Today, farming faces big challenges. More and more people need food, but we have limited land and water. Also, the cost of farming resources like seeds and fertilizers keeps going up. Plus, everyone is more worried about protecting our environment. For a long time, farmers just spread seeds, water, and chemicals evenly across their whole fields. While effective to a degree, this approach often wastes a lot of stuff and sometimes harms the environment. This is why precision agriculture is now so important, and the newest, smartest way to farm is precision spraying.
What Is Precision Spraying?
Precision spraying is a modern way of farming that uses smart technology. Instead of spraying everything everywhere, it puts pesticides, weed killers, and fertilizers exactly where they are needed, only when they are needed, and in just the right amount. It's like giving each part of the field, or even each plant, special care. This is different from simply covering the whole field.This new way of spraying uses real-time information. It looks at things like how healthy the soil is, how well the crops are growing, or where the weeds are. This change from "spraying everything" to "spraying just right" is making a huge difference in how farmers work. It helps them save a lot of money because they use less product, and it's much better for our planet too!
The Global Trend of Precision Spraying
All over the world, farms are quickly starting to use precision spraying. Farmers everywhere are realizing that this smart technology isn't just a nice extra anymore; it's something they really need to stay competitive and farm in a way that protects the earth for the future. Reports from farming experts keep showing that more and more farmers are using these clever spraying systems.There are a few big reasons why this is happening. There are a few big reasons why this is happening. As farm chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides are getting more expensive, farmers want to grow the most crops from their land. And now, governments are making tougher rules on environmental protection, which also drives farmers to adopt eco-friendly spray tech, and these smart farming tools are now affordable and easier to use for farmers.
By spraying precisely, farmers waste much less. This saves them a lot of money on expensive chemicals, fuel, and even the people needed for the job. At the same time, because fewer chemicals wash into the soil and water, it's much better for our planet. Plus, when every plant gets exactly what it needs, crops grow healthier, and farmers get bigger harvests!
FJD ATS Becomes Popular in Farming Communities
At the heart of this big change is the FJD ATS Precision Spray Autosteering System. FJDynamics offers many smart tools to help farmers spray accurately and efficiently. It doesn't matter what machines they already have or how big their farm is. The FJD ATS system works easily with different farm equipment, turning regular sprayers into smart, automatic ones.The ATS uses advanced GPS-like technology to guide tractors and control sprayers with amazing accuracy. This makes sure that all the sprays are put exactly where they work best. It achieves this through two key features:
- Section Control and Flow Rate Control:This smart feature automatically turns on/off sprayer sections across different parts of a field. For example, when entering areas that have already been sprayed (like when overlapping previously covered zones or during headland turns ) or in non-spraying areas, it can turn off the sections to avoid waste. It also precisely controls the amount of liquid being sprayed based on predefined maps or real-time location data. This ensures no over-application in some areas and under-application in others.
- Autosteering: The ATS automatically steers the tractor for precise navigation. With autosteering, farmers don't need to constantly focus on driving. Instead, they can free their hands for other important tasks. By automatically recognizing turns, the ATS helps the farmers avoid overlapped areas after turnaround, which eliminates overlaps and increases efficiency.
By minimizing overlaps, farmers reduce chemical use by 10-20%, which directly translates into big cost savings on expensive chemicals. This also helps crops grow healthily for bigger harvests. The environmental benefits are equally compelling, as less chemical runoff protects local waterways and biodiversity.
Successful ATS Cases Around the World
FJD brings precision spray technology to farmers worldwide in its diverse implementations across different regions. The ATS works with FJD's other steering systems and ISOBUS tools, giving farmers easy and quick ways to set it up: the FJD ATS-C Precision Sprayer Controller connects directly to existing sprayer valves from brands like ARAG and GEOline, and the FJD ATS-V Precision Spray System can replace old valves on your sprayer for smarter control. Here are some recent cases:Italy: AT2 x ATS-C x ARAG Valve for Smart Spraying Control
In Italy, a farmer used the ATS-C and existing ARAG valves to achieve intelligent spraying. Combined with the FJD AT2 autosteering system, this upgrade enables precise section control, ensuring that valuable chemicals are applied only where needed. The farmers can optimize input use and promote healthier crop development in their fields.
France: AG1 x ATS-C for ISOBUS Spraying Control
French farmers adopt the FJD AG1 terminal display alongside the ATS-C for advanced ISOBUS spraying control. The setup allows for seamless communication between the tractor and sprayer. The farmers can now precisely manage their spraying tasks, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in their farming business.
Türkiye: AT1 x ATS-V 5-Section Control
In Türkiye, the FJD AT1 autosteering system is paired with the ATS-V controller to enable efficient 5-section control on a sprayer. This way, Turkish farmers can manage their spraying operations with greater accuracy, reducing waste and improving the effectiveness of their crop protection efforts across varied terrains.
Serbia: AT2 x ATS-C x GEOline Integration
In Serbia, the FJD AT2 autosteering system is integrated with the ATS-C and existing GEOline valves. This combination brings modern precision to Serbian farms, enabling accurate section control and flow rate management, which helps optimize resource use and boost productivity.
Brazil: AT1 x ATS-V for 7-Section Control
Brazilian agriculture, known for its vast fields, benefits immensely from precision. Here, the FJD AT1 system with the ATS-V provides advanced 7-section control. This expanded control capability is crucial for large-scale operations, ensuring minimal overlap and maximum efficiency, leading to substantial savings on inputs for Brazilian farmers.
Precision Spraying Leads the Future
Precision spraying is a big shift towards more sustainable agriculture. With its adaptable and affordable upgrades in diverse global farming environments, the FJD ATS Precision Spray Autosteering System is playing a pivotal role in this transformation. By helping farmers spray super accurately and efficiently, FJDynamics is helping create a future where farming is smarter and more rewarding for farmers everywhere.You may also want to read:
- Automating a 10-Year-Old UNIA Sprayer for Smart Spraying Control: FJD ISOBUS Upgrade Success in Poland
- Breathing New Precision into Old Machine: A Successful ATS ISOBUS Upgrade in Germany
- Precision Spraying Changes Orchard Management: A Case Study From Spain