John Deere Introduces Updated Sprayer Technology

John Deere announced a series of updates to its model year 2027 application portfolio, delivering advancements in maneuverability, visibility and precision agriculture.

Highlights include four-wheel steering for improved handling and enhanced ag tools and insights to streamline logistics and data analysis. Most notably, John Deere introduced the next generation of its See and Spray technology, building on its foundation to expand targeted application across more crops and more operating conditions, allowing for more passes throughout the season.

The updated See and Spray Gen 2 solution is designed to support operations of all sizes, helping farmers manage rising input costs, tighter application windows and increasing weed pressure with greater confidence and flexibility at any time of day throughout the season.

"We understand the increasing pressures farmers are facing, driving them to find solutions that allow them more flexibility and the opportunity to do more with less," said Josh Ladd, marketing manager for application equipment of John Deere. "That is why we have updated See and Spray to directly address those challenges by helping farmers apply exactly what's needed, where it's needed and across more acres and more crops."

Simplified Weed Management Strategy

Model year 2027 brings one simplified and unified See and Spray Gen 2 platform that builds upon the success of select, premium and ultimate options. The integration eliminates confusion between the previous system levels, making it easier for farmers to implement See and Spray on their operation.

Farmers and custom applicators can now customize the machine to match their operation without feature compromise or compatibility challenges. They have the option to choose between a single- or dual-tank configuration and add optional features, such as full boom lighting to maximize operating time by allowing nighttime operations and ExactApply or individual nozzle control (INC) pro nozzle systems.

Precision Application for Complex Challenges

As weed resistance continues to be a challenge across various crop production systems, precision and flexibility are more critical for farmers than ever. John Deere's expanded See and Spray technology now enables targeted application across a wider range of crops, including the notable addition of wheat, barley and canola. With real-time weed detection and treatment, farmers gain the flexibility to adapt weed control strategies by crop and field conditions, maintaining effective weed control while optimizing input use and protecting profitability and supporting long-term agronomic outcomes, according to John Deere.

In addition to crop expansion, customers also will benefit from the new variable rate capability (previously only available on See and Spray select) giving farmers prescription-like application without the need to build prescriptions.

Using real-time living biomass detection from See and Spray cameras, the system automatically adjusts application rates at the nozzle level during fungicide, harvest aid/desiccation and plant growth regulator passes. This expanded capability allows farmers to improve job quality, increase productivity and extend the value of See and Spray into later-season applications, helping them make more efficient passes when timing and consistency matter most, according to John Deere.

"Season after season new challenges continue to emerge, meaning farmers must continue to adapt, as must the equipment and tools they rely on to manage their operations," Ladd said. "See and Spray now works across more crop conditions, and with features like variable rate, farmers enable their opportunity to save time, reduce costs and increase productivity when timing matters most."

Additional See and Spray-specific enhancements for MY27:

• New center-frame camera placement, on the front of the sprayer, to reduce dust interference and enhance detection accuracy for more-consistent application quality. For operators with MY18 to MY26, these cameras will be available through a precision upgrade kit.

• Higher operating speeds in targeted modes — up to 16 mph depending on crop and configuration, allowing more acres to be covered when application windows are tight.

• Optional full boom lighting enables targeted fallow application at night to extend productive hours.

The expanded See and Spray capabilities will be available on MY27 John Deere 408R, 410R, 412R, 612R and 616R sprayers. In addition, all Hagie sprayers — STS12, STS16, and STS20 — will now feature See and Spray premium as a factory-installed option.

Alongside the expanded See and Spray capabilities, John Deere is introducing several MY27 sprayer enhancements designed to improve overall productivity, operator awareness and in-field efficiency across a wider range of applications.

Designed to Move Smarter in Fields

Model year 2027 application updates also improve maneuverability with the introduction of a four-wheel steering option on the 400 Series chassis — an innovation previously available only on the Hagie sprayer lineup. The system includes a crab steer feature giving operators greater control in tight, irregular or high-value crop fields.

By allowing the rear wheels to follow the path of the front wheels on headlands, four-wheel steer reduces crop damage, compaction and drip tape disturbance while improving overall field efficiency, according to John Deere. The reduced turn radius enables easier operation in tight turnrows and challenging field shapes, helping protect yield potential.

MY27 Application Portfolio Enhancements

These updates apply across the broader John Deere application portfolio:

• ExactInject direct chemical injection system adds flexibility to manage complex chemistries while increasing productivity with less clean out and change over time between fields. This solution is available as a John Deere aftermarket option for MY27 machines.

• Enhanced G5Plus display experience simplifies setup, monitoring and in-field adjustments for operators.

• John Deere operations center integration generates weed pressure maps, as-applied data and savings insights accessible via web and mobile.

• Estimated time-to-empty and sprayer alerts help operators and tenders coordinate refills more efficiently, reducing downtime.

• SmartView camera system improves visibility around the machine, reducing blind spots and increasing operator situational awareness.

• AutoTrac Vision 2.0–ready capability for Hagie machines, available from the factory, enables enhanced guidance performance in challenging crop conditions.

John Deere remains committed to helping farmers produce more with less — less time, less cost and less complexity. The new MY27 sprayer updates and expanded See and Spray technology is another step forward in delivering smarter, more-productive application solutions across the production system.

To learn more about the latest MY27 updates to the John Deere application portfolio, visit JohnDeere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.