Smart Spray Annual ROI Calculator: A Tool for Montana Producers
Written by Ricardo Pinto and Kelsey Larson, MSU Extension, June 2025.
Navigating weed management challenges in Montana
Montana producers are constantly adapting to challenges in agriculture, and effective weed management is high on that list. With concerns about herbicide resistance growing across the state, finding innovative and sustainable solutions is more critical than ever. We've seen increasing interest from producers in smart spray (or spot spray) technology, and for good reason. By precisely targeting weeds rather than broadcasting herbicides across an entire field, this technology offers a promising path forward.
So, how do smart-spray systems work? These systems use advanced sensor technologies such as optical or spectral sensors to detect live weed growth in real-time as the sprayer moves through the field. When weeds are identified, nozzles activate to apply herbicide only to the targeted areas, down to 1 cm² (approximately 0.16 in²). This on-the-go detection and targeted application allows for efficient and highly localized weed control, minimizing chemical waste and input costs. Adopting smart spray systems can bring several key benefits to your Montana operation:
- Significant herbicide savings: Drastically cuts down herbicide bills by targeting only weed-infested areas, crucial for managing resistant populations.
- Opportunity for more effective tank mixes: Makes the use of more aggressive, diverse, or specialized herbicide tank mixes economically viable, as they are applied only to small, targeted areas, aiding in herbicide resistance management.
- Reduced water usage: Conserves precious water resources by lowering the volume of carrier needed for applications.
- Potential time savings: Using less herbicide reduces the need for time-consuming refills, although many smart sprayers do need slower spraying speeds.
- Environmental stewardship: Offers a more environmentally sound approach by reducing overall chemical and water use.
Every farm in Montana is unique, and so is every smart spray system. Different technologies have their own features and costs. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. That's why we at MSU Extension, through the NARC Precision Agriculture Lab, developed this Smart Spray Annual ROI Calculator. It’s designed specifically to help you, as a Montana producer and agriculture professional, evaluate the potential financial return and practical benefits of investing in a smart spray system tailored to your specific operational parameters.
How to use the calculator
This calculator is designed to give you an easy-to-calculate approximate comparison between your current system and a precision system. You'll input details about your current spraying practices and the specifics of a potential smart spray system. The tool will then estimate annual savings, return on investment (ROI), payback period, and other key metrics.
Entering your farm & system parameters
On the left side of the calculator, you'll find the "Farm & System Parameters" section. Please fill in these fields as accurately as possible to get the most realistic estimations for your operation. Each field has an information icon (ⓘ) next to it; hover over or click this icon for a brief explanation of what data is needed for that specific input. This will help you understand what values to enter, such as your typical acreage, chemical costs, application rates, and estimates of weed coverage on your fields.
Understanding your results
The "Summary Results" section provides a high-level overview of the potential financial impact:
- Annual Savings: This is the total estimated financial savings per year if you were to use smart spray technology compared to your conventional methods, factoring in chemical, labor, and any subscription costs.
- Annual ROI (%): Return on investment shows your annual savings as a percentage of the initial smart spray system cost.
- Payback period (years): This estimates how many years it might take for the accumulated annual savings to cover the initial cost of the smart spray system.
- Overall chemical reduction (%): This figure represents the total percentage reduction in the volume of chemical mixture used across your entire field with smart spraying compared to conventional broadcast spraying.
Below the summary, you'll find detailed annual cost breakdowns for both "Conventional Spraying (Annual)" and "Smart Spraying (Annual)". These sections detail costs like chemical expenses, labor, and total annual operational costs for each method, allowing for a direct comparison.
How do I use this information?
The results from this calculator can be a valuable decision-making tool for your Montana farm or ranch:
- Assessing financial viability: The Annual Savings, ROI, and Payback period give you estimated financial metrics. Consider these in light of your operation's cash flow and investment priorities.
- Managing herbicide resistance: The "Overall Chemical Reduction (%)" is particularly relevant for Montana. By reducing overall herbicide use, smart spraying can be a key component in an integrated weed management strategy to slow the development of herbicide-resistant weed population. It may also allow for the targeted use of different, potentially more expensive, modes of action that would be too expensive under broadcast situations.
- Evaluating "what-if" scenarios: Use the calculator to explore different scenarios. What if weed pressure is higher or lower next year? How would a different system cost impact the payback period? This can help you understand the range of potential outcomes based on conditions common in your part of Montana.
- Considering water and time savings: In many parts of Montana, water is a limiting factor. The reduction in water (and chemical volume) use with precision sprayers can mean fewer refill trips, saving valuable time during critical planting or spraying windows. While many precision sprayer technologies may require slower operating speeds than conventional equipment, the overall time savings from reduced refills can be significant depending on your labor and water access. Note: The calculator does not directly estimate changes in refill times, but it does calculate the change in chemical volumes used. You can use this to estimate how refill frequency might be reduced for your specific operation
- Factoring in non-monetary benefits: While the calculator focuses on ROI, don't forget the less tangible benefits like improved soil health over time and enhanced environmental resilience. These are increasingly important for sustainable agriculture in Montana.
- Conversations: Use these results as a starting point for discussions with equipment dealers, agronomists, lenders, and your local MSU Extension agent. The data can help you ask more informed questions and make a stronger case if you decide to invest.
Interpreting visualizations
Field application visualization: This section provides a simplified visual comparison of a field sprayed conventionally versus with a smart spray system.
- Conventional Spraying: Shows the entire area sprayed.
- Smart Spraying: Illustrates targeted spraying based on your "Weed Coverage (%)" input and the "Rate Reduction on Weeds (%)".
Descriptions below each visual provide estimated annual gallon usage and, for smart spraying, the overall chemical reduction percentage. A legend helps identify the different spray patterns.
Understanding the calculations
For those interested in the specific formulas used, detailed information is available. In the footer of the calculator, click the "Calculation Documentation" link. This opens a pop-up window ("Calculation Methodology & Usage") explaining input parameters, calculation breakdowns for conventional and smart spraying costs, ROI, payback, and chemical reduction, as well as notes on the visualizations.
Save your results
You can save your customized ROI report as a PDF document by clicking the "Save Results (PDF)" button located in the header of the calculator. This is useful for your records or for sharing with partners or advisors.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on the data you input and is intended for educational and planning purposes for Montana producers. Actual field conditions, equipment performance, weed pressures, and economic factors can vary significantly across our diverse state and can change over time as well. The results from this calculator should not be the sole basis for making financial decisions, and you should make your choices anticipating that the true returns may be somewhat higher or lower than what the calculator suggests.
We strongly encourage you to consult with your local MSU Extension office, financial advisors, agronomists, and technical experts before making any investment in smart spray technology. They can help you consider all factors relevant to your specific operation in Montana.
We hope this tool, developed by MSU Extension, helps you in evaluating the potential of smart spray technology for your Montana farming operation! For questions, contact:
Ricardo Pinto
Assistant Professor
Precision Agriculture Research/Extension
Kelsey Larson
Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics/MSU Extension Specialist