In The Spotlight

What makes it unique is its use of a single cab-mounted, factory-fit SenseApply Camera unit unlike other smart apply technology which employ multiple boom-mounted cameras. (Image source: CNH)
New Holland has introduced the new IntelliSense Sprayer Automation, the newest edition to the New Holland machine automation portfolio
The system is the most comprehensive application automation solution on the market and can be used on a wide spectrum of crops — from corn, soybeans and cotton to pulse crops and small grains like wheat and canola — with an unprecedented list of full-season application functions, including herbicide, fungicide, plant growth regulator, nitrogen and harvest aid. It is also a factory offering for new Model Year 2026 Guardian series front boom sprayers: the SP310F, SP370F and SP410F.
Uniqueness
What makes it unique is its use of a single cab-mounted, factory-fit SenseApply Camera unit unlike other smart apply technology which employ multiple boom-mounted cameras. The SenseApply camera unit is a forward-looking, multi-spectral vision system that enables IntelliSense Sprayer Automation to continuously scan upcoming field conditions (50 ft out in front of the sprayer) across the full width of the boom from a high vantage point atop the cab. This provides an expanded vision of the field that generates quicker and longer leading assessments, allowing the operator to drive and apply accurately at a faster speed than any other sense and act technology on the market today.
Applications
The leading aspect of the new IntelliSense Sprayer Automation is its Selective Spray function which offers operators the choice of two application types to enhance herbicide applications:
1. Spot Spraying: Utilises green-on-brown functionality and operates by detecting weeds smaller in stature (less than two inches in height) and activates nozzles on the boom that correspond to the location of the detected weed.
2. Base+Boost: This mode applies a uniform base rate across the entire coverage width and activates a localised boost rate from nozzles where weeds are detected. When the SenseApply camera identifies a weed, IntelliSense Sprayer Automation boosts the maximum application rate for that single weed within the herbicide's prescription rate range.
Beyond Selective Spray, IntelliSense Sprayer Automation also offers a range of full-season live variable rate application functions that further elevate a sprayer’s productivity, utility and overall operating ROI. Functions include nitrogen variable rate application (VRA), plant growth regulator VRA, fungicide VRA, harvest aid VRA and burndown VRA. These functions operate by automatically adjusting the amount of each input applied (nitrogen, PGR, fungicide, harvest aid and burndown) based on detected biomass health levels.
To further in-field productivity, a Guardian front boom sprayer actively engaging one of the VRA functions can operate at speeds up to 25 mph. If Selective Spray is in active use, the sprayer can run at speeds up to 19 mph. This is an industry-leading speed range that ensures sprayer operators can maintain a high level of in-field performance and quality of application to maximise every ounce of input running through the boom. Currently, IntelliSense Sprayer Automation can be used on a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, canola, cotton, small grains, edible beans and other legumes.
“With this technology, we’re generating savings for the farmer across every type of application they’re making. It’s a full-season solution,” said cash crop segment lead for New Holland North America, Curtis Hillen. “IntelliSense Sprayer Automation is giving us better and faster application placement without compromising results to drive productivity and positive financial results, from maximizing yield to dialing in our application efficiency. It’s a tool unlike anything a farmer, custom applicator or ag retailer will find in broadacre crops.”
IntelliSense Sprayer Automation will be available factory-fit on Model Year 2026 Guardian series front boom sprayers — the SP310F, SP370F and SP410F. This technology will be on display in the New Holland booth #4503 for a first look at Commodity Classic 2025 taking place from 2-4 March in Denver.

The adoption of this strategy is seen as a pivotal moment that will lay the groundwork for agri-food systems across the continent, and enable countries to act. (Image source: African Union)
As part of its new plan to achieve complete food security in a decade, the African Union (AU) has adopted a new agricultural development strategy that will see the continent increase its agrifood output by 45% by 2035 and transform its agri-food systems
With Africa's population likely to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, there will also be numerous challenges that the continent will experience in regard to food demand. This signifies the need to improve agricultural production, productivity, food processing, and trade.
The adoption of the new development strategy took place after the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) held in Kampala, Uganda, adopted the 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan, and the Kampala CAADP Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa, which will be implemented from 2026 to 2035.
The strategy will ensure a reduction in Africa's post harvest loss by 50%, tripling intra-African trade in agrifood products and inputs by 2035, and raising the share of locally processed food to 35% of agrifood GDP by 2035. The adoption of this strategy is therefore seen as a pivotal moment that will lay the groundwork for agri-food systems across the continent, and enable countries to act.
"This Africa of having no food and begging is not the real Africa, but the colonial and neo-colonial Africa. It is a shame," said Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, urging the extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) to promote value addition. "The battle for value addition has been a big one because lobbies want to keep Africa as a raw-materials-producing continent. Adding value to agricultural products ensures vertical integration in the agricultural sector—from the garden to the table and from the farm to the wardrobe," he said.
He also called on fellow leaders regarding non-tariff barriers (NTBs), requesting them to open up the borders since they continue to undermine the advancement of agriculture in Africa. On his part, the AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, noted that the ambitious CAADP Programme has been implemented since 2014 within the framework of the Malabo Declaration. He however, expressed dissatisfaction with the rate of progress. Preparatory work undertaken by the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, the Regional Economic Communities, experts from Member States, and technical and financial partners to form the Kampala Declaration was welcomed by the AUC chairperson.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie emphasised the urgent need renewed collective commitment and concerted action to achieve Africa’s shared vision for a food-sovereign and prosperous Africa, with the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Amb. Josefa Sacko highlighting that the Kampala declaration was different from the Malabo and Maputo declarations since it included a comprehensive strategy and action plan.
According to AUC Chairperson, Faki, the Kampala Declaration symbolises collective efforts made upstream in identifying all the negative factors that lie at the root of the low rate of the attainment of our set objectives for the Agricultural sector on the continent. The AU Commissioner Sacko also highlighted that the new CAADP strategy and action plan 2026-2035 in Kampala would enable member states to start implementing soon after adoption, in turn shaping the transformation of Africa's agrifood systems over the next decade.
“We now have a clear roadmap, a theory of change that outlines the pathway to transformation, realistic and implementable strategic objectives, a broad policy scope enhancing food system approaches, and targets that reflect the continent's aspirations,” Sacko said, adding that the inclusive design process ensures that the continent is well prepared to work towards the agriculture transformation vision outlined in Agenda 2063.

NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression. (Image source: NOVUS)
To support the dairy industry with the widespread challenge of milk fat depression, NOVUS is hosting a webinar series on milk fat depression awareness
The two-part educational initiative focuses on identifying this challenge and the causes behind it, along with providing actionable solutions to improve milk fat production and farm profitability. NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression, helping webinar participants to gain practical knowledge on identifying the issue in individual cows and herds, along with strategies to mitigate its effects.
“Milk fat depression is a multi-faceted challenge that significantly impacts dairy operations, particularly where farming conditions play a role,” said NOVUS expert, Edwin Westreicher. “Our goal with this webinar series is to empower producers and nutritionists with science-backed strategies to recognise and address this challenge effectively, helping them maximise both productivity and profitability.”
Another expert, Hannah Tucker highlighted that milk fat depression not only impacts profits, but can also disrupt the sustainability goals of modern dairy farms. “By offering actionable insights and reliable solutions, we aim to support producers in overcoming these challenges and achieving long-term success,” said Tucker.
The first two webinars titled: ‘Milk Fat Depression: What It Is and Why It Matters’ and ‘Is Milk Fat Depression Impacting Your Profits?’ are scheduled to take place on 13 March and 24 April 2025 respectively.
To register for these free-to-attend webinars, visit: https://novusint.co/MilkFat

NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression. (Image source: NOVUS)
To support the dairy industry with the widespread challenge of milk fat depression, NOVUS is hosting a webinar series on milk fat depression awareness
The two-part educational initiative focuses on identifying this challenge and the causes behind it, along with providing actionable solutions to improve milk fat production and farm profitability. NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression, helping webinar participants to gain practical knowledge on identifying the issue in individual cows and herds, along with strategies to mitigate its effects.
“Milk fat depression is a multi-faceted challenge that significantly impacts dairy operations, particularly where farming conditions play a role,” said NOVUS expert, Edwin Westreicher. “Our goal with this webinar series is to empower producers and nutritionists with science-backed strategies to recognise and address this challenge effectively, helping them maximise both productivity and profitability.”
Another expert, Hannah Tucker highlighted that milk fat depression not only impacts profits, but can also disrupt the sustainability goals of modern dairy farms. “By offering actionable insights and reliable solutions, we aim to support producers in overcoming these challenges and achieving long-term success,” said Tucker.
The first two webinars titled: ‘Milk Fat Depression: What It Is and Why It Matters’ and ‘Is Milk Fat Depression Impacting Your Profits?’ are scheduled to take place on 13 March and 24 April 2025 respectively.
To register for these free-to-attend webinars, visit: https://novusint.co/MilkFat

Users can also conveniently track out-of-feed events over time and compare across farms. (Image source: BinSentry)
Leading ag-tech company, BinSentry recently announced Critical Event Management (CEM) – a new software add-on to their leading feed inventory management platform
Bin slide management is critical in maintaining the health and performance of swine and poultry. This is because 80% of out-of-feed outage hours are caused by errors in bin slide management that often go undetected and untracted. These can have a direct impact on livestock health and performance. Although out-of-feed events can happen anytime, timely action is what matters.
BinSentry provides visibility into what is happening inside these bins, with its new add-on CEM feature allowing producers and mill operators to see and manage slide management issues at any time, from anywhere. Using AI, BinSentry enhances process control, prevents waste, lowers transportation costs, protects workers, and improves animal health and performance. In addition to real-time alerts via SMS text, CEM tracks event time, duration and whether employees have responded to the event.
Users can also conveniently track out-of-feed events over time and compare across farms. This allows producers to make data-based decisions about feed management throughout their operations that help improve feed conversion ratios (FCR) by up to 10 basis points, avoids emergency food deliveries and ensures that their animals reach the market on time and in prime condition.
“Animal feed represents about two-thirds of the total cost of food production, so obviously anything we can do to improve FCR is going to help producers,” stated BinSentry CEO, Ben Allen. “Improving feed management also helps feed mills and distributors become more efficient and profitable, lowering their costs by delivering the right feed mixes at the right time while putting fewer trucks and fuller trucks on the road.”

The President's visit to Nigeria aligns with his efforts to mobilise expertise, innovation, and resources to build a sustainable food system in Sierra Leone. (Image source: State House Sierra Leone)
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio delivered a keynote address at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria
President Bio addressed hundreds of representatives from across Africa gathered to discuss food security and agricultural development, highlighting it as a systematic challenge that is not just about agricultural production but is intrinsically linked to economic growth, health, climate resilience, and national stability. He described it as a complexity that requires coordinated action across multiple sectors along with strong political will at the highest levels to achieve lasting solutions.
President Bio shared insights into his flagship initiative, the Feed Salone Initiative, which aims to revolutionise agriculture in Sierra Leone. Governor of Oyo State, Oluwaseyi Makinde, also commended President Bio for his strong leadership and political will in championing agricultural transformation through this initiative.
“I firmly believe that research, innovation, and technology are the forces we must harness to drive Africa forward,” President Bio stated, underscoring the need for transformative approaches to agricultural development. He called for stronger partnerships, strategic investments, and the rapid adoption of innovative solutions, noting that these are crucial not only for securing the success of individual nations but also for advancing the entire continent.
The President's visit to Nigeria aligns with his efforts to mobilise expertise, innovation, and resources to build a sustainable food system in Sierra Leone. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering an environment where research drives solutions, technology fosters progress, and investment creates genuine opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses. Moreover, he also urged stakeholders to embrace research-driven strategies and robust partnerships to create sustainable food security solutions for the continent.
Director-General of the IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, also expressed his appreciation for President Bio's visit, emphasising that the strategy provides valuable lessons for the wider African continent. "The theme of this programme, ‘The Power of Improved Technology and Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate the Feed Salone Strategy’, aligns perfectly with our mission,” he noted.
President Bio and his delegation were also taken on a guided field tour, where they gained firsthand knowledge of ongoing agricultural research and technological advancements in Nigeria and the pioneering work being carried out by the IITA in Ibadan over the past five decades.

Through AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, BKT aims to offer farmers an advanced solution that addresses the specific challenges of row crops and spraying operations. (Image source: BKT)
To meet the needs of farmers and professionals managing vineyards and orchards characterised by steep terrain and narrow spacing, BKT has come up with the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, an extended version of the AGRIMAX SPARGO
This tire combines the advantages of radial agricultural tires, namely lower fuel consumption, comfort, and handling with a wider footprint and excellent traction. The AGRIMAX SPARGO features VF technology and was designed to ensure a constant load by reducing inflation pressure compared to a standard tire. The new version complements this product range for open field spraying, row crops, orchards and vineyards.
The new steel-belted pattern distinguishes itself by an increased tread depth and more slender lugs, resulting in an overall more open and taller tread pattern. This configuration provides excellent handling on the road and a D-class speed rating enabling speeds of up to 65 kmph. A strategic advantage for modern farmers who need to move quickly between fields and supply points, optimising time and increasing operational efficiency.
One of its distinctive features is the dual-layer mud ejection system, designed to effectively remove debris from the tread and ensure a quick transition from field to road without accumulating dirt. With safety and comfort remaining top priorities, the tire provides a smooth and stable ride, reducing operator fatigue and ensuring a predictable response in all conditions. This new tire also features a specially designed sidewall design to reduce vibration, which improves the comfort during precision spraying operations, where operator comfort and precision are indeed paramount.
"In the case of the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, we have paid special attention to the casing design by using a strong polyester structure that offers greater strength, flexibility and durability than traditional materials," said senior president & director Technology at BKT, Dilip Vaidya. "This choice enables the tire to handle heavy loads while keeping deformation under control, improving the footprint and thus traction, stability, and handling."