Key Takeaways:
- Sentera’s 2025 Early Access Program (EAP) for SMARTSCRIPT™ Weeds is fully enrolled, closing ahead of schedule due to high demand from growers, cooperatives, and ag retailers.
- SMARTSCRIPT™ Weeds delivers AI-powered, drone-based weed detection and precision spray prescriptions within 24 hours, reducing herbicide use by up to 70%.
- The 2025 program expands across the U.S. Corn Belt, involving OEMs, input manufacturers, academics, and ag retailers to demonstrate commercial viability at scale.
- Participants report streamlined operations and enhanced agronomic decision-making, citing benefits in spray planning, application timing, and input efficiency.
- Sentera will open enrollment for its 2026 program later this year, with a focus on expanding access through agricultural retail networks.
Sentera Reports Full Enrollment in 2025 SMARTSCRIPT™ Weeds Program
Sentera, a provider of precision agriculture solutions, has announced that its 2025 Early Access Program (EAP) for SMARTSCRIPT™ Weeds has reached full enrollment. Initially launched to assess real-world application at scale, the program experienced strong demand early in the year, prompting Sentera to close enrollment by February.
“Interest in SMARTSCRIPT this season exceeded even our most optimistic expectations,” said Brian Wenngatz, CEO of Sentera. “This underscores the industry’s appetite for high-precision weed control and validates the value SMARTSCRIPT brings to the field.”
Expanding Precision Capabilities Across the Corn Belt
A Collaborative Network of Stakeholders
Building on the momentum from 2024, the 2025 EAP has expanded significantly in both scale and scope. SMARTSCRIPT™ Weeds is now active across key regions of the U.S. Corn Belt, involving partnerships with equipment manufacturers, ag retailers, universities, and grower networks.
For the first time, agricultural retailers are participating directly in the program, giving them firsthand experience with the technology and expanding access for their customer base.
“SMARTSCRIPT fits seamlessly into our custom application workflow,” said Nick Einck of Chandler COOP. “It enhances the agronomic services we already provide and adds value to the growers we serve.”
SMARTSCRIPT™: AI-Driven Weed Control with Rapid Turnaround
Streamlining Decisions and Reducing Inputs
SMARTSCRIPT™ uses drone-captured, high-resolution imagery combined with AI-powered classification to identify weed pressure and generate precise, field-specific spray prescriptions. These scripts are designed to load directly into in-cab monitors of compatible sprayers—including those integrated with the John Deere Operations Center—and guide the equipment to spray only where weeds are detected.
The result is a reduction in herbicide usage of up to 70%, offering both economic and environmental benefits.
Participants in the program gain rapid insights, often within 24 hours of drone flight, improving responsiveness in areas such as:
- Tank mix planning
- Application timing
- Herbicide efficiency
- Operational coordination
Looking Ahead to 2026 For Sentera: Ag Retail as Key Channel
Preparing for Broader Commercial Launch
Sentera plans to open enrollment for the 2026 season later this year, with ag retail positioned as the primary distribution channel. The company is actively engaging with retail partners interested in enhancing their precision agriculture service offerings.
“We’re not just building a product—we’re building the future of weed control,” said Wenngatz. “By equipping advisors, applicators, and growers with timely intelligence, we’re helping them make faster, smarter decisions.”
