Autonomy & Robotics

[Technology Corner] Dealers Gather for Inaugural AI Workshop & Networking Event

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Leaders from AgRevolution, Agriteer, Young’s Equipment, LoneStar Ag, KanEquip and more gathered in Rosemont, Ill., for the inaugural ViNE Event, hosted by the Vi by visorPRO team.

Innovative Farmer Plants Entire Crop Autonomously

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Equipped with Sabanto, Panorama and Starlink, Quint Pottinger became the first farmer in the Bluegrass State to plant his entire crop with a driverless tractor, joining fewer than 50 farms nationwide, according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

[Podcast] Autonomy Takes the Wheel: Farmer Plants Entire Crop with Driverless Tractor

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Precision Farming Dealer podcast, brought to you by Ag Express, Quint Pottinger explains how he was able to plant his entire corn crop this spring with a driverless tractor.

Survey Says … Over 40% of Farmers Believe AI Could Improve Their Operation

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:17:00 -0400

In Purdue's monthly survey, 400 farmers were asked, “Given your current labor and equipment, how much would artificial intelligence (AI) tools improve your operation?”

[Technology Corner] Thinking Outside the Box to Implement Precision Tech in Challenging Fields

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

I got my first taste of precision ag in the desert the other week during my visit with Jake Nordenberg, who works as a precision specialist for 24-store John Deere dealer Stotz Equipment in Buckeye, Ariz.

Ag Autonomy’s ‘State of the State’

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"The old paradigm of software in ag equipment was that software was used to enable your machine. That paradigm is dead. The new paradigm is that your machine is the hardware that enables the intelligence of software," says Chris Hunsaker, who breaks down the forces, paths, challenges and opportunities surrounding autonomy in ag.

Niqo Robotics AI Weeding Platform Expands into New Crops, Markets

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

At the core of Niqo’s expansion is Niqo Sense, a proprietary AI camera system that can be integrated into multiple form factors and retrofitted onto existing farm equipment.

Why Nobody Can Agree What a Field Robot Should Look Like & Why the Argument Will Be Settled the Same Way It Always Has Been

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:55:00 -0400

"Autonomous systems are coming. That is not in question. The question is which platforms reach the ecosystem density needed to become the foundation, and which ones follow the Fast Hitch into the history books regardless of their technical merit," says Graham Gleed.

[Technology Corner] Innovative Farmer Boosts Efficiency with 360 RAIN, Precision Tech & Mixed Fleet

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400

On this special road edition of Technology Corner, we pay a visit to innovative farmer Robert Boyle in Coolidge, Ariz. Boyle reveals some of the secret weapons — including 360 RAIN — that help boost his profitability and efficiency on soils receiving only 7 inches of rain annually.

ePropelled Launches Integrated Propulsion & Power System for Ag UAVs

Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While initially developed for agricultural UAV applications, the same propulsion and power architecture can also be applied to a wider class of uncrewed systems, including ground based robotic platforms used in precision agriculture and autonomous field operations.

U.S. Sugar Launches Largest Deployment of Autonomous Tractors in Sugar Industry

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Sugar today announced the launch of the largest commercial use of autonomous tractors in the American sugar industry, deploying a fleet of unmanned John Deere tractors within its 255,000 acres of farmland in South Florida.

What Self-Driving Cars Got Right That Your Farm Equipment Can Use

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"The autonomous vehicle industry spent more than 15 years and tens of billions of dollars building technology that works on city streets. The off-road equipment industry doesn't need to repeat that journey. But it does need to be clear-eyed about which pieces transfer," says Adityaveer Raswan, autonomy software engineer for Agtonomy.

Autonomous Weeding Robots Lead 2025 Precision Ag Funding

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In 2025, autonomous weeding and field robotics companies drew more capital than any other sub-segment.

Kubota Invests in Agtonomy

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Kubota has invested in Agtonomy, a U.S.-based startup engaged in developing platforms and automation systems for precision automated agricultural operations.

Everyone Agrees Autonomous Systems Have a Place in Agriculture. So Why Aren't They Finding One?

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Right now, when a startup approaches a dealer group about representing its autonomous platform, the agronomic case is usually compelling and the economics question is usually left to the customer to work out. That's the wrong order," says Graham Gleed, principal advisor at abcg.

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.