UK: Syngenta Spray Assist app hits the target

Syngenta Spray Assist is a new App created to help sprayer operators to select the most appropriate application techniques for different crops, situations and timings on-the-fly.

The simple to use app links to live local weather data, to analyse the factors that influence accurate application and potential risk of spray drift, including wind, rain or frost. The app suggests techniques to enable sprayer operators to mitigate risks or alter practices.   

Spray Assist utilises data and provides guidance for:

- 16 different crop types

- Over 45 application timings and targets

- More 10 leading nozzle manufacturers

- Over 600 different nozzle types

Launching Spray Assist at Cereals LIVE 2020 (10 June 2020), Syngenta Application Specialist, Harry Fordham, highlighted the potential for digital technology to provide up to date decision support solutions.

Crop types covered include cereals; oilseed rape; potatoes; maize and vegetable crops, with advice on applications including different fungicide timings; weed control - at pre-, peri-; autumn or spring post-emergence; insecticides and desiccation.

“Syngenta application trials research has shown the potential for even small tweaks in sprayer set-up and operation to make significant differences in results achieved, including grass weed control and fungicide treatments,” advised Harry.

“Sprayer operators also play a huge role in managing the potential risk of spray drift - to ensure sprays hit the intended target and give the best performance,” he added.

“Spray Assist will further help them make better informed decisions and tailor their application techniques to optimise results.”   

Users can enter plans for cropping, locations, and product use and application timings. Further personalising the data with the farm’s application equipment enables advanced algorithms to provide guidance on the most appropriate available sprayer setup in any selected situation, for the forecasted weather conditions.

Selecting a proposed spray time up to four days in advance, the app will indicate if conditions are likely to be best to spray; if spraying could be undertaken - possibly with suggested mitigating measures - or if the application is not advisable.

With planned spraying operations for specific crops and treatment targets, the Spray Assist will suggest the most appropriate nozzle selections and sprayer operation, adjusting speed and water volume, for example, to deliver the best possible results. 

Spray Assist is free to download now from the App Store or Google Play. Registered users will receive free updates as they are developed and released.

The new app is one of a suite of application tools developed by Syngenta as part of the New Farming Technologies initiative, to harness the future potential for digital agriculture.