Data Management

2026 Dealership Minds Summit Speaker Program Released

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Focused on the theme of “Maximizing Operational ROI,” the 2026 Summit provides dealers with everything they need to know to magnify their best practices and drive operational excellence in an uncertain market.

The Data Crop ... The New Value Chain Nobody in Ag Saw Coming

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A familiar chain in ag is forming around a new commodity — the verified record of how a crop was grown. The machines are already in the field producing it. Graham Gleed, Principal Advisor at abcg, asks who profits from the harvest.

Engineers Put Competition Aside to Test Ag Equipment Interoperability at 2026 Plugfest

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Technical teams from over 20 competing manufacturers gathered in Milwaukee to test, validate and prove interoperability across machines and platforms during the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) Spring Plugfest.

Precision Ag Productivity Gains Add Up

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The ROI of precision ag extends beyond the direct financial implications as well.

Right to Repair Was the Warm-Up ... the Real Fight Is Who Controls the Insight

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A new competitive battleground is opening in agricultural equipment. The fight is no longer about who owns the data. It's about who controls the insight generated from it and who gets to shape the customer's next decision. In this guest piece, Graham Gleed says many dealers and OEMs aren't positioned for the battle.

Farm Bots & AI: Keeping Farmers on the Cutting Edge

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0500

During a recent trip to Agritechnica, the world’s leading trade show for farm equipment, John Fulton noticed a common theme.

Connected Tech Brings Visibility & Precision to High-Stakes Vegetable Planting

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Tony Kramer breaks down how the John Deere Operations Center and SeedStar give vegetable farms real-time planter data to boost planter performance and reduce downtime.

John Deere Announces its 2026 Startup Collaborators

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Deere & Company announced the names of five companies chosen for its 2026 Startup Collaborator Program.

Dealers Report Improved Precision Sales & Service Numbers in 2025

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The 2026 sales outlook looks solid with 42% forecasting at least 2-7% bump, according to Precision Farming Dealer Benchmark Study.

OEM’s Highlight Opportunities for Technology & Precision in High Value Crops

kschmidt@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In our last episode we shared details from the OEM panel during the Precision Farming Dealer Summit on what CNH, Kubota and AGCO are looking forward to as it relates to autonomy in the ag equipment business.

Updating the Model Ag Data Use Agreement

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

"The coming wave of new platforms and products that focus on regenerative agriculture and use of artificial intelligence tools require that companies update their data collection policies," says Todd Janzen in his latest blog.

From Data Hoarding to Decision Power: What Farmers Need in 2026

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

"I’ve met many growers in 2025 who now recognize that no silver bullet exists. If you’re waiting for a magical AI chatbot that tells you exactly what to do and when, you’ll likely be waiting a long time," says Reinder Prins.

NC Agricultural Analytics Platform Supports Data-Driven Farming

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

When Brad Lewis landed at NC State University, he saw something within the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative that he did not expect to see.

Dealer/Farmer Gets 25-Bushel Bump from Planter Technology

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

"My first brush with the technology was in the break room of the local Pioneer dealership where Gregg Sauder put on a demonstration of the seed meter he was developing," Tom McKinney says.

University of Nebraska Researchers at Forefront to Address Agriculture-related Cyber Vulnerabilities

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The computers, sensors, GPS and cloud-based data systems that help producers boost productivity also increase the chances for cybercriminals to worm their way into producers’ operational systems and data.

[Video] Fendt Showcases PTx FarmENGAGE

mvogel@lesspub.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this video from the 2025 Farm Progress Show, Brandon Montgomery, Senior Brand Manager for Fendt, explains the features of AGCO/Fendt’s new data management platform — PTx FarmENGAGE.

Cybersecurity on the Farm: Protecting Data from the Newest Threats in Ag

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Data-driven decision making leads to a shift in the farming paradigm: the contemporary farmer is farming data.

FMC Brings More Predictability to Farming with Pest Control Mobile App

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

FMC, an agricultural services company, has launched a mobile app to help growers of a variety of crops across the globe decide the best time to apply insecticides, fungicides, and other treatments and achieve the best results.

People-Powered Precision Ag: How Technology and Trust Drive Smarter Farming

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Behind every screen and sensor is a person — someone who knows their land, understands their crops and is ready to use the tools of precision agriculture to make every acre count. This is where we believe in people-powered precision agriculture.

Staying Agile Through Uncertainty: Key Takeaways from Sherwin-Williams Innovation Days

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Now, precision agriculture is gaining traction. Instead of just being more sustainable, precision farming is now seen as an efficiency driver that adds economic value.

What Farmers Want from You: Solid Relationships, ROI & Ongoing Training

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Innovative farmers share candid insights on technology usage & building better partnerships with dealers.

Connection in the Clouds: Data Spaces & the Common Connector Reduce Complexity in Ag

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The AEF has developed a software component they call the “common connector.” Available now, the standardized connector manages the network APIs, the set up, and the participants in the network, allowing visible peer-to-peer connections to all other participants in the network, and improving interoperability.

Tractor Performance Data Sets? Keys to Achieving Max Power Utilization

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The increase in connectivity means not only more GPS data points but more tractor performance data, farmers, equipment managers and trusted precision ag experts can monitor a tractor’s productivity to reduce risk of downtime while increasing productivity based on the field and tasks.

GeoPard Releases Precision Ag Tools — Rates Calculator & Batch Equations

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

GeoPard has released two modules — Rates Calculator and Batch Equations — designed to put farmers first by cutting planning time, reducing input costs and boosting profitability.

Investing in AI Provides Dealerships with a Strategic Advantage

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:30:37 -0400

The ability of AI to truly unlock benefits for your business comes from figuring out how you can tap your many “filing cabinets” of unstructured data to provide fast, accurate and meaningful results. Unless you approach the idea of AI integration from a truly long-term strategic approach, you might be disappointed with the outcome.

Un-Silo Your Spray Applications Records, Reveal In-Season Insights

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Many farmers, like my dad, have their notebook organizational system. While these simple pen-and-paper record-keeping systems work, they keep information siloed, often disappearing into closets or filing cabinets.

How Drones are Revolutionizing Crop Monitoring

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

One of the most promising innovations in precision agriculture is the use of drones—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—to detect crop stress and predict yields with enhanced accuracy.

How a Farmer Can Save $116,000 Annually with Precision Technology

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Adam Gittins cautions farmers to control their natural reaction to “sticker shock” when shopping for precision agriculture technology, and to realize the rapid ROI such tools can provide.

Precision Dealers Eyeing Bounce Back Year After Challenging 2024

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

While precision farming sales and service revenue was down on average in 2024, most dealers are optimistic they’ll bounce back this year according to the 12th annual Precision Farming Dealer Benchmark Study.

John Deere Launches Precision Essentials Kit

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Farmers can now retrofit legacy John Deere equipment and mixed fleets with the necessary technology to accomplish gains in productivity from insights into their operation.