PASCO, Washington — June 25, 2026
Ecorobotix, a leader in AI-powered precision agriculture, has demonstrated the effectiveness of its ARA™ ultra-high precision sprayer in California cotton. The system delivered strong weed control while significantly reducing herbicide use and overall weed management costs.
Field demonstrations near Los Banos, California, evaluated ARA under challenging conditions, including a heavy population of glyphosate-resistant weeds and application timing later than recommended.
Despite these constraints, ARA delivered consistent and effective performance.
In this demonstration, ARA kept weed pressure under control and reduced what it takes to manage an acre, especially when you factor in multiple passes and extra crew work.
Brandon Moore, Southwest Regional Pre-Sales Manager at Ecorobotix
Resistant Weed Control
Herbicide-resistant weeds such as Palmer amaranth, lambsquarters, and purslane continue to challenge cotton growers across the United States. Many conventional programs rely on multiple herbicide applications and significant manual labor to maintain control.
In the demonstration, ARA achieved 90% to 99% weed control by targeting individual weeds rather than broadcasting herbicides across the entire field. This approach reduced total herbicide use by an estimated 60% to 90% while maintaining strong control during critical crop growth stages.
Cost and ROI Comparison
The demonstration highlighted a clear cost advantage for precision application.
Conventional Grower Program (per acre):
• Broadcast application using Smoke, Point Blank, and Roundup PowerMax: $30.15 per acre
• Chopping crew (pre-irrigation): $260 per acre
• Chopping crew (post-irrigation): $260 per acre
• Total: $550.15 per acre
• Weed control: 40% to 80%, with escapes often requiring additional intervention
Ecorobotix ARA Program (per acre):
• Application 1 using Biolink, Suppress, and Shark: $25.15 per acre
• Application 2 using Smoke, Rely, and Goaltender: $28.92 per acre
• Total: $184.07 per acre
• Weed control: 90% to 99%
Result:
ARA reduced total weed management costs by approximately $366 per acre, a 67% reduction compared to the conventional program, while delivering significantly higher weed control.
Economic and Agronomic Impact
Beyond direct cost savings, the precision approach reduced the number of weeds reaching maturity, helping limit future weed pressure by preventing seed production.
The system also supports earlier and more targeted intervention, which helps protect yield potential by reducing competition for water, nutrients, and sunlight during key growth stages.
The ability to target weeds early and often changes the entire weed management approach. Growers can maintain season-long control while using significantly less chemistry.
Caylin Cole, Southwest Regional Pre-Sales Manager at Ecorobotix.
The Future of Cotton Weed Management
The demonstration also highlights the role of precision spraying in modern and organic systems, where labor efficiency and input reduction are increasingly important.
The ARA ultra-high precision sprayer combines artificial intelligence, computer vision, and Plant-by-Plant AI technology to apply crop protection products only where needed. This targeted approach helps growers reduce inputs, improve efficiency, and maintain effective weed control.
Today, ARA is used across North America in a wide range of specialty crops, helping growers reduce chemical use while improving operational efficiency and profitability.
To schedule a demo in your area visit us HERE.
About Ecorobotix
Ecorobotix is an AI company that specializes in precision agriculture. Its flagship product, the ARA™ Ultra-High Precision Sprayer, uses advanced cameras, powerful computing, and proprietary Plant-by-Plant AI to detect and treat plants with unmatched accuracy. Supporting more than 25 crop algorithms and capable of recognizing over 40 weed species, ARA helps growers cut input use by up to 95%—reducing chemical costs, saving labor, and protecting yields. Swiss-born and operating globally, Ecorobotix combines European innovation with North American agricultural expertise. Headquartered in Pasco, Washington, and operating across North America, Ecorobotix is helping producers and turf professionals achieve higher efficiency and greater returns while being good stewards of the earth.
