Autonomy & Robotics

Monarch Tractor’s Collapse Exposes Dealer Risks and a Channel in Crisis

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As Monarch’s business faltered in late 2025, the fallout has rippled across the dealer channel, exposing a systemic weakness in how new manufacturers enter and exit the market.

Georgia Hosting Inaugural Southeastern Specialty Crop Technology Conference

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Technology on display will include AI-driven sprayers and weeders, harvesting aid robotics, drones for weed detection and wildlife mitigation, and more.

Caterpillar Acquires Monarch Tractor

kschmidt@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:19 -0400

In a statement earlier this month, Monarch said its “core technology, including our software-defined vehicle platform, perception stack, and electrification systems, has been acquired by a large global equipment manufacturer. It means the technology will continue to move forward.”

Can Drones Keep Young People in Agriculture?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The technology is considered a more affordable way for younger farmers to get into the business without a lot of debt.

Monarch Tractor Releases Statement Following Reports of Shutting Down

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Monarch Tractor released a statement after several reports of the electric autonomous tractor company shutting down.

RDO Equipment Co., SurePoint Team Up to Train Farmers on Autonomy & Liquid Application Systems

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

RDO team members partnered with John Deere and SurePoint to train farmers on precision agriculture solutions as they face uncertainty in the coming application and tillage passes.

[Video] A Conversation About PTx’s OutRun Autonomy System

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Mike Schlitt from PTx details the company’s OutRun retrofit autonomy kit and the impact it’s having in the field.

[Video] Geringhoff’s Bill Dickhut Discusses U.S. Factory Expansion, AI, Tariffs & More

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Managing editor Noah Newman catches up with Bill Dickhut, president of Geringhoff, North America, in between sessions at the 2026 FEMA Supply Summit & Showcase in San Antonio, Texas.

Autonomous Scarecrow is Outstanding in His Field

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The next generation of pest management is laser-guided, drone-integrated, and slightly judgmental.

The Missing Metric in Commercial UAV Spraying

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

As carbon footprints are increasingly mentioned, rarely is it quantified in a way that reflects real operations.

AI in the Spotlight at FEMA Supply Summit & Showcase

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400

I just got back from the FEMA (Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association) Supply Summit and Showcase. My top takeaway from the week can be summed up with two letters. AI.

The Machine Already Knows ... Nobody Built the Layer to Use It

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In his latest blog, Graham Gleed, principal advisor at abcg, says, "My phone understands what I need. My car knows where I am going. My health app tracks my body and tells me what to adjust. Then I climb into a million-dollar tractor with five onboard computers, satellite connectivity, a stack of data services, and it comes with a paper manual!"

Equipment Compatibility Breakthroughs on Display at Plugfest

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Software engineers from different ag equipment companies put competition aside and came together under one roof to test the cross-brand interoperability of their products.

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.

Solinftec Deploys 100-Plus Autonomous Robots, Expands U.S. Footprint by 243%

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Alongside its solar-powered Solix robot, Solinftec recently debuted its now commercially available next-generation autonomous Refill Station designed for continuous, 24/7 field operation.

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.

Point, Counter Point: Machine vs. Human on AI-Powered Farm Equipment

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Farmers already accept that technology often makes better, or quicker, decisions than they can do themselves, says Randall Reeder, retired Ohio State Univ. ag extension engineer.

[Video] Beck’s Hybrids SeedIQ Delivers Practical Farm Research Insights

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Janelle Mauck from Beck’s Hybrids conducts a live demo of the new SeedIQ platform at the 2026 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky.

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.

No-Till Likely to Earn Endorsement from Truly Smart Machines

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

We asked Randall Reeder, retired ag extension engineer and renowned expert in conservation tillage practices, to weigh in on the subject of AI. Here’s what Reeder had to say …

What If Your Fully-Aware Tractor Won’t Allow a Tillage Pass?

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 14:28:15 -0500

After sitting in my file folder of “half-baked” essay ideas over the past year, I did what I should have done sooner. I went to the source and asked AI (ChatGPT) a specific question.

Does Autonomous Equipment Make Economic Sense Today?

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A new Purdue-led analysis examines real-world costs, labor tradeoffs, and profitability thresholds for autonomy on Midwest corn and soybean farms.

Carbon Robotics Launches the World’s First-Ever Large Plant Model

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Plant Profiles, a new feature launching for all LaserWeeders, demonstrates how this AI translates into practical value for farmers. The feature enables farmers to quickly and easily tailor the foundational LPM to their unique crops, weeds, and field conditions.

K-State Partnership Puts Cutting-Edge Drone Tech in Farmers’ Hands

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems, K-State’s ID3A are partnering to advance drone technology, empower farmers and shape the future of precision agriculture

FCC Foreign Drone Ban Could Limit Spray Drones, ASDC Warns

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Coalition urges targeted security measures, warning the FCC’s action could disrupt innovation, supply chains, and farmer access to essential spray drone tech.

Farming Robots Utilize AI to Tackle Labor Shortage

alicia.e.barron@asu.edu — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Raghu Nandivada was visiting family in rural south India in 2018 when, after a long day of work, his mother challenged him to invent a robot that removed weeds.

Precision Farming Dealer's Best of 2025

mbrusnahan@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

From breakthrough tech to dealer success stories, 2025 was a year of innovation and growth in precision farming—and we’ve rounded up the highlights that mattered most.

Artificial Intelligence Making its Mark in the Field & Cab

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to make a big impact in the farming world just like it already has in several other industries. But AI won’t replace farmers — only make their lives easier, says Colin Hurd, CEO of Mach, a supplier of autonomous technology to OEMs.

Why Hardware Shortages are the Next Big Challenge for AI in Precision Farming

ccampbell@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

While the GPU and RAM shortage will likely affect precision farming tools, there’s the possibility that autonomous and precision tools shift to AI instead of this hardware.

Ag‑Tech Leader Seth Crawford Named Chair of Fieldwork Robotics

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Ag‑tech leader Seth Crawford will guide Fieldwork Robotics as it scales up autonomous berry‑harvesting solutions globally.