See & Spray Upgrade Kit, More Accurate StarFire Receiver Among Latest Deere Updates
John Deere on Thursday announced a series of upgrades and updates that reflect the company’s increasing focus on precision farming and autonomy.
See & Spray Premium Performance Sprayer Upgrade Kit
See & Spray Premium controls weeds with residue-free herbicides in corn, cotton, soybeans and fallow fields. Photo: John Deere
John Deere’s new See & Spray Premium performance upgrade kit for self-propelled sprayers uses an artificial intelligence-powered vision system that can help farmers achieve cost-efficiency and combat herbicide resistance through precise application, targeting only the weed and not all field is sprayed.
See & Spray Premium gives farmers access to advanced See & Spray technology that controls weeds with non-residue herbicides in corn, cotton, soybeans and fallow land. Additionally, they can use their sprayer all season long to complete application applications at standard operating speeds.
“Farmers continue to face rising input costs,” says Jordan Lang, marketing manager at John Deere. “Once a See & Spray premium performance upgrade kit is installed on their sprayer, farmers can cover more acres than before with a single tank – while spraying with precision – make fewer stops to fill and use fewer chemicals. Only weeds are sprayed, so fewer chemicals are used, which can reduce input costs. When activated, See & Spray generates an as-applied map showing exactly where the product has been applied in the field.”
See & Spray Premium is a one-tank system that simplifies tendering for the operator. While See & Spray Premium isn’t dual-product capable, Deere says it offers many of the same benefits of sprayers equipped with dual-tank See & Spray Ultimate technology.
As the sprayer moves through the field, See & Spray Premium leverages the enhanced stability of the John Deere BoomTrac Pro 2.0. This technology stabilizes the sprayer boom as boom-mounted cameras capture clear images of the field. Within milliseconds, a machine learning model uses multiple images captured by the cameras to distinguish weeds from crops. As soon as a weed is detected, a command is sent to John Deere’s ExactApply nozzle to spray it. In addition, See & Spray Premium can be used to create a weed pressure map for the field sprayed at the John Deere Operations Center.
See & Spray Premium is currently offered for 2018 model year and newer John Deere sprayers in the US and requires the machine to have a factory installed ExactApply system or ExactApply performance upgrade kit with 15″ or 20″ clearance and a 120-foot steel boom.
MY24 updates for 7, 8 and 9 series tractors
The StarFire 7000 receiver offers 73% faster response times and is 17% more accurate when using SF-RTK compared to previous models using SF3 signal. Photo: John Deere
John Deere is making MY24 updates to its 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors to prepare them for the future of precision farming. Major updates include the new StarFire 7000 integrated GPS position receiver and an all-new G5Plus CommandCenter display. Both will be included as basic equipment.
“We’ve upgraded our largest John Deere tractors with new technology to help our customers achieve the highest levels of precision farming efficiency and ease of use today, while ensuring their tractors are prepared to work autonomously for years to come” , said Ryan Jardon, director of marketing at John Deere.
The StarFire 7000 receiver offers 5-year repeatability and 73% faster response times, and is 17% more accurate when using SF-RTK than previous models using the SF3 signal. In addition, signal stability and reliability have been improved, providing the highest level of guidance and accuracy ever offered by John Deere. SF-RTK provides farmers with repeatability year after year without the need for base stations. The StarFire 7000 receiver is also offered as an aftermarket option.
New universal G5 displays
G5Plus CommandCenter display. Photo: John Deere
In the cab of the 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors, farmers will find the all-new G5Plus CommandCenter display (and optional G5Plus Extended Monitor) features a larger screen, more processing power, and faster file transfer times compared to previous displays. Compared to previous John Deere displays, the G5 universal displays offer a 35% larger viewing area, three times faster processing speed and a high-resolution screen. The G5 Universal displays come in two configurations – G5 with a 10.1-inch display and G5Plus with a 12.8-inch display. This display is also offered as an aftermarket option.
AutoTrac guidance and section control are now standard. With the G5 Advanced package, farmers can take their productivity and performance in the field to the next level with automation features such as AutoTrac™ Turn Automation, AutoPath™, Machine Sync and In-field Data Sharing. According to Deere, the G5 Advanced software license offers these features at a lower initial cost.
“Farmers can add the optional G5 Advanced package to take advantage of John Deere applications including AutoTrac Turn Automation, AutoPath, AutoTrac Implement Guidance, Machine Sync and In-Field Data Sharing,” says Jardon. “The G5 Advanced software license provides these valuable features at a lower initial cost, gets better over time, and you only pay for what your operation needs. These applications help farmers cultivate more acres per day with less time and stress. The G5 Advanced package is available as a 1 or 3 year factory option. With G5Plus Farmers can rest assured that they are using the latest and most advanced features every year.”
Factory installed ethernet, other updates
Another feature provided by John Deere is factory installed implement Ethernet. This new connection will enable broadband communication between tractors and implements in the future. John Deere also offers an Autonomy Prep Package for 8 and 9 Series tractors that ensures these machines have the known components needed for future autonomous operation.
“That includes the right gearing and visibility package, implementing Ethernet, a 330 amp alternator and other additional hardware,” says Jardon. “More components are likely needed, but the Autonomy Prep package equips these tractors with key well-known autonomy components to reduce the need in the future as autonomy becomes more widely available.”
A new right corner post display has been added in the cab of all 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors. The easy to read display features digital gauges and an illustration section to ensure these tractors can take advantage of the advanced features as they become available. A factory installed rear window tint is also available for John Deere CommandView 4 cabs to increase operator comfort while providing a better view of the screens on the brightest of days.
Other updates include the addition of 20hp for all 9RT dual track tractors. Farmers can now choose between the 9RT 490, 9RT 540 or 9RT 590.
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