Published: May 6, 2025
Updated: May 6, 2025
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In the agricultural industry, the challenge of managing herbicide-resistant weeds continues to grow each season. At Koenig Equipment, we're committed to bringing our Customers the latest innovations that help tackle these challenges while improving efficiency and reducing costs. John Deere's See & Spray technology represents a significant advancement in precision agriculture, and we're excited to share insights from industry experts about how this technology is transforming weed management strategies.
Expert Insights from the Field
Recently, Stephen Schwartz, the Agronomic Value Lead with John Deere, hosted a discussion featuring Dan Hartman, a fourth-generation farmer from DeKalb, Illinois, and Dr. Bryan Young, a weed science professor from Purdue University with over 30 years of experience. Their conversation provided valuable perspectives on implementing See & Spray technology and optimizing weed management practices.
Understanding the Core Principles of Effective Weed Management
Dr. Young emphasized that the fundamentals of good weed management remain unchanged with See & Spray technology. "See & Spray doesn't move us away from herbicide resistance management. It really reinforces what we need to do for herbicide resistance management," he explained. "The stronger that residual herbicide, the greater benefit you're going to see on the See & Spray side for the spray savings."
This reinforces what our team at Koenig Equipment has always advocated - strong residual herbicide programs are the foundation of effective weed control. What See & Spray adds is the ability to make these programs more economical and potentially more effective.
The Economics of Precision Spraying
One of the most compelling aspects of See & Spray technology is its ability to reduce herbicide costs while potentially enabling the use of premium products that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive in a broadcast application.
Dr. Young illustrated this point with an example: Status, a premium dicamba product that offers superior control of resistant weeds like waterhemp, costs between $24-48 per acre at effective rates - significantly more than what many farmers typically budget for post-emergence programs in corn. However, with See & Spray, farmers can apply the full rate of this premium product while still achieving substantial savings.
Real-World Experience and Strategies
Dan Hartman shared his first-year experience implementing See & Spray Premium on his operation. Initially, there was hesitation from his agronomists about changing established herbicide programs. "The biggest challenge I found is I didn't know how to use it," Dan explained. "I knew it would work, but I didn't know how to change my herbicide program to make it worthwhile."
Dan developed a modified program for his soybeans:
1. A pre-emergence broadcast application (standard practice)
2. A post-emergence broadcast of residual herbicide (Warrant) three weeks later
3. A final pass with See & Spray using Liberty, Roundup, and Clethodim
This three-pass system actually cost less than his previous two-pass system while providing better weed control. The See & Spray system delivered an impressive 66% reduction in herbicide application on his bean acres.
Reducing Crop Injury While Maintaining Control
Dr. Young's research demonstrated another significant benefit: reduced crop injury. In a study using Cobra herbicide, known for causing significant soybean injury, the See & Spray application showed dramatically less crop response compared to broadcast application, while still controlling the target weeds. This reduced injury translated to a 4-bushel yield increase.
Dan confirmed this observation from his own fields, noting visible differences where the See & Spray system had activated versus areas where it hadn't.
Optimizing Tank Mixtures
The See & Spray Ultimate system, with its dual tank capability, offers additional advantages for herbicide applications. Dr. Young demonstrated how the system can overcome antagonism between herbicides like Clethodim (for volunteer corn control) and dicamba/glyphosate mixtures by keeping these products in separate tanks.
Research Backing the Technology
University studies have validated the effectiveness of See & Spray, with research from the University of Arkansas showing:
- Targeted applications provided comparable control to broadcast applications with less than 1% decrease in efficacy
- Overall weed control exceeding 93% across multiple species
- Herbicide savings ranging from 28% to 62%
Let us Help You Plan Your Success
We want to provide our Customers with not just equipment, but the knowledge and support to maximize its value. The See & Spray technology represents a powerful tool in the fight against herbicide-resistant weeds, offering economic, environmental, and agronomic benefits.
Our team of Optimization Specialists are ready to help you determine how this technology might fit into your operation and develop customized strategies that address your specific weed management challenges. We're not just here to sell equipment - we're committed to being your partner in finding solutions that enhance your operation's efficiency and productivity.
If you're interested in learning more about See & Spray technology and how it might benefit your operation, we invite you to contact your local Koenig Equipment representative. We've been serving our farming communities since 1904, and you can count on us to provide the personalized attention that ensures your unquestionable satisfaction with our products and services.