SenseSpray® green-on-brown-spot spraying technology, first released on 50 series Patriot® models, is now available to owners of Case IH 30 and 40 series Patriot sprayers.
SenseSpray uses intelligent cameras to detect growing plants on a soil or stubble background, and when a weed is detected, the system rapidly triggers individual nozzles to spray weeds with pinpoint accuracy.
Case IH announced its collaboration with Australian technology company, Agtecnic, on the integrated weed control solution in August 2023.
Under the collaboration, SenseSpray was incorporated into purpose-built kits that customers could have fitted to Case IH Patriot 50 series sprayers. Case IH and SenseSpray have since developed new kits to support older generation Patriot 30 and 40 Series sprayers, making advanced weed control technology available to more operators.
“When the collaboration was announced, there were four kits designed for the 50 series: the 36-metre tri-fold and the 41m bi-fold, either with AIM Command Flex 2 or without AIM Command Flex 2. Since then, we now have kits that support older 30 and 40 series Patriots as well,” said SenseSpray Business Manager, Richard Blanshard.
Richard said there had been a good take-up of the SenseSpray technology in the past couple of years, with customers praising a variety of factors benefiting their business operations.
“First and foremost, they’re saving on their input costs because they're only spraying where there are weeds. And with that comes increased efficiencies as well. The other thing they comment on is the simplicity. It's a really simple and easy system to use. And they like being able to switch from broad blanket spraying to spot-spraying mode, really at the touch of a button,” Richard said.
“It takes less than 30 seconds, unlike other systems where there's a lot more complexity around it and it does take longer to switch between the two modes. With our system, it's just a matter of switching modes, setting your variable rate pressure, and your speed, and away you go.”
Richard said customers also appreciated the increase in their weed management options.
“If you’re blanket spraying, there’s a lot of chemical, and cost, involved in that. If you’re able to spot spray, then there’s the flexibility of using a more expensive chemical they may not normally use in a blanket spraying situation. So, this technology is really giving them another tool in their toolbox,” he said.
Wade Smith, Case IH Product & Portfolio Manager – Crop Production, said expanding SenseSpray compatibility to earlier Patriot models marks a significant step forward in making advanced weed control technology more accessible.
“By expanding SenseSpray to earlier Patriot models, we’re enabling more growers to take advantage of precision spraying without needing to upgrade their entire fleet,” Wade said.
“This technology has proven its value in reducing chemical use and improving weed targeting. Now, those benefits are accessible to a wider range of operators.”
Local Case IH dealers can order and fit SenseSpray kits to applicable Patriot sprayer models. For more information visit caseih.com.