Precision Sprayer Cuts Down Pesticide Use
A significant part of organic farming is the reduction in pesticide use. However, pesticides are still needed to keep pesky, hungry insects off our growing fruits and vegetables. ARS scientists have created a state-of-the-art machine that can reduce pesticide use between 30 and 85 percent! This laser guided “precision sprayer” evaluates the size, space, and density of the plants or trees and only sprays where needed, cutting down the amount of overspray that occurs when farmers apply pesticides to their fields.