MFA’s See & Spray Demonstration Showed AI in Agriculture in Action
May 22, 2023 
CropLife 100 ag retailer MFA recently invited customers, media members, and other onlookers to a demonstration of the See & Spray technology equipped on one its John Deere sprayers.
For the past several months, the world-at-large has been buzzing about artificial intelligence (AI). To date, numerous technology companies have introduced rudimentary AI systems for public use, with varying degrees of success.
In the world of agriculture, AI is also beginning to make its presence felt. On May 9, ag retailer MFA invited customers, media members, and other onlookers to a demonstration of the See & Spray technology equipped on one its John Deere sprayers. According to Steve Fairchild, Director of Communications for MFA, the company organized the event to illustrate just how these kinds of AI systems will impact the marketplace going forward.
“This system on the John Deere sprayer allows us to see the operational efficiencies that are possible using AI,” said Fairchild. “Operators can then utilize this data to make better decisions.”
Chris Chinn, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, says AI systems such as See & Spray can help attract the younger generation to agriculture.
Another speaker at this event was Chris Chinn, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “This is an amazing day, to be able to witness this technology at work,” said Chinn. “I think if I had told my grandparents about what we have here today, they wouldn’t believe it.”
Chinn went on to say that in her opinion, AI systems such as See & Spray can help bring younger people back to the farm “who love this kind of technology.” It can also help with stewardship efforts by the industry when it comes to implementing sustainable farming practices.
Brenton Bartelt, a Field Service Representative for John Deere, reiterated this point during his walk-around of the See & Spray equipped John Deere sprayer. In operation, See & Spray used cameras and machine learning to spray herbicides only where weeds are present. “[The system] enables ‘green-on-green’ spraying that detects weeds from crop plants in real-time and applies the appropriate herbicide at the optimal dose,” said Bartelt. “This technology can significantly decrease the amount of non-residual herbicide needed to control weeds.”
For the past several months, the world-at-large has been buzzing about artificial intelligence (AI). To date, numerous technology companies have introduced rudimentary AI systems for public use, with varying degrees of success.
In the world of agriculture, AI is also beginning to make its presence felt. On May 9, ag retailer MFA invited customers, media members, and other onlookers to a demonstration of the See & Spray technology equipped on one its John Deere sprayers. According to Steve Fairchild, Director of Communications for MFA, the company organized the event to illustrate just how these kinds of AI systems will impact the marketplace going forward.
“This system on the John Deere sprayer allows us to see the operational efficiencies that are possible using AI,” said Fairchild. “Operators can then utilize this data to make better decisions.”
Another speaker at this event was Chris Chinn, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “This is an amazing day, to be able to witness this technology at work,” said Chinn. “I think if I had told my grandparents about what we have here today, they wouldn’t believe it.”
Chinn went on to say that in her opinion, AI systems such as See & Spray can help bring younger people back to the farm “who love this kind of technology.” It can also help with stewardship efforts by the industry when it comes to implementing sustainable farming practices.
Loading ...Brenton Bartelt, a Field Service Representative for John Deere, reiterated this point during his walk-around of the See & Spray equipped John Deere sprayer. In operation, See & Spray used cameras and machine learning to spray herbicides only where weeds are present. “[The system] enables ‘green-on-green’ spraying that detects weeds from crop plants in real-time and applies the appropriate herbicide at the optimal dose,” said Bartelt. “This technology can significantly decrease the amount of non-residual herbicide needed to control weeds.”
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