John Deere has announced a significant milestone: its innovative ‘See & Spray’ technology was utilized across more than five million acres of farmland during the 2025 growing season. This achievement, representing a land area larger than the state of New Jersey, underscores the rapidly growing adoption of precision agriculture solutions by farmers seeking greater efficiency and sustainability.
A Landmark Season for Precision Weed Control
The 2025 growing season marked a pivotal year for John Deere’s ‘See & Spray’ system, with customer applications spanning over five million acres in the United States. This widespread use translated into substantial environmental and economic benefits, including an average reduction of nearly 50% in non-residual herbicide application. This significant decrease resulted in the saving of approximately 31 million gallons of herbicide mix, even amidst a season characterized by elevated weed pressure and frequent rains.
The Technology Behind Targeted Application
Launched in 2021, ‘See & Spray’ employs advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision to identify and target weeds with remarkable precision. Boom-mounted cameras, paired with onboard processors, scan fields at speeds up to 15 miles per hour, analyzing over 2,500 square feet per second. Upon detecting a weed, the system instantly triggers individual spray nozzles via John Deere’s ExactApply™ technology, ensuring herbicide is applied only where needed, not broadcast across the entire field.
Quantifiable Economic and Environmental Wins
The direct impact for farmers is significant. Beyond the considerable reduction in herbicide volume, which lowers input costs, the precision application also leads to improved crop health and increased yields. Field studies conducted in seven states, involving third-party researchers and universities, demonstrated an average yield bump of 2 bushels per acre in soybean crops, with some fields reaching an increase of up to 4.8 bushels per acre when compared to traditional broadcast spraying. This reduction in crop stress and phytotoxicity contributes directly to better economic returns.
Evolution, Adoption, and New Guarantees
‘See & Spray’ technology is available as a factory-installed option or as a Precision Upgrade kit for compatible John Deere and Hagie sprayers manufactured from 2018 onwards. For the 2025 season, users received free software updates introducing new features such as Above-Canopy Spray Support and expanded corn row spacing capabilities, alongside faster operating speeds. To further bolster customer confidence and value, John Deere introduced the “Application Savings Guarantee” in 2025. This model means farmers and custom applicators pay for the technology based on proven savings, aligning cost with performance.
A Broader Landscape of Agricultural Innovation
The widespread adoption of ‘See & Spray’ is a testament to the broader trending movement towards precision agriculture and autonomous farming. Industry-wide, innovations in 2025 continue to focus on enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and addressing labor shortages. John Deere itself is actively developing other autonomous equipment, including tractors and specialized sprayers for orchards. While ‘See & Spray’ primarily targets common row crops, the underlying technology of precise plant identification and application is part of a growing suite of advanced tools equipping the agricultural sector for diverse challenges and specialized crop management, potentially expanding applications beyond traditional uses. The evolution of these agricultural equipment tools signifies a future where data-driven decisions and automated processes are standard.
The Future of Farming is Precise
John Deere’s ‘See & Spray’ technology crossing the five million-acre threshold in 2025 is more than just a usage statistic; it represents a significant step forward in sustainable and profitable farming. By enabling farmers to apply inputs precisely where and when they are needed, the technology delivers tangible benefits in cost savings, yield enhancement, and environmental stewardship, setting a new benchmark for crop protection equipment.
