John Deere have announced a major update to its 500R self‑propelled sprayer line-up for model year 2027 (MY27), offering 6,000L tank capacity and boom widths of up to 42m.
Alongside the increased capacity for the spray tank flagship model are what the company describes as "significant upgrades to boom technology, spraying performance and operator comfort".
The American agricultural machinery giant says the MY27 500R series enters a higher productivity segment with the larger tank while maintaining a transport width of 2.55m.
MY27 upgrades
The headline addition for MY27 is the new John Deere 560R, expanding the 500R range into the 6,000L class.
John Deere says the larger tank is aimed at operators working during tight application windows who need to cover more hectares per day with fewer refilling stops.
The company is focused particularly on cereals, oilseed rape, and other high‑input crops with this upgrade.
The 560R joins the existing 4,000L and 5,000L models, giving customers a broader choice within John Deere sprayers.
Additionally, MY27 also marks the introduction of an all‑new spray boom portfolio for the 500R series with working widths of up to 42m.
According to John Deere, the modular steel boom design is more compact and lighter, offering significantly shorter opening and closing times.
Boom widths of 30m, 36m and 42m are available, with a double- or triple-folding design and both 25cm and 50cm nozzle spacings.
According to John Deere, all nozzles and stainless‑steel spray lines are fully protected within the boom structure, helping to reduce damage and maintenance.
Despite the wider working widths, the new booms "maintain a 2.55m transport width, supporting safe and efficient road travel between fields," the company said.
The 500R series MY27 models maximum spraying speed has been increased from 25km/h to 30km/h "without compromising droplet quality".
According to the company, this is enabled by the combination of stable boom control and established application systems, including Individual Nozzle Control (INC) Pro and ExactApply.
Key features of these systems include multi-rate spraying (up to 15 different rates across the boom width), turn compensation, and consistent droplet size across a wide speed range.
These systems are aimed at helping operators apply crop protection products accurately while maximising daily output.
Technological upgrades
One technical upgrade John Deere are introducing for MY27 is BoomTrac Pro 2, the company’s latest automatic boom height control system.
BoomTrac Pro 2 will include five ultrasonic sensors on booms of a width less than 36m or seven on a boom that is 36m or above.
According to John Deere, the system allows the boom to closely follow ground or crop contours, maintaining consistent spray height and overlap even at higher forward speeds.
In addition to that, the new boom centre frame incorporates active boom yaw and roll control, designed to counteract chassis movement and slope effects.
This "helps to keep the boom stable across the full working width, improving application accuracy and reducing operator workload," John Deere said.
All MY27 machines will ship with the PowrSpray dual‑circuit solution system.
This is a high‑capacity clean‑water filling pump "delivering up to 1,200L per minute, reducing filling time and improving efficiency during busy spray periods.
"Rinsing is easily done with an intuitive interface accessible both inside and outside the cab.
"Automated rinse programmes, combined with AirRinse and AutoDilute functions, help minimise residue, reduce contamination risk and prepare the sprayer quickly for the next application".
The MY27 500R series retains the front‑mounted cabin, a familiar feature from the John Deere combines and forage harvesters.
These machines also have a rear‑engine layout, which is intended to deliver a balanced 50:50 weight distribution and a clear view of the boom.
The company says that operators experience "high ride comfort both in the field and on the road" as a result of its combined in‑wheel suspension and the CommandDrive drivetrain with automated rpm management.
Despite its increased capacity and wider booms, John Deere claims the 500R remains easy to manoeuvre on narrow roads and through villages.
For MY27, the 500R series places a strong emphasis on ease of use through AutoSetup, which allows operators to prepare spraying jobs before entering the field.
The AutoSetup possesses "integrated agronomic advice and full field guidance," John Deere said.
This allows for machine settings, application parameters and guidance lines to be transferred directly to the sprayer, which reduce setup time and avoid operator errors.
Solenne Bourgeois, product manager at John Deere, said: “We are looking at a 10 to 15% productivity gain compared to the previous model."
Bourgeois put this productivity increase down to the quick opening and closing boom, Pulse Width Modulation (INC and ExactApply), and more efficient road travel that was reached through better comfort features.
Production of the MY27 500R series is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with first customer deliveries expected from early 2027, depending on model and specification.