Smart Apply, Inc.
"Set. Spray. Save. Protect."
John Deere-owned US maker of the LiDAR-based Intelligent Spray Control System, a retrofit kit for orchard, nursery and vineyard sprayers based on USDA research.
Smart Apply, Inc. is a US precision spraying company that makes the Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System for high-value crops in orchards, nurseries and vineyards. Its technology is based on more than a decade of USDA and university research and field testing, and in 2018 Smart Apply was selected by the USDA as the company to commercialize its precision spraying technology. The Intelligent Spray Control System was introduced in 2020, and a second generation (GEN2) with simpler electronics in a sturdier package launched in 2023. In July 2023 Smart Apply was acquired by John Deere. The company is headquartered at 1229 Indy Place in Indianapolis, Indiana, and also has an address in Davenport, Iowa.
The system is a customized retrofit kit for almost any air-blast or over-the-row sprayer. A LiDAR sensor maps the canopy as the sprayer moves and the controller opens nozzles only where plants are detected, adjusting output to the canopy, while data from each application is stored in the cloud. Company figures, based on in-field trials and a University of Madrid evaluation published in April 2025, cite up to 73% less water and chemical use, up to 67% lower chemical costs, up to 93% less chemical runoff and up to 87% less airborne drift.
Smart Apply sells through dealers and has district sales managers for the Pacific Northwest and Canada and for Australia and New Zealand. Named staff include CTO Mike Hilligoss and product manager Gary Vandenbark.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System
- Model: GEN2
- Launch Year: 2023
LiDAR retrofit kit that maps the canopy and sprays only where plants are detected
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Contact Smart Apply, Inc.
WEBSITE
https://www.smartapply.com/HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
-
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
Subsidiary / Acquired
Funding Total
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