John Deere Releases Sprayer Updates, New Rate Controller 3

John Deere announced updates to the John Deere and Hagie sprayer lineups — upgrades developed to give farmers cleaner fields with less weed competition, and more yield potential.

“Application equipment makes an average of three passes over the same field during a growing season,” said Josh Ladd, John Deere go-to-market manager for application. “The updates we are bringing to farmers this season are designed to help them save on input costs and reduce crop damage – two things that help a farmer’s bottom line.”

See & Spray Updates

See & Spray Select Variable Rate

See & Spray technology continues to provide additional options for farmers looking to reduce inputs and improve targeted weed control. See & Spray Select has historically been used to control weeds in fallow fields. New variable rate capabilities unlock opportunities for precise application and product savings in later-season fungicide, desiccant, pre-harvest passes, and more. 

Farmers can now see the percentage of biomass each camera detects throughout the field. Each camera rates the amount of green biomass detected and varies the volume of product applied by percentage. Farmers then adjust how much product they wish to apply on an individual nozzle level based on the green biomass percentages, giving them the ability to apply product where it is most needed. Variable rate capabilities will require a G5 or G5+ CommandCenter display.

See & Spray Select will be available from the factory on model year 2026 John Deere 400 and 600 series sprayers with 90-, 100-, or 120-foot steel booms. See & Spray Select also will be available as a precision upgrade kit for model year 2018 and newer John Deere sprayers with ExactApply and a 120-foot steel boom.

“The new variable rate option with See & Spray technology gives small-grain farmers the versatility to apply less or more of a solution based on the given scenario,” Ladd said. “This allows the farmer the ability to precisely apply product no matter the time of season.”

See & Spray Premium

An update to See & Spray Premium technology is the addition of new boom sizes. Available as a precision upgrade, See & Spray Premium will now be available in 90-, 100-, or 120-foot booms. Also new: See & Spray Premium will be available on Hagie STS20 sprayers.

AutoTrac Updates

Preventing crop damage is key during the application process. Deere application equipment has two new options available to reduce operator stress and provide a more seamless application experience. AutoTrac Turn Automation (ATTA) and AutoTrac Vision 2.0 help provide consistent passes across the field with each application.

AutoTrac Turn Automation

This technology is now available on John Deere and Hagie sprayers, helping ensure consistent and accurate turns at the end of each pass. ATTA accurately steers the sprayer along a guidance line at the end of a field pass, guiding the machine into the next section of the field. This technology allows the sprayer operator to focus on managing the sprayer booms, adjusting height and position in relation to obstacles in and around the field, while also controlling the machine’s speed. ATTA allows the operator to plan the shape of their turns while helping reduce crop trampling and leading to potential yield improvement.

ATTA is compatible with John Deere 400 and 600 series self-propelled sprayers, 800R floaters, and Hagie STS12, STS16 and STS20 sprayers, model year 2022 and newer. This new feature is included with Automation 4.0 on Gen4 displays and the G5 Advanced license for machines that have a G5 display.

AutoTrac Vision 2.0

AutoTrac Vision 2.0 transforms crop management by ensuring sprayer wheels remain centered within each row, significantly minimizing crop damage and enhancing yields. This system enables sprayers to operate at faster spraying speeds while maintaining precise control, allowing for timely operations during tight application windows. As a result, operators can maximize efficiency by concentrating less on steering and more on the tasks at hand.

AutoTrac Vision 2.0 features a maximum speed of 22 mph, slope performance of up to 6°, and the ability to navigate curves with a radius of just 50 meters. The system features a cab-mounted stereo camera array in conjunction with an under-chassis mono camera, ensuring visibility. The camera system is capable of detecting crop heights as low as 4 inches and can effectively manage up to 90% canopy coverage. AutoTrac Vision 2.0 technology is available on model year 2026 John Deere sprayers as a factory option.

ExactApply Updates

Technology improvements to help farmers more accurately apply product is key in helping improve yields. Deere has introduced ExactApply Variable Rate capabilities, including Multi-Rate across the boom with AutoSelect Pulsing (and A+B pulse width modulation nozzle switching). With AutoSelect pulsing enabled, sprayer operators can now vary multiple application rates across the entire boom — up to 11 unique sections, leading to more precise product placement. Operators also will have increased rate range for variable rate prescriptions and curve compensation. This technology is available as a software update for model year 2023–2025 sprayers, and model year 2026 will come installed with updated software features and functions.

 Rate Controller 3

The John Deere Rate Controller 3 creates an option to control two liquid and/or anhydrous ammonia (NH3) products and up to 16 sections. It builds upon the current foundation of precision ag technology components, including the Precision Essentials kit that contains the G5 or G5Plus universal display, StarFire 7500 receiver, and JDLink M or R modem. 

The Rate Controller 3 features an app within the John Deere display menu. This app will give farmers a similar experience as operating a self-propelled sprayer with a controller with a built-in base from the factory. With this new experience, farmers can now monitor their planter and rate controller functions on one screen on the display to execute adjustments.   

Two products (liquid or NH3) can be applied simultaneously, decreasing the number of trips through the field. With rising input costs, this controller is designed to help farmers of all types improve efficiency. The rate controller is suitable for a variety of users, including row crops, ranches, high-value crops, and golf courses. It is fully compatible with Gen 4 v2 and G5 displays. 

The rate controller has a new harness and 48-pin connector, which expands compatibility with third-party equipment. This connector also creates a strong seal for better protection of the wiring from weather or other damage. 

For more information, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit deere.com.