Dive Brief:

• John Deere on Friday said it acquired Indianapolis precision equipment startup Smart Apply, which makes sprayer kits to lower chemical use at orchards, vineyards and tree nurseries.

• Smart Apply's Intelligent Spray Control System is marketed as a sustainable tool that growers can use to reduce chemical use, airborne drift and runoff while improving profits and yields. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

• The two companies have worked together since 2020, when Deere started selling and servicing Smart Apply’s upgrade kits. The technology can detect nearby trees and vines and adjust spray volumes autonomously, as well as record precision data for farmers.

Dive Insight: 

Deere's acquisition is part of a larger effort to address labor challenges, increased input costs and other grower issues through technological innovations. Smart Apply’s products also aim to help farmers achieve their sustainability goals.

The light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology in Smart Apply’s sprayer upgrade kits allows growers to spray different volumes based on foliage density, stopping and starting between trees and rows, without human intervention. Additionally, the software can capture a broad range of data, including dates and times, spray volumes, chemical savings, tree counts and more.

Smart Apply’s smart precision spraying technology can help farmers reduce airborne drift by 87% and chemical and water use by 50%, while achieving up to 93% less chemical runoff, according to a news release.

Founded in 2014, Smart Apply has a 20-person staff and its products are primarily sold through John Deere dealers in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and England. As part of the acquisition, Deere said it plans to expand locations where Smart Apply is sold.

“This is a natural progression of the two companies’ working relationship,” Mike Bailey, director of Small Tractor & HVC Production System at John Deere, said in a statement.

Growers can choose to share their Smart Apply data with Deere’s Operations Center farm management software to unlock new insights and support. Deere has expanded its software to link data with other companies, including through a recent partnership with Cargill to promote carbon sequestration revenue opportunities.