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Tramontana and Agrimetrix sign cooperation agreement to promote precision spot spraying

Tramontana Agro Technologies partners up with Agrimetrix Research and Training in Saskatoon, Sask. to bring a new selective spray technology, that senses and sprays individual weeds on broad-acre scale.

The technology, WEEDit, is a system of sensors and pulse-width-modulated (PWM) spray nozzles that are capable of sensing plants and triggering a spray for those plants, and nothing else.

August 15, 2018  By Top Crop Manager


This allows growers to save costs on chemicals, or use more expensive products because they are targeting individual weeds instead of a blanket spray.

“Users of WEEDit in Australia have demonstrated savings of 75 to 90 per cent while obtaining weed control in a chem-fallow situation. Initial data from Canada are also very promising,” says Andries Mellema of Tramontana.

The WEEDit sensors emit a red light that returns a near-infrared signal on striking chlorophyll. Nozzles located at eight inch intervals along the boom are activated to spray the sensed plant. The technology is designed to work at speeds up to 15 mph.

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With PWM capability, the system allows a simultaneous broadcast spray of a low herbicide dose in the background, activating the full dose for larger weeds. This ensures that weeds too small to be detected are still controlled. The ability to selectively spray green material has additional potential in desiccation and pre-harvest treatments.

Tom Wolf, co-owner of Agrimetrix Research & Training, is an application technology specialist with 30 years international experience. He is well known to Canadian producers through his public appearances, articles, and through Sprayers101.com. He will continue to offer independent information on application issues.

WEEDit may be eligible for Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) rebates in some provinces, reducing cost to producers.

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