Farmer Cuts Herbicide Costs with Smart Spray Kit

Tyler Troiola is continuing a family legacy of agricultural innovation by adopting smart spray technology on his 2,800-acre corn, soybean and wheat farm near Eagle, Wisconsin. This decision aligns with an enduring commitment to cutting-edge farming practices that his uncles first adopted at the National No-Tillage Conference in 1993. 

“My uncles attended the inaugural National No-Tillage Conference. Consequently, our family has been no-tilling for over three decades now,” says Troiola. His interest in smart spray technology was sparked when he too attended this conference thirty years later in Indianapolis. 

“The conference had several presentations about smart sprayers," explains Troiola. Initially skeptical about this new tech's benefits, hearing other farmers talk about cost savings turned him into a convert. He also realized that adopting such technologies early could help them cut down on herbicide usage before it’s regulated further – a real concern given atrazine use restrictions already present in some Wisconsin counties. 

For the upcoming growing season of 2024, Tyler decided to try John Deere See & Spray after consulting with his agronomist and friends. The $25k system can be installed on John Deere sprayers as old as model year 2018 equipped with ExactApply nozzle systems - ideal for retrofitting onto Tyler's existing equipment rather than buying new machinery. 

“Being no-till farmers means we don't have to buy much new equipment; hence we can invest more in advanced technology," he notes while highlighting how vital their sprayer is due to its frequent usage compared to other farm machinery. 

While See & Spray Ultimate comes factory-installed on newer models and arguably offers superior functionality (like simultaneous targeted spraying), it wasn’t within Tyler's budget constraints. Instead, he chose the Premium version which allows either target or broadcast spraying options across entire fields using its single-tank boom system. 

However, not everything went smoothly during installation: "Deere told us it would take up to 80 hours," Troiola says. "We laughed and said, 'No way.' But Deere was correct. It took nearly two weeks because it's their first such installation." 

Despite the initial hurdles and potential challenges ahead - like timing issues related to crop size or heavy residue interference from cereal rye in no-till situations – Tyler remains optimistic about his decision. 

He expects that additional sprayer passes might be needed this season as he navigates through these new technological waters. He also notes that many products currently lack label rates for See & Spray usage, which need addressing soon. 

Still, despite all uncertainties, Tyler is hopeful about the technology’s future on his farm: “I'm hoping the chemical savings will ultimately pay for the cost of the technology," he says optimistically. 

After calibration by the dealership, Troiola plans to use See & Spray for his second sprayer pass in June. His journey with this smart spraying tech will undoubtedly provide valuable insights into its practicality within a no-till context using cover crops - so stay tuned for part 2 of this feature! 

As an innovative farmer willing to embrace change and adopt new technologies early on, Troiola represents a growing cohort of agriculturalists who understand that innovation can not only lead to greater efficiencies but also serve as a buffer against impending environmental regulations. As we anticipate updates on his experiences with smart spray technology over time, it's clear there are lessons here applicable beyond just one Wisconsin farm.