Regulatory Changes Needed for Precision Spray Technology
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
New technology is changing the way farmers spray. But that has ramifications for chemical labels. Industry groups are working with regulators to make changes to account for these new approaches. John Deere manager for technology standards and regulatory affairs Adam Barlow has been active in these efforts.
Barlow… “ It's no longer a broadcast. We call this a targeted application or precision application. The ability to apply less herbicides over these weeds or whatever the pests are in the field. And not applying product where it's not needed. And we've been doing a lot of work with EPA and USDA. We've started a standardization project where we were working on standardizing a new test method to understand how accurate these systems are, how much less you're applying, and then comparing that back to a conventional sprayer. Providing that data then from that test to EPA, so the chemical companies, chemical registrants can work with EPA to make updates to those pesticide labels. So it's a joint effort. What you're seeing here today it's showcasing our John Deere See & Spray Ultimate technology. And we're demonstrating that test method with that sprayer, but there are other OEMs also involved. I think there's now just over 15 different manufacturers of these types of precision application systems.”
That’s John Deere’s Adam Barlow.
