Doing more with less has become critical to sustainability on the farm.
Whether that’s less labor, fertilizer or inputs, the need to do more with fewer resources is driving autonomy and automation in agriculture.
“With the global population expected to hit 10 billion by 2050 and fewer people willing to work in agricultural areas, we will have more mouths to feed and less people to grow the food over time,” said Jason Brantley, John Deere’s vice president of production systems for small ag and turf production. “So, there’s a continuing push and need to increase productivity — to enable farmers to do more with less.
“Autonomy and automation can play a really significant role in that for farmers — and the technology is evolving rapidly — which means its capability is improving and its cost is coming down,” continued Brantley, adding that this acceleration provides a “step change” in what growers can accomplish in their operations.
With an aim to offer farmers solutions that address some of their biggest challenges, while also improving operational efficiencies, John Deere is set to introduce an array of new technology at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 7-10.
The new tech includes at least one new product that Brantley calls “transformational” for growers of specialty crops like almonds.
The Packer recently sat down with Brantley to learn more about how this new tech addresses the unique needs of produce growers and what other solutions the Moline, Ill.-based John Deere sees on the horizon.
‘Transformational’ tech on tap
At CES, John Deere says it will showcase a fully automated 5ML diesel tractor that allows farmers to spray autonomously in an orchard. The autonomous orchard tractor features seven cameras alongside three LiDAR sensors, the latter of which provide real-time 3D imaging as the tractor moves through the orchard, increasing spraying precision.
Additionally, through the machine’s artificial-intelligence learning, it has been trained to understand the environment around it, says Brantley. The technology understands the difference between a fallen limb or other large object and something the tractor can bump into as it runs through the orchard.
While John Deere introduced open field autonomy solutions at the 2022 CES, those machines require a clear view of the sky.
“Many high-value crops are grown in orchards, where there’s a canopy over the tractor and tall trees that don’t allow for those solutions to work,” said Brantley. “What’s innovative around the autonomy that we’re showing in conjunction with this 5ML tractor is that it doesn’t need a full view of the sky in order to operate autonomously.”
While Brantley says John Deere has been testing its autonomous tractor primarily in almond and pistachio orchards, it is ultimately designed for any GPS-denied orchard environment without a clear sky view.
“What this means for an almond grower, for example, is offering an autonomous solution to a very intense operation,” he said. “Almond orchards can be sprayed with an air blast sprayer three to eight or more times per year. It’s intense and it’s slow — typically under 5 miles an hour, and typically at night.”
Brantley says the autonomous orchard tractor will enable those growers to be in full control of when and how they spray.
“They’ll have full availability at all times and won’t be dependent on schedules and labor availability,” he said. “And they’ll be able to accomplish other work on their farm while the orchard is being sprayed.
“It’s going to enable farmers to not just manage costs and labor availability, but to actually — from a logistics standpoint — take their operations to the next level and be as efficient as possible,” Brantley added.
Why is this tech transformational?
“Because it’s another step in making farming repeatable and measurable,” said Brantley. “What growers have demonstrated, literally for hundreds of years, is that every time they make a part of their operation more repeatable and measurable, they’re able to generate insights about how to do it better. This technology also is going to bring control and measurement into a very important part of their operation at a higher level than previously possible.”
Inspired by growers
John Deere says the tech it’s unveiling at CES was inspired in part by its conversations with growers.
“We want to look at the work our customers do through their eyes, so that we can understand the challenges that they face, the opportunities they see out there and the needs they have,” said Brantley.
John Deere says it asked its customers probing questions, such as:
- What are you trying to achieve in your business?
- What are the barriers to scaling your business?
- What are the barriers to being more effective and productive in your business?
“Through those discussions, a common thread formed around labor, and not just labor cost, but labor availability and labor flexibility — overall their ability to manage their business in the best possible way for the crop they’re trying to grow,” said Brantley.
As John Deere sees autonomous and automated technology maturing, it sees an opportunity to help customers manage their operations differently and give greater control over their operations.
“Ultimately, helping them take better care of their plants, their trees and their orchards, while improving output and reducing costs,” Brantley said.
5 things John Deere wants you to know about autonomous tech:
- Extending John Deere’s autonomy tech stack and adding capabilities for GPS-denied environments to orchard growers.
- Orchard tasks can be automated and documented, ensuring job quality with every pass while documenting for regulatory and sustainability requirements.
- Allows farmers to complete jobs when conditions are ideal — even under tight timelines — with autonomy that enables 24/7 performance.
- The autonomy system can be retrofitted onto existing tractors, making technology more accessible. Many components are already available for high-value crop growers to use today for job automation.
- The John Deere Operations Center enables farmers to manage their operations, including autonomous equipment, from anywhere, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. An example is tracking idle time to help improve reductions in emissions and fuel consumption.
But wait, there’s more
John Deere’s autonomous orchard tractor is actually one of two autonomous ag tractors set to debut at CES.
“For the first time, we’re also going to show a prototype of a fully, battery-electric tractor with an autonomy stack on it, and we’re pretty excited about that,” said Brantley.
The E-Power Battery Tractor prototype is designed to do a full day’s work in orchards, large vineyards and other high-value crop areas, he says.
The 130-horsepower equivalent tractor is part of John Deere’s LEAP ambition strategy — an initiative the company announced several years ago — to have battery-electric tractors by 2026.
“We think this battery-electric tractor is a huge step forward,” Brantley said.
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