Reading Time: 9 minutes Over the years, all the major machinery brands have shown autonomous concept tractors to the public at farm machinery shows. They clearly wanted to get the message out that they have the engineering ability to build them. For example, CaseIH displayed its concept autonomous Magnum tractor at the U.S. Farm Progress show in 2016 where […] Read more
Awaiting the autonomous tractor
How soon will there be a self-driving, autonomous tractor in your shed?
John Deere builds a new home for rare talent
The green brand is on the lookout for 'unicorns' in high-technology fields, and with farm backgrounds
Reading Time: 6 minutes In today’s high-technology world, a new startup tech firm with the potential to go really big is often described as a unicorn. That term is also used to describe a software engineer or skilled programmer with exactly the right background and combination of skills to drive a company forward, simply because both of those are […] Read more
AGCO adds to its Global Massey Ferguson tractor line
Two new 5700 Series models hit the market for 2020
Reading Time: 2 minutes In the last couple of years, major brands have been producing utility and mid-range tractors with powershift transmissions that don’t require clutching. In October AGCO announced it, too, is adding that type of transmission to its “Global” 5700 Series Massey Ferguson tractor family. Two new models, the 100-horsepower 5710D and 111-horsepower 5711D models will join […] Read more
Taking autonomy into the field
Finally, self-drive technology is moving onto real farms
Reading Time: 5 minutes If there was any doubt that how we farm is undergoing a foundational change, this should convince you that there is mammoth change on the horizon. In July the federal government pledged $49.5 million to the Alberta Innovates program to advance research and development in agricultural automation as part of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN). “The program,” said […] Read more
John Deere revamps its 6M tractor family
New models and more options to appeal to different buyers
Reading Time: 3 minutes John Deere has been offering a pretty wide range of tractors designed to appeal to an equally wide group of buyers looking for power in the mid-horsepower class. In the 105- to 250-horsepower group, the green brand’s 6 Family of tractors already offers an impressive 20 models from the economy 6Es to the high-end 6Rs. […] Read more
Why Kubota thinks you’ll buy more of its farm equipment
The Texas-based manufacturer sees both end-users and retail dealers as its customers
Reading Time: 5 minutes As I walked through Kubota’s new headquarters in Grapevine, Texas, one particular observation stood out to me. In other companies’ offices and engineering centres that I’ve visited, there was never any shortage of images of the brand’s machines lining the hallway walls. The offices in the Kubota building were stylish and comfortable with plenty of […] Read more
Smart sprayer knows which herbicide to apply, and when
BASF’s Xarvio advances application technology
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s clear that public sentiment about perceived food safety and the environment is beginning to have a significant impact on consumer choices. An easy case in point is the marketing of meatless burgers at fast food chains as a way to save the planet from climate change. In crop production, meanwhile, the use of herbicides […] Read more
AGCO picks Fendt as its global brand
“It’s the year of Fendt,” as the company's new focus puts the brand squarely at the corporate core
Reading Time: 5 minutes In June, AGCO invited several machinery editors to its Jackson, Minnesota assembly plant to hear its news for the coming year. I was included in that group. As we were seated around a large table listening to the initial presentations, AGCO’s media relations manager made an off-the-cuff comment that stuck in my mind. “It’s the […] Read more
DeLaval rolls out new barn robot to help with feed rations
OptiDuo Robotic Feed Refresher uses a smart navigation system
Reading Time: 2 minutes It has been a year of breakthroughs by companies introducing automation in a number of industries. Outside of agriculture, at least two airports have announced they are experimenting with automated snow clearing of runways. Golf course grass-cutting robots have also made an appearance, and the list goes on. There are already several prototype field robots […] Read more
Autonomous farm machinery drives out into the desert
DOT Technology Corp. holds an impressive demo day in Arizona
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s obvious that Norbert Beaujot invests a lot of time thinking about the coming transformation of ag machinery, and about how to explain it to the farmers who are going to be at the very centre of the action. Beaujot is founder of DOT Technology Corp. and the inventor of the DOT autonomous power platform, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
