Greeneye Technology customers achieve 87% average reduction in non-residual herbicide use in 2024

End-of-season data released by precision spraying pioneer Greeneye Technology reveals its customers achieved an 87% average reduction in non-residual herbicide use in 2024, translating to typical cost savings of $25 to $35 per acre. 

Herbicide reduction increased to 92% in pre-emergence applications, while corn and soybean farmers achieved an 84% and 82% average reduction, respectively, according to the figures.

″The issue we are having is that traditional methods of spraying are not killing all the weeds,″ comments Brad Janzen, a corn and soybean farmer in Nebraska. ″We needed to be able to spray at a higher rate or use a different combination of herbicides to be able to kill those weeds. And with the Greeneye system, we can do that and save money.″ 

Greeneye’s end-of-season results are derived from systems deployed across eight* U.S. states and showcase the technology’s ability to optimize weed management in different terrains, weather conditions, and in till, reduced-till, and no-till fields.

Based in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Arthaud Family Farms grows wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and sunflowers. ″We often face extended droughts in our area, and weed control is paramount to moisture preservation and yield success,″ explains owner Scott Arthaud. ″With the Greeneye system, we can spray pre-emergence at the same time we spot spray for the weeds. We spend less money on chemicals—depending on weed pressure, we see between 50-95% savings. In post-emergent applications, the yield drag is drastically reduced, which translates into real money. Plus, we can use stronger chemicals that really target the herbicide-resistant weeds.″

These results come at the end of Greeneye’s second fully-commercial season in the U.S. The system’s aftermarket design enables farmers to seamlessly transition from broadcast to precision spraying of herbicides and other inputs using their existing machine, overcoming a major cost-of-entry barrier for many farmers. 

Today, Greeneye is the only company to offer a dual-line system for the aftermarket segment without subscription fees—three elements considered critical to ensure farmers achieve the fastest possible return on their investment while adhering to agronomic best practice. Earlier this year, the company introduced ″Canopy Mode″, broadening the system’s precision application capabilities to inputs such as fungicides and micronutrients.

Nadav Bocher, CEO at Greeneye Technology, says: ″We are extremely pleased to announce the results of the 2024 commercial season in the U.S. Behind these figures are real farmers who now have the tools they need to significantly reduce chemical use and costs, tackle resistance and drift, improve weed control efficacy, and increase crop health and yields, all while improving the sustainability of their operations.″

The 2024 end-of-season data mirrors the successful results from ongoing field trials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), which shows the Greeneye system achieved a significant 70-95% reduction in the use of non-residual herbicides. Professor Amit Jhala, Extension Weed Specialist at UNL, comments: ″I was extremely impressed with the results we have seen. Even in field conditions when the sprayer is moving at between 12 and 15 mph, it has an excellent ability to detect weeds as small as one centimeter.″

The growing adoption of the Greeneye system also extends to other stakeholders within the ag ecosystem, including retailers, co-operatives, and dealers. In May, Greeneye partnered with Nebraska-based retailer and precision farming equipment dealer, Boeck Seed Services, to open the first in a planned nationwide network of Greeneye dealerships to provide local sales, installation, and support.

Cody Boeck, Operations Director at Boeck Seeds, says: ″Weed control is without a doubt the biggest challenge facing our customers—and, at the moment, it is a challenge they are losing. I think over the next five to ten years, you’re going to see a huge chasm between farms that adopt [precision spraying] technology and those that don’t. The ROI is too obvious, and the environmental benefits are undeniable. There’s a ton of benefits that we’re going to unlock, and [Greeneye’s] technology is going to be a major reason for that.″

*Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Texas, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa