FLEX II and SenseApply—both designed to deliver consistent, high‑accuracy application through pulse‑width modulation and real‑time system responsiveness. AIM Command FLEX II is the company’s most advanced PWM (pulse-width-modulation) platform, giving operators nozzle‑level control of pressure, droplet size, and application rate across a wide range of speeds. By pulsing each nozzle up to 100 times per second, the system maintains a stable droplet spectrum even as ground speed changes, reducing drift and improving coverage. FLEX II also incorporates turn compensation, automatically adjusting flow across the boom during headland turns to prevent under‑ and over‑application. SenseApply builds on this foundation by adding continuous sensing and automated rate correction. Using pressure, flow, and machine‑position data, PRECISION SPRAYING 2026 A look at the latest models, technologies, and retrofit paths reshaping North American applications. ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM PHOTOS: John Deere, Case IH, AGCO, New Holland, Horsch
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