Deere acquires Smart Apply

MOLINE, Ill.— Deere & Company has acquired Smart Apply, Inc., a precision spraying equipment company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company developed the Smart Apply® Intelligent Spray Control System™, an upgrade kit that can improve the precision and performance of virtually any air-blast sprayer used in orchard, vineyard or tree nursery spraying applications. Smart Apply helps growers reduce chemical use, airborne drift and run off, while optimizing high-value crop yields and meeting sustainability objectives. John Deere has worked with Smart Apply since 2020. “This is a natural progression of the two companies’ working relationship,” said Mike Bailey, director, Small Tractor & HVC Production System at John Deere. “It’s a continuation of our commitment to high-value crop customers and dealers, further expanding a portfolio of solutions to help growers address their biggest challenges around labor, input costs, and regulatory requirements, while achieving environmental goals.” Smart Apply’s precision spraying helps achieve up to 93% less chemical runoff and up to 87% reduction in airborne drift, while reducing chemical use an average of 50%. With less chemical use, growers also average a 50% reduction in water use. Sophisticated LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology senses the presence of individual trees and vines and automatically adjusts spray volume based on foliage density to optimize protection. The system stops spraying between trees and rows, adjusting without human intervention.