AGCO and Bosch BASF Smart Farming are developing new smart spraying technology for Fendt Rogator sprayers. The new technology will add new precision agriculture features as well as providing smart analytics features.

In May 2021, AGCO and Bosch BASF Smart Farming started the first trials of Bosch BASF Smart Farming’s Smart Spraying. This is designed to yield herbicide savings without compromising weed control. It will also enable targeted spraying during day and night-time conditions.

The system will also integrate digital tools to mine application data to improve yields and efficiency for farmers. Herbicide savings are delivered through sensoring, automated sensitivity thresholds, access to Bosch BASF Smart Farming’s pest identification technology, and the use of Fendt Rogator’s application platform.

AGCO will offer the system in the Americas and Europe starting in 2024.

Farmers will also be able to benefit from customised agronomic recommendations and reliable documentation within the same solution. The system will offer an end-to-end user experience through AGCO on-board and off-board controls and Bosch BASF Smart Farming’s integrated digital platform from xarvio Digital Farming Solutions, with insights into the data gathered during the application.

Supported crops currently include corn, soy, cotton, canola, sunflower, and sugarbeet, with capabilities for more crops such as small grains being added over time.

“The progress we have made with Bosch BASF Smart Farming in developing a sustainable solution that maintains productivity while improving profitability and delivering clean fields with maximum savings is an excellent example of AGCO’s farmer focus,” said Seth Crawford, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Precision Ag & Digital, AGCO. “We look forward to our further collaboration with Bosch BASF Smart Farming as we work together to bring this solution to farmers and custom applicators around the world.”

“What makes our system unique is the combination of superior precision, digital tools and the agronomic expertise. With a 24/7 application capability, we create exceptional green-on-green and green-on-brown performance. This type of precision agronomics offering is a breakthrough to support farmers with less impact and higher yields,” said Matt Leininger, Managing Director North America, Bosch BASF Smart Farming.