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August 15, 2025
Agribusiness Featured MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT Technology

Smart from the Start: Raven Leads the Future of Precision Farming

Precision farming is advancing at a rapid pace — and Raven Industries is at the forefront of this transformation. At this year’s Nampo agricultural show in Bothaville, Free State, African Agri spoke with Nico Myburgh, CNH Industrial’s head of precision technologies for the Middle East and Africa, about how Raven is driving the next generation of farm efficiency.

A Pioneer in Precision

Raven’s journey began in the late 1960s in South Dakota, USA. In 1976, it developed the world’s first variable-rate control module for sprayers — a milestone that would shape the future of agricultural technology.

In 2021, Raven was acquired by CNH Industrial, the global machinery giant behind New Holland and CASE IH. This integration brought advanced connectivity, automation, and machine control technologies directly into CNH’s manufacturing and aftermarket solutions.

“Having Raven under the CNH umbrella gives us complete control of the value chain,” says Myburgh. “It means smarter, more integrated systems from factory to field.”

Seamless, Connected Farming

Raven’s technologies focus on application control, machine automation, and tractor guidance.
Its systems use the ISOBUS standard, ensuring universal compatibility between implements and tractors. At the heart of this network is Slingshot®, a cloud-based platform that collects, stores, and manages machine and field data.

Through Slingshot, farmers can:

  • Create real-time work orders, product mixes, and prescription maps

  • Configure nozzles and field boundaries

  • Synchronise multiple machines to avoid overlaps or missed patches

  • Monitor performance and troubleshoot remotely

All data is securely stored in the cloud for season-to-season benchmarking, enabling better planting, fertiliser, and crop-protection decisions.

Brains Behind Every Pass

The Rate Control Module (RCM) is Raven’s core control unit, using sensor data and algorithms to instantly calculate and apply precise seed, fertiliser, and chemical rates. Its modular design means it can be moved between machines, manage multiple products, and control numerous boom sections or tanks simultaneously.

Specialised plug-ins expand the RCM’s capabilities to include section control, blockage detection, and tank level monitoring — all without the need for multiple controllers.

Spraying with Surgical Precision

The HawkEye®2 Nozzle Control System sets a new standard for spraying accuracy. Each nozzle adjusts individually in real time to changes in speed, terrain, wind, or turning radius.

Key advantages include:

  • Consistent application within 5% of the target rate

  • 250% more accuracy than competing systems

  • Control of up to 192 nozzles

  • Advanced blockage detection with instant alerts

The result is lower chemical use, better yields, and reduced spray drift.

Vision Systems for Smarter Spraying

Integrating vision tools elevates Raven’s precision further:

  • Carbon Bee: Mounted on sprayer booms, it uses cameras and machine learning to distinguish between weeds and healthy plants, enabling spot spraying.

  • Augmenta® Field Analyzer: Roof-mounted multispectral cameras analyse biomass and chlorophyll levels to guide variable-rate applications in real time.

“These tools let farmers respond immediately to field conditions — no waiting for drone or satellite data — and deliver major savings over blanket spraying,” says Myburgh.

Guidance and Fleet Management

Raven’s RS1™ GPS system combines autosteer, connectivity, and over-the-air updates in one unit, while DirectSteer™ integrates with a tractor’s hydraulics for precise navigation. Accurate guidance underpins operations like precision fertilisation, where nutrients are placed exactly where seeds will grow.

On the fleet side, Raven Connected offers real-time tracking, route optimisation, fuel monitoring, and remote diagnostics. Machines can slow down or shut off automatically if faults are detected, allowing service teams to fix issues remotely or arrive prepared with the right parts.

Driving African Farming Forward

With these innovations becoming more accessible, Myburgh says Raven is helping South African farmers boost productivity, cut costs, and farm more sustainably.

“Precision farming isn’t just about technology — it’s about making every pass in the field count,” he says.

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