Precision Agriculture

Exclusive: In the Eye of the Cycle, John Deere Charts a Path Through Ag’s Slump

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:25:36 GMT

After months of workforce reductions and sliding equipment sales, John Deere is reversing course, announcing it will bring 140 employees back to its Waterloo, Iowa, operations as demand ticks higher for its 8R and 9R tractors.

The recall comes even as Deere forecasts the North American ag equipment market will decline another 15% to 20% in 2026, underscoring the push-and-pull shaping today’s farm economy. Large equipment sales remain under pressure from lower commodity prices and tighter margins, yet pockets of global demand are forcing Deere to recalibrate production in real time.

In an exclusive interview with Farm Journal this week, Deere & Company President Deanna Kovar laid out how the company is navigating that tension: tightening its long-standing build-for-retail manufacturing model, adjusting output month to month and working to protect farmers’ equipment equity during a downturn.

At the same time, Deere is attacking costs where it can, reducing prices on 187,000 parts over the past two years and preparing to roll out a new lower-priced tier of replacement parts later this summer. The company is also testing a tractor powered by E-98 ethanol, technology that could eventually eliminate the need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) altogether while driving even more demand for the crops farmers already grow.

For Kovar, who grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm before spending 26 years rising through Deere’s ranks, the stakes are personal. Now, just months into her role leading Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, she is steering the company through one of the sharpest equipment pullbacks in recent memory, while positioning it for what comes next.

A Cyclical Business in a Prolonged Downturn

The ag equipment cycle has clearly turned. Industry data show steep drops in large equipment sales, and Deere’s internal outlook aligns with the broader trend.

“Deere is 188 years old, so we know we’re part of a cyclical business of ag equipment, but definitely we’re seeing similar numbers. Our expectations that we shared in our last quarterly earnings was that the North American equipment market would be down 15% to 20% again in 2026. We recognize the ag economy is in a tough spot at the moment, and we’re working hard to make sure we can help farmers become more productive and more profitable through using our equipment and technology solutions, but it’s tough out there.”

She says the Association of Equipment Manufacturers figures for 2025, which show sales of 4WD tractors fell nearly 42% and combine sales are down 36%, align with what Deere is seeing.

The significant slump in sales doesn’t come as a surprise to row crop farmers who’ve seen several consecutive years of declining net farm income following a record high in 2022. USDA’s first official forecast for 2026 suggests continued pressure and another year of declining net farm income, with not much relief on input prices and stagnant commodity prices. Kovar says Deere understands the financial strains producers are seeing.

“Overall, the outlook for 2026 is that farmers are going to continue to be under pressure from a commodity price standpoint,” she says. “We’re certainly seeing input costs somewhat flatten for producers, and, of course, many producers are grateful for the government payments that will help them start 2026 maybe in a better place than they would have without it. Certainly great yields last fall were a good positive thing for producers, but it’s still putting a lot of pressure on commodity prices today.”

For Deere, that pressure translates directly into lower equipment demand and tough decisions inside its factories.

Manufacturing Adjustments: Building for Retail in Real Time

Over the past year, Deere announced workforce reductions across multiple Midwestern facilities. Since 2024, it’s reported John Deere laid off over 2,000 employees in the U.S., with those jobs primarily located in Iowa and Illinois. Recently, it reversed course in a couple locations, announcing it would bring some of those employees back.

Back in January, Deere also announced it was returning 99 workers to the job in Iowa, impacting both its Davenport Works and Dubuque facilities. But Deere said this week it’s also bringing back jobs at its Waterloo facility.

“We’re constantly evaluating what we think the market will be. And it’s not an annual thing. It’s a month to month, a quarter-to-quarter opportunity. And yes, we just announced 140 workers to come back to our Waterloo operations. This is the operations where we make the drive trains for 8R tractors, where we pour the castings for the new high horsepower 9R tractors, where engines are made, and where we put tractors final assembly together. So we’re always happy when we can bring workers back into our factory. And it’s because we’re starting to see a little tick up in demand for those tractors,” she says.

Kovar says it’s not necessarily just a North American phenomenon. The uptick in demand is coming globally.

“We are seeing some signs that there could be some opportunities, but much of this is going to be iterative over time. It won’t be from a very low point to a very high point. We expect over time that we can start to see things normal,” she adds.

Kovar emphasizes Deere’s long-standing “build-for-retail” philosophy, avoiding overproduction that would flood dealer lots and depress used values.

“We’ve been in business for 188 years, so we’re always making sure that we’re being as efficient and effective as we can at building the quality products that farmers come to rely on. So we’re all always adjusting how we manufacture, how we make sure we have the quality checks and the automation to make sure we’re making every tractor as good as we can,” says Kovar.

She says the company is also working to forecast demand expectations and where that additional demand could surface. But she says for the past 25 years, the company has been focused on a build-to-order mentality, especially in the larger ag equipment space.

“We are a build for retail mentality,” says Kovar. “We don’t want to build it unless somebody wants it. So this has been something we’ve been working on for 20 years, and we will continue to be focused on really understanding the demand in the market and making sure we’re setting up schedules and plans to build for that amount.”

Equipment Prices: It’s About the Trade Differential

Few issues generate more coffee-shop debate than equipment prices. Farmers have seen machinery values dramatically climb over the past five years. Kovar points out that looking at sticker price alone misses the bigger financial picture.

“We’re always looking at making sure we’re delivering value for farmers when they buy our equipment, when they buy our technology,” Kovar says. “When we think about the price of equipment it’s really important we understand that farmers, when they buy a new piece of equipment, it’s really about the trade differential from the product they’re trading in to the one they’re buying, and if we were to lower the price of equipment, it would lower the trade-in value of their used equipment as well. We’re always very mindful of the equity farmers have in their equipment fleet and the fact it’s a huge part of their balance sheet.”

Not only does Deere need to be careful that changes don’t impact the trade differential, but she says the company is also focused on making sure there’s a balance between products being affordable and creating the value farmers expect.

That balance, of affordability versus protecting used values, according to Kovar, shapes Deere’s pricing philosophy in a down cycle.

Lowering the Cost of Technology and Parts

While base machine pricing remains complex, Deere is targeting affordability in other ways. The first, she says, is on the technology side, and lowering the upfront cost.

“We’re lowering the barrier to entry to amazing technologies like ExactShot fertilizer systems, See & Spray sprayer systems and a combine automation system so that more farmers can afford to get into the technology. These technologies are saving inputs, ensuring we’re getting all of the grain out of the field and increasing yields. That strategy to lower the upfront cost of those technologies, and help the customer pay for it as they get the value from it, is a huge step forward in allowing affordability of the technology.”

On repairs and parts, she points to self-service tools and direct price reductions. She says the company is constantly looking at the cost of parts for their equipment.

“Over the last two years, we’ve reduced the price on over 187,000 part numbers in the John Deere system. Later this summer, we’re going to be announcing a new tier of parts from John Deare that will allow us to give customers choice when they buy parts from us as to whether they want the traditional OEM, that likely has a longer life, or if they want to look at a lower cost option,” Kovar says.

Deciding between the two parts tiers depends on:

How much a farmer uses the machine
Equipment age
How long a farmer intends to keep that piece of equipment

Retrofit Kits: Precision Without the New Iron Price Tag

As new equipment sales slow and more farmers turn to the used market, Deere sees retrofit technology as a critical bridge, allowing producers to upgrade performance without taking on the cost of a brand-new machine.

Kovar says retrofit kits are designed to separate technology adoption from iron replacement.

“I think the beauty of retrofit kits is you don’t have to buy a brand new piece of equipment to get brand new technologies. Just last year we launched what we call our precision ag essentials kit, which is the foundation of our technology stack. It’s where farmers start to go from no precision to a more precision mentality, and this ability allows them to put a John Deere GPS receiver, a display and a modem on any piece of equipment, Deere or non Deere,” Kovar says.

The strategy fits squarely into Deere’s broader push to lower the barrier to entry for precision ag. By allowing a GPS receiver, display and modem to be installed on any brand of older equipment, the company is effectively expanding the addressable market for advanced automation and data tools.

“We’re seeing people put these kits on 20-year-old tractors and then being able to do things like AutoTrac, AutoPath and turn automation, section control, the things that can save 10% of inputs and make sure your stand is better in the spring and your weeds are deader during the season,” Kovar says. “This is a huge opportunity for every farmer to get more into precision. Once you get into that base of the technology stack, the sky’s the limit to be able to go to other products like ExactEmerge or See and Spray — these technologies that really drive savings to the bottom line for farmers.”

In a downturn defined by lower commodity prices and cautious equipment purchases, Deere is betting the future of precision ag won’t be limited to the newest machines on the lot, but will increasingly ride on tractors that have already been in the field for decades.

Right to Repair, EPA and DEF: Seeking Clarity

Right-to-repair and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) rules have been flash points between manufacturers and producers with two major announcements from EPA.

In early February 2026, EPA made a right-to-repair guidance announcement guidance and actions supporting the right to repair for farmers and equipment owners, specifically addressing issues with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) systems and emission controls. The guidance clarifies the Clean Air Act allows for temporary overrides of emission systems during repairs, prohibits manufacturers from restricting access to tools or software, and enables repairs in the field.

The following day, EPA announced the agency is demanding detailed failure data from major diesel engine manufacturers as it considers additional rules aimed at reducing DEF-related shutdowns and derates that have plagued farmers, truckers and equipment operators for years.

“I think if you step back and think about what EPA’s done over about the last nine months, there’s been two important messages. One was last summer when they gave voluntary guidance that said we should extend the time from when a customer might have an issue with their DEF systems and not cause them to go into an inducement or a derate within two hours, which was the original rule. We’re very glad EPA has come out and said we can extend that time to give farmers more time to maybe finish the field, finish the day before they have to execute a derate or go through a regen on their DEF,” Kovar says.

She calls it a huge opportunity for Deere and one to which the company is already responding.

“We’re in the process of making sure we can extent that time on all the equipment we’re producing. We’ll do that over the coming months and years to help make sure we’re extending that time and not putting people in jeopardy of having a shutdown opportunity,” Kovar says.

On off-road right-to-repair clarity, Kovar says EPA’s right-to-repair guidance announced in February directly responds to a formal request the company made to the agency in June 2025 .

“[EPS] had already shared that on-road equipment didn’t have to go to the original equipment manufacturer or an authorized repair shop to turn your tractor or your truck back on after you had a deratement issue. We said, ‘Hey, we have tools that a farmer can do this on their own, but the way we read your rules, we believe we need you to tell us it’s OK.’ We’re grateful that last week EPA came out and said, yes, it is OK for off-road equipment for farmers to fix their own issues. We’re in the process of making sure John Deere Operations Center ProService, which is our self-repair tool any farmer can access, by early March, mid-March, we want to have the ability for a farmer to, if they run into a deratement issue on their tractor or combine or whatever, use Operation Center Pro Service to get their tractors back up.”

If DEF Goes Away, It’s Not a Quick Switch

With political discussions swirling around eliminating certain environmental regulations, and President Trump specifically stating he wants to see those regulations removed on equipment , some farmers wonder whether equipment could quickly be built without DEF systems.

When Trump was in a roundtable with farmers in December, he claimed removing those requirements on equipment would prevent breakdowns and make equipment cheaper. During the one-on-one interview with Kovar, Farm Journal asked if removing DEF on equipment would bring down prices.

“We have to really understand what they mean and how they want to go about it before we can really answer, does it make equipment cheaper? I think we’ve spent 15 years perfecting the system we have today, so we’ll have to continue to understand how far back do we think we’re going to go, how long would it take us, because we don’t have all of the technologies that don’t have DEF today,” Kovar explains. “If it were called tomorrow, we couldn’t start building tractors without it the next day.”

Removing DEF is not as simple as flipping a switch on the assembly line. Instead, she says Deere is focused on making sure farmers have the ability to repair their own equipment if it would go into derate. She thinks that’s a huge step forward in solving some of the issues that farmers have had with DEF.

Deere Tests an E-98 Ethanol Tractor

Even as debate continues in Washington over DEF requirements, Deere is exploring a future that could bypass the issue entirely.

While the company says it remains engaged with EPA on next steps surrounding DEF and emissions policy, Deere is also investing in an alternative fuel platform, an ethanol-powered tractor designed to run on E-98. The tractor will debut at Commodity Classic in two weeks.

“We’re not just thinking also about diesel, right, we also considering how might we fix this problem another way. And that’s an ethanol tractor we’ve been using across Iowa and other places. It’s early for us, but the idea that we could use E-98 to run a tractor, it’s so clean you don’t need diesel exhaust fluid to run it. We’re early in trying to pioneer what is an alternative to diesel that would allow a farmer to grow the fuel they put in their tractor to grow next year’s crop. It’s something we think we need to continue to talk about. There is a ton of infrastructure that would need to follow to allow an E-98-type fuel to flow and be on farm, but we think it’s an opportunity in the long run to help agriculture grow the fuel they use to grow the food we all eat.”

Deere confirms the early results are promising.

According to Deere, the limiting factor isn’t the engine technology itself, it’s the infrastructure needed to support it.

“Do we have the fuels available? Do we have the on-farm ability? Are the fuel companies ready to deliver it to the farm? At this point, there is a much bigger system challenge that will have to work,” Kovar says.

Advocating for Demand: Ethanol, Exports and E-15

Turning the ag economy around, in Kovar’s view, is about demand, both domestic and global. Not only is Deere working on equipment that could run with higher blends of ethanol, but Deere is also advocating for more demand.

“Certainly, we’re focused on helping farmers grow more with less. At the same time, we’re focused on helping to make sure there are markets for the crops our producers sell. We certainly spend a lot of time advocating for agriculture and for producers to have access to markets. We’re grateful for all of the trade deals that have happened here recently. We’re hopeful they start to materialize, and we see more and more grains flowing outside of the U.S. in exports. We also know we’ve got a huge opportunity here in the U.S. to drive ethanol and renewable fuels,” Kovar says. “We’re focused on making sure we’re using our voice at Deere to advocate for agriculture to not only feed the world, but fuel it. It starts with E-15, which we are hopeful we can get across the finish line at some point very soon. But it can’t end there. We have to continue to advocate for renewable diesels and an ethanol future, so we have to make sure farmers can sell their grains at a price that’s profitable, and it’s all about creating demand.”

The Next Five Years: From Data Collection to Real-Time Decisions

For Deere, which sees itself as a technology company, Kovar says she also sees Deere as a smart industrial company. With a focus on technology, she thinks the future isn’t about a single breakthrough machine, but rather about what happens behind the scenes in the data.

When asked what the biggest shift will be over the next five years, Kovar points to the evolution of information rooted in data.

“I think if you look back over those 25 years of technology, data has been such an important part of it. It started with yield maps, yield monitoring and binders on a shelf and has evolved over time to a cloud-based system. Everything’s connected. With Deere, it’s about John Deere Operation Center and how farmers can leverage that data, share it with partners, with their seed dealer, with their ag retailer, with the banker and with their landlords and have this really cohesive opportunity to bring all of the data they have in agriculture into one place,” Kovar says.

Personally, she sees the next step involving Deere helping farmers move beyond timely insights to timely decision-making.

“How do we help [farmers] get insights, timely information, that helps them make the best decision they can make in that moment on their unique piece of land in the middle of wherever they are farming and really give them confidence the data can help them drive to even better decisions,” she adds. “If we’re going to help them be more productive and be more profitable, it really starts with all the decisions they make. I think this next three to five years is a huge opportunity for us to make sure we are connecting all of their data in one place and helping them make really important decisions in real time that help them become more.”

Instead of one sweeping, industry-altering change, Kovar sees steady gains driven by machine learning, automation and in-the-moment decision-making, sometimes by the operator and sometimes by the equipment itself.

“I think that’s a huge part of the next three to five years, and those decisions happen because they’ve consciously made them or the machines are making them. If you think about See and Spray, it is deciding whether that’s a weed or a plant and only spraying the weed to save 50% to 60% of the herbicides,” Kovar says. “Those kind of in-the-moment decisions are a huge opportunity over the next 3 to 5 years as computer vision and machine learning compute and all of these things continue to accelerate at a pace that is very hard to keep up with.”

For Deere, the future isn’t just bigger iron or even more automation, it’s about connecting every data point on the farm and turning it into actionable insight, fast enough to matter in the field.

Watch the full interview here:

Machinery News: Sorbe To Lead PTx, Farmall Tractors And Case IH Round Baler, Claas Jaguar Forage Choppers

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:22:48 GMT

AGCO Names Brian Sorbe as New PTx Leader

Brian Sorbe joins AGCO as President of PTx, bringing precision ag leadership to accelerate the company’s offerings of smart farming solutions for almost any brand.

(AGCO Corporation)

AGCO appoints Brian Sorbe as president of PTx, effective Aug. 25, 2025.

Sorbe brings nearly three decades of experience in precision agriculture, global sales and product development to this pivotal role, AGCO says.

“I am confident under Brian’s leadership, PTx will achieve our goal of $2 billion in precision ag sales by 2029 and help us deliver our vision to be the trusted partner for smart farming solutions,” says Eric Hansotia, AGCO chairman, president and CEO.

Sorbe spent 14 years at Topcon Positioning Systems in leadership roles, including senior vice president and general manager. His career arc also spans construction and industrial automation, but agriculture has always been at the core. Raised on a farm in Iowa, Sorbe began his precision ag journey at Ag-Chem Equipment in Jackson, Minn.

He will be based in Tremont, Ill., which is a key PTx site. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Purdue University, and Sorbe’s postgraduate work includes certifications in AI and machine learning and agricultural autonomy and robotics as well as a Master of Business of Administration program.

You can read the full news release here.

Case IH Launches 3 Farmall Tractors, RB6 Round Baler

Case IH Farmall C utility tractor.

(Case IH )

Case IH is debuting new machinery solutions ranging from compact to utility tractors to upgraded round balers. This includes an enhanced line up of Farmall tractors, including the Farmall A, Farmall C and the return of the Farmall M.

Case IH is also unveiling a new RB6 series variable chamber round baler.

The new Farmall medium utility A series (90HP to 120HP) tractor features performance enhancements and a higher-horsepower model. Simple, factory-fit technology improves the operator experience, ensuring efficiency no matter the season or task.

The Farmall medium utility C series (90C, 100C, 110C, 120C) tractor (shown above) caters to a wide range of needs, offering both 12-speed PowerShuttle and 24-speed Hi-Lo transmissions. The Farmall C now offers subscription-free factory-installed telematics, including track-and-trace fleet management and optional ISOBUS compatible implement control.

Case IH Farmall M utility tractor

(Case IH)

And the Farmall utility M series (110M, 120 Super M) tractor (shown above) is making its return, promising farmers a premium experience with exceptional power and high-quality design. The M series is ideal for the needs of farms with both cash crops and livestock.

(Case IH)

The RB6 series variable chamber round baler (shown above) offers durability with triple seal bearings throughout the machine to ensure contaminants stay out while lubricants stay in. Round baler automation paired with the easy-to-use display interface ensures precise bale quality and in-field productivity.

Claas Intros New Jaguar 1000 Series Forage Harvesters

(Claas)

Claas is unveiling its new Jaguar 1000 series forage harvesters. The German outfit says its new self-propelled lineup features greater throughput, power and operator comfort.

The series encompasses four models — the Jaguar 1080, 1090, 1100 and 1200 — that range from 850HP to 1,110HP with throughput rates of up to 500 tons per hour.

Claas says it designed the machines in partnership with North American growers to deliver enhanced chop quality and efficiency.

Noteworthy features on these new machines include:

The widest crop flow channel on the market, according to Claas. A new precompression system and four precompression rollers guarantee uniform feeding of the V-FLEX knife drum.
A transversely mounted 24-liter V12 MAN engine, delivering torque and reliable power.
Intelligent engine load management via CEMOS Auto Performance and all-wheel drive.
The new Multi Crop Cracker XL, a 12.2" (310 mm) diameter roller conditioning system that ensures optimal grain and stover processing at high throughput rates. It’s available in both classic and shredlage configurations.
Claas connect Chop Quality Analysis, which uses artificial intelligence to deliver Corn Silage Processing Score (CSPS) feedback directly to a smartphone.

Your Next Read: EPA Rolls Out Streamlined Diesel Engine Fluid Guidelines

No, John Deere is Not Freezing Production or Stepping Away From its U.S. Factories

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:48:44 GMT

An online report last week claimed John Deere is shutting down ALL manufacturing in response to the ongoing tariff situation in the U.S.

But we looked into it, and we’re here to tell you: don’t take the bait — or, as the kids say, feed the trolls — because it’s simply not true.

An article authored by Kieran Schalkwyk and titled “John Deere Freezes U.S. Manufacturing in Unprecedented Shutdown” appeared on MSN.com and was aggregated by Google News feeds last week, claiming the manufacturer is “making a radical move that some might think is ‘un-American.’”

John Deere shared the following LinkedIn post Friday afternoon. You can also visit Deere.com for more information on the company’s U.S. manufacturing presence.

The MSN.com post has since been taken down and brings up an error page:

MSN.com screenshot

(MSN.com)

It’s somewhat bewildering timing for this particular misinformation ploy.

John Deere recently put out a blog post outlining its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The statement says John Deere will invest $20 billion into its U.S. footprint over the next decade, which includes major expansion projects in Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Today, the company has 60 manufacturing facilities in more than 16 U.S. states and employs over 30,000 American workers.

What is true is over the past 18 months, the company has been forced to lay off some employees , and it strategically slowed manufacturing at some production facilities in Iowa in response to depressed farmer demand for new tractors and combines.

Of course, John Deere is not alone navigating a treacherous global farm economy. Machinery rivals AGCO and CNH also made the tough choice to layoff factory workers over the past 12 months. CNH even completely shutdown its overseas machinery imports during the first few days of the tariff policy rollout, although that pause was only temporary.

In February, we updated our popular “Who Makes What Where” feature showing where major farm equipment is manufactured around the world.

Our analysis of John Deere’s global factory network shows that of the 60 John Deere machines relevant to U.S. farmers, 50 of them (83%) are manufactured here in North America. Of all the major farm equipment manufacturers we polled, John Deere has the largest U.S.-based manufacturing footprint other than Canadian-based Buhler Industries, which is 100% North America based.

So, it feels safe to say we can put this rumor to bed once and for all: No, John Deere is not shutting down its factories. Myth Busted. Shutdown the rumor mill.

Your Next Read - All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 18:20:35 GMT

John Deere is rolling out two new forage harvesters for North American dairy producers and custom harvesting operations.

The brand new F8 and F9 Series feature three factory-installed operator cab options, a technology stack that will one day enable autonomous operation, and enhanced feed quality via an integrated inoculant dosing system.

How are F8 and F9 different?
The F8 Series (425PS to 645PS) is a narrow base model that takes the place of Deere’s 8000 Series forage harvester, while the F9 Series (700PS to 1020PS) replaces the 9000 Series. Within the F9 Series is the F9 1000, which is Deere’s largest forage harvest machine to date.

(Editor’s Note: “PS” stands for Pferdestärke, which is the German term for horsepower. PS to horsepower is not an apples-to-apples equal ratio. The F9 1000, for example, features 1020PS which equates to 1,006HP, according to the manufacturer.)

The F9 is available in two engine options:

John Deere 18X (no DEF required)
Liebherr V12 24L

It has five horsepower options, while the F8 comes with the JD14X engine and can be configured across six horsepower options.

The manufacturer last rolled out completely new forage harvesters in 2019.

How much will each new model cost?

The feed rolls on John Deere’s F8 and F9 forage harvesters have integrated metal detection to keep unwanted material out of your feed.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

John Deere is not sharing its pricing just yet, but the two new models are built at its Zweibrucken, Germany, factory. John Deere dealers will begin taking orders for the aggressively styled, technology-packed harvesters this fall, with final delivery in time for the 2026 forage harvesting season.

Deere representatives declined comment on what effect, if any, the still-developing U.S.and E.U. tariff situation could have on its launch plans.

Ahead of the launch, Farm Journal went to Madison, Wisc., to kick the tires and learn all about the new machines. The F8 and F9 harvesters we viewed and climbed into were the first finished production units off the factory line. Deere says several units will be field tested with U.S. customers ahead of the full fall launch.

“We’re really excited about the new cab and the technology we’ve added to these machines like central tire inflation, ground speed automation and the new kernel processing units,” says Bergen Nelson, go-to-market manager, combines and forage harvesters.

Here’s some of what we learned about the new forage harvesters:

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Cab Comforts: The same three operator cab options offered with Deere’s X and S Series combines — Select, Premium and Ultimate — are available on the F8 and F9 Series. A smoothly swiveling captain’s chair, as well as an all-new corner post display that shows real-time machine data, are among the additions. Operators who spend long hours in the cab will also appreciate integrated entertainment like SXM Radio and an optional mini fridge.

(Matthew J. Grassi )

Foundational Deere Tech Stack: Each new forage harvester in the series includes Deere’s baseline precision tech enablement stack — which consists of its G5 display, Starfire 7500 receiver and JDLink modem.

Central Tire Inflation System: A completely new feature (top left inset photo) within the G5 display allows the operator to adjust front tire PSI up or down from the cab.

John Deere Inoculant Dosing System 2.0

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Inoculant Dosing System 2.0: New on both the F8 and F9, a high-volume 85 gallon inoculant tank and integrated pump allow the user to accurately adjust silage inoculant dosage rates from the G5 display in the cab. The system is easy to pump and prime as well with the touch of a button located at the rear of the machine.

Ground Speed Automation: This cruise control-like option reads RPMs and throttles the harvester up or down based on crop conditions. For example, harvesting corn at higher moisture levels will increase power output, so the machine will automatically slow down to ensure it doesn’t plug up or do a sub-optimal job harvesting. This feature comes standard on all base models for both series and does not require a yearly subscription unlock or per-acre fee.

Pro Touch Harvest: Another new feature within the G5 display allows the operator to shift the machine from road transport mode to harvest mode in a single click. It can also be used to quickly engage AutoTrac and ground speed automation once the operator arrives at the edge of field.

This all-new XStream 305 Kernel Processing (KP) unit is built by Scherer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New Kernal Processing (KP) Units: The new harvesters feature two completely redesigned KP units, the Ultimate 250 (also made in Germany) and the Scherer XStream 305, which is made in Sioux Falls, S.D. An integrated winch and internal rail mounting system makes switching the machine from corn forage to hay forage in the field quick and simple. The number signifies each KP unit’s roll diameter width in millimeters.

“Both KPs will go in both machines and have four different roll options depending on how aggressive the dairyman wants their end feed quality to be,” says Shane Campbell, product marketing manager, forage harvesters.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Integrated Harvest Lab 3000: This on-demand constituent sensing module pulls over 4,000 samples per second with +/- 2% accuracy, and John Deere says it can save dairy operations time and money versus collecting and sending samples to a lab. The sensor tech (available as an add-on option) enables accurate measurement and documentation of dry matter, starch, protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber for both harvested forage and manure. The data can be stored, organized and shared via Deere’s Operations Center. Within Operations Center, users can take geo-referenced data and build out spatial starch content — as well as moisture and protein — maps for hybrid selection and fertility management. Because if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

Active Fill Control 3.0: Using sensors and cameras on the grain spout, this tech feature automatically detects the trailer or grain cart next to the forage harvester and begins filling it with a preselected fill strategy. This reduces the number of times an operator has to adjust the spout manually and also lessens fatigue and neck strain, according to Deere.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New Operating Modes: Several of the models within the F9 Series offer what Deere is calling its “Engine Power Plus” feature — which gives a sizeable horsepower boost when the machines senses it needs a little extra chopping power to the harvesting head. There is also an ECO mode that can be toggled on when the machines don’t need the extra torque.

Ease-Of-Access: Both models have side and rear panels that easily open to grant full access to the inner workings of the machines, making the new forage harvesters much easier to service and maintain without a lift or other heavy specialized equipment. The machine is setup so techs and mechanically-minded farmers will not have to climb underneath it to perform daily maintenance.

“At the end of the day, we know it’s all about the cow, and these machines will put out quality feed,” Nelson says. “We’ll have these out at the farm shows this summer, including Farm Progress Show, World Ag Expo, World Dairy Expo and the U.S. Custom Harvesters Convention.”

Your Next Read - Renewed Confidence: The Dairy Industry is Optimistic in 2025

Machinery News: John Deere Debuts Forage Harvesters, Ecorobotix Lettuce Algorithm, Kubota-Agtonomy Deal

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:10:19 GMT

John Deere has announced the launch of new F8 and F9 Series self-propelled forage harvesters, which the manufacturer says are built from the ground up with customer input to elevate forage performance and farm productivity.

Deere says the new F9 Series comes in two engine options — John Deere 18X and Liebherr V12 24L — with five horsepower options ranging from 700PS to 1020PS; the F8 Series comes with the JD14X engine bringing six horsepower options, ranging from 425PS to 645PS.

It also says the new machines offer improved automation with a higher level of comprehensive technology offerings compared with previous models.

The technology options include:

Ground speed automation — Deere also offers this feature on new S7 combines. The manufacturer says it helps maintain ideal load and prevent operator stress by adjusting ground speed in real time based on crop conditions.
ProTouch Harvest — A feature allowing operators to initiate multiple harvest-ready settings with the push of a button, while Active Fill Control ensures consistent truck fills even under the toughest harvesting conditions.

(John Deere)

“A higher-quality forage output with more power, more precision and more uptime, that’s the focus of the new forage harvesters for our customers,” said Bergen Nelson, John Deere go-to-market manager for harvesting equipment. “We’ve combined our strongest hardware with our newest and smartest precision ag technology to create higher-quality forage.”

More information on the new F8 and F9 Series SPFHs is available from a local John Deere dealer or deere.com.

Check out this test drive video from Farmworld_TV!

Specialty crop AI tech startup Ecorobtix unveils lettuce-thinning algorithm

Ecorobotix has announced the launch of its new lettuce-thinning algorithm, expanding the capabilities of its ARA Ultra High Precision (UHP) Sprayer to offer what it claims is one of the most advanced automated thinning solutions on the market.

The new functionality is available to ARA users via a software license.

“We’ve combined the power of AI with the reliability of ARA’s ultra-high precision spraying platform to eliminate one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks in the field: thinning,” said Katerina Lee, regional crop care manager for Ecorobotix.

Ecorobotix says its algorithm enables users to replace manual labor, grow crops with superior uniformity and cover fields faster than hand-labor crews.

Learn more here.

Kubota-Agtonomy join forces to develop autonomous specialty crop machinery

Kubota North America has announced a collaboration agreement with Agtonomy, an agricultural autonomy software provider, to commercialize autonomous operations on Kubota diesel tractors for spraying and mowing.

Kubota says the partnership reflects its commitment to pioneering solutions and equipping growers with smart technology.

“Our working relationship with Agtonomy represents a significant milestone toward commercializing our vision for autonomy by merging our expertise and technology with Agtonomy’s autonomous platform,” said Brett McMickell, chief technology officer for Kubota North America.

The initial phase of the partnership will focus on integrating Agtonomy’s capabilities with Kubota’s M5N specialty crop diesel tractor.

Learn more about Kubota’s vision for autonomous technology in farming here.

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John Deere Adds Versatile Midsize 6M Tractor to Model Year 2025 Machines

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 14:42:20 GMT

John Deere is launching a new 6M tractor to add to its Model Year 2025 class of machines , according to the company.

With 18 different models, engine options with 95 to 250 horsepower and five frame size options, the 6M tractor can be customized to fit the needs of farms and ranches. Deere says the 6M tractor is also fuel-efficient and easy to operate.

“The new 6M tractor is bigger, smarter, faster and more efficient and customizable, making it the go-to tractor for many farms, including dairy and beef operations,” said Dennis Ogle, marketing manager for the John Deere midsize tractor line.

Standards Remain

The 6M tractor provides numerous ways to configure yet still has the standard features that can make it the workhorse of any farm or ranch.

The new tractor features traditional mechanical transmission options or easy-to-use infinitely variable transmission options. The shortest wheelbase with sloped hood remains, providing excellent visibility and maneuverability. All 6M cabs also offer a full view around the tractor, making loader work, mowing and baling easier to complete.

In addition, the 6M still has the high front or rear hitch lift capacity that is important for various jobs.

“We know farmers and ranchers love simple and reliable tractors to get the important jobs done,” Ogle said. “The 6M delivers with a proven history along with more valuable options to cater to each owner’s needs.”

Options Abound

The Model Year 2025 6M tractor can be customized to provide farmers the opportunity to have large tractor features on a midsized machine.

With five frame sizes and 18 models, farmers can work with their John Deere dealer to build the tractor that’s right for their farm.

Configurations and options include:

Horsepower and chassis: 18 models with five chassis options and horsepower ranging from 95 to 250 hp.
Intelligent Power Management: Up to 20hp above a model’s rated horsepower in transport and nonstationary PTO applications. This allows the operator to conquer hills when transporting, thick windrows when baling, and more.
Dual-tire configurations: Rear bar axles and dual-tire configurations are now available for ease of wheel spacing or when needing more flotation and traction.
Infinitely variable transmission: Transmission option available across all models that allows for stepless driving.
Higher speed with 50K transmission: Available across the full portfolio of 6M tractors, this feature helps transport speeds, leading to increased efficiency.
Cab package options: New options available to increase operator comfort to improve productivity.
Scalable precision ag technology: More precision ag available on demand with updated cornerpost display and integrated connectivity.

“Whether you are putting up hay, moving bales, feeding, mowing roadsides, removing snow or any number of other tasks, the 6M is the workhorse that can help complete the job,” Ogle said.

To learn more about the John Deere 6M tractor, visit JohnDeere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.

New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:35:53 GMT

New Holland is steering toward autonomous baling with the introduction of IntelliSense Bale Automation.

A novel technology, IntelliSense Bale Automation reportedly transforms the way customers and operators approach large square baling by delivering an automated solution for farmers.

The new system is compatible with Class 3 ISOBUS tractors — specifically, the T7 LWB, T7 HD and T8 from New Holland — and model year 2022 and model year 2023 New Holland BigBaler Large Square Balers.

Immediate integration is available now as a New Holland dealer-installed service. Starting in 2025, customers will have the opportunity to place orders for it as a factory-fit option.

“For large square baling operations, it’s an indispensable asset for their future by improving bale harvesting while helping them meet operational demands,” says Brad Littlefield, precision marketing manager, dairy and livestock segment for New Holland.

Lasering in on Windrows With Precision

(Farm Journal)

IntelliSense Bale Automation is an automated baling system that focuses on feedrate and swath guidance by combining two operator-assisted baling modes:

SmartSteer swath guidance acts as autosteering for automated navigation of the tractor and baler along the windrow.
IntelliCruise II controls tractor speed, responding to variation in material feedrate into the baler. The operator sets the number of slices per bale target and the maximum speed limit.

The cornerstone of IntelliSense Bale Automation is integrated LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensing technology, believed by New Holland to be the first application of its kind in ag. Installed on the front end of a tractor cab roof, it emits laser pulses to calculate distance based on reflections from the windrow.

The new system aims to increase four elements critical to operations and operators:

Increased baling productivity.
Improved bale quality.
Reduced fuel consumption.
Enhanced operator comfort.

“At the heart of our design is a commitment to putting operators first and creating technology that addresses their most important needs,” Littlefield says.

Rolling Through Time: 50 Years of New Holland Round Balers, Plus A New Mobile App

Beginning in 2024, New Holland is steering toward a unified brand image and global identity with the transition of its haytool styling to a striking yellow. The yellow transition begins with commercial haytools for late model year 2024, then unfolds in model year 2025 to include Pro-Belt round balers.

“This shift marks our dedication to pushing boundaries and providing farmers with tools to not only stand out in the field but also improve their efficiency and experience,” states Carlo Lambro, brand president of New Holland.

New Holland has also unveiled its latest innovation, the Bale Manager mobile app. This technology allows operators and customers to control and visualize baling data from their smart devices, including:

Store data.
Monitor baling activity.
Simplify accounts receivable.
Export data.
Search through completed jobs.

The app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play platforms (with the necessary components readily accessible from a local New Holland dealer).

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its round balers, a year-long celebration is in store. To participate, New Holland round baler owners can submit their story and a photo of their baler online or by scanning a QR code at their local New Holland dealership for a chance to win a commemorative prize pack.

Please visit your local New Holland dealer to learn more about the Round Baler 50th Anniversary contests, prizes, and enhanced warranty offers for owners.

Acceleration of Autonomy

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:30:00 GMT

Feed and labor are the two biggest budget items for dairies. With the costs of both climbing, could autonomy be a possible solution for the labor shortage on dairy farms today? John Deere is banking on it, with a goal of offering a fully autonomous equipment fleet in just seven years.

According to Stan Moore with Michigan State University Dairy Extension, labor costs eat up nearly 14% of a dairy’s total expenses, with year-over-year labor expenses trending higher.

As the policy battle over labor issues continues, it seems the answer to solving dairy farmers’ labor woes may need to take root in other places. And less manpower needed to run equipment may be one of those solutions.

In an exclusive interview with Farm Journal during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Deere & Co.’s Chief Technology Officer (CT) Jahmy Hindman says Deere has already made a down payment on autonomy for the future with its autonomous tillage solution.

“It’s the most practical from a technology perspective place for us to start, but eventually that’s going to become an autonomous planting opportunity, it’s going to become an autonomous grain cart opportunity. When we get tractor jobs finished, we’ll look at sprayers and at combines,” says Hindman.

Sights Set on 2030

As autonomy accelerates, Deere has a clear goal: to offer a fully autonomous equipment fleet in just seven years.

“Our goal is by 2030, in certain production systems, to be able to offer farmers a fully autonomous production system -- from spring tillage and planting all the way through harvest.”

Deere’s 2030 goal is clear, but Hindman understands not every farmer will want to go all-in on autonomy. That’s why he’s adamant farmers will have a choice of options, even in 2030 and beyond.

“There’s a reason there’s a cab still on the tractor,” says Hindman. “There are a lot of growers that maybe don’t want the autonomy solution or don’t see value in it for themselves at this point in time, but they still want to be able to operate the machine. There are a lot of jobs that are done on the farm that we won’t make autonomous.”

(Maybe) you still want to move snow in the wintertime in your driveway where you’re going to do that from the cab of the tractor, right? And as a person that spent a lot of time in a tractor seat, there’s just an emotional attachment and satisfaction that you get from seeing the work done yourself. And so, there’s a reason that a cab is still on the tractor. I think that’s an important part of it.”

Whether it’s autonomous or machine learning, the ag tech space within the equipment industry is gaining traction. So, why is ag tech growing so rapidly? Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Senior VP Curt Blades says one reason is the sheer amount of quality data available today.

“The data is what’s allowing good robotics to make more sense. It’s allowing for better management decisions. It’s allowing for better prescriptions,” he says. “You have to have the data in place to be able to take advantage of some of the technology that was unveiled, either in practice or in concept at CES.”

Are Electric Tractors the Next Wave of the Future?

Another popular theme during CES was electrification. During the 2022 CES, Doosan Bobcat unveiled an all-electric compact track loader, which was also on display this year. This year, Deere introduced its first all-electric excavator.

Even with electric equipment making waves in the construction space, Hindman says the results of electrification in farm equipment is mixed. Hindman says in lower horsepower equipment, Deere’s findings show electrification could be a solution for 100 horsepower and under equipment. But for higher horsepower levels, he says the science shows electrification doesn’t work.

“I talked about the 8R tractors [in the CES keynote},” Hindman says. “When I ran the numbers on it, if you power that with a lithium-ion battery today, it’s twice the volume, twice the weight, twice the mass, and four times the cost. That just doesn’t pencil.”

Fueled By Renewable Diesel

Instead, Hindman says Deere has found renewable fuels and renewable diesel is a better fit for higher horsepower application when you get into the carbon offset discussion.

“Things like renewable diesel, from soybean oil or canola oil, or ethanol as an alternative in a compression ignition engine, would be a more interesting solution at the higher power levels,” says Hindman.

He says the largest limitation for using more renewable diesel products today is availability.

Field Day at the Farm Show

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:31:33 GMT

The star power of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have kicked off opening day, but it was the appeal of 1,600 exhibitors that drew the 100,000 attendees to the World Ag Expo. Held Feb. 9 to 11 in Tulare, Calif., the show marked its 43rd year with a “Powering Global Agriculture” theme.

Considered to be the world’s largest annual farm and equipment show, World Ag Expo generated $280 million in sales during its three-day run, says Steve Knudsen, the event’s director of communications. The show delivers a year-round economic impact of $1.2 billion for the local economy.

Exhibitors debut new products. The World Ag Expo’s 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space almost wasn’t enough for 2010. “We were four exhibit spaces away from being sold out this year,” Knudsen says.

Opening-day rains and muddy ground made getting to exhibits tricky but didn’t stop attendees.

“The rain might have held down attendance on Tuesday, but the people who stopped were serious. I sold a unit in the first hour of the first day,” says Larry Schieler of Schieler Harvester.

Schieler, of Terra Bella, Calif., generated “at least 10 good leads” displaying his Forklift 180-Degree Bin Inverter. The equipment, which sells for $6,500, was named one of World Ag Expo’s 2010 Top-10 New Products.

Another Top-10 New Product on display was the Hoof Supervisor System. The $6,000 unit is a “portable chute-side data recording system for hoof trimmers,” says Keith Sather, owner of Feed Supervisor Software. The software program allows hoof trimmers to record, store and analyze data for each cow’s trim session using a portable touch screen.

Newcomer Humdinger Equipment of Lubbock, Texas, sold three units in one day. The Humdinger tillage tool, with a $70,000 price tag, allows farmers to enter the field once after harvest and again just before planting, reducing field passes to two, rather than four or five. The implement is used in a variety of commodities, including rice, milo, corn, cotton, wheat and beans.

For the first time, World Ag Expo announced an Attendees’ Choice Award to let showgoers help determine which Top-10 New Product is the most innovative. With 570 votes and an average of four stars (out of five) per vote, Magswitch MagSquare magnets were named the 2010 winner.

Distributed by Forney Industries, Magswitch magnets feature advanced switchable magnetic technology to provide a more precise and easier-to-use alternative to clamp, position or lift ferrous steel for fabrication, welding and general repair projects.
As Schwarzenegger toured the grounds, A.G. Kawamura, who heads the California Department of Food and Agriculture, oversaw the signing of three memorandums of understanding to support dairy waste-to-energy projects in the state.

At an opening-day news conference, Kawamura also joined three Central Valley dairy producers, a dairy digester manufacturer and a power provider representative to announce three dairy digester pilot projects.

The winner of World Ag Expo’s 2010 FFA Toyota Tundra Giveaway was Tony Adayan of Parlier, Calif. Adayan won the $30,000 grand-prize truck in a drawing on the final day of the show. Funds raised from the giveaway benefit two FFA chapters in California’s Central Valley.

You can e-mail Catherine Merlo at cmerlo@farmjournal.com .

Biggest Robot Dairy in Asia Setting Up Japan's Milk Revival

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:00:04 GMT

Jin Kawaguchiya gave up a career in finance to help revive Japan’s ailing dairy industry -- one robot at a time.

In a country that relies increasingly on imported foods like cheese and butter, Japan’s milk output tumbled over two decades, touching a 30-year low in 2014. Costs rose faster than prices as the economy stagnated, eroding profit, and aging farmers quit the business because they couldn’t find enough young people willing to take on the hard labor of tending to cows every day.

But technology is altering that dynamic. On the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan’s top dairy-producing region, Kawaguchiya transformed the 20-cow farm he inherited from his father-in-law 16 years ago into Asia’s largest automated milking factory. Robots extract the white fluid from 360 cows three times a day and make sure the animals are fed and healthy. The machines even gather up poop and deposit it in a furnace that generates electricity.

“Without robots, I would have to hire as many as 15 part-time workers to take care of cows,” Kawaguchiya, 44, said during an interview at the dairy in Kakuyama. “I can save 15 million yen ($146,000) a year thanks to them.”

Kawaguchiya had no experience in farming before taking over the farm from his father-in-law, whose three daughters weren’t interested in running a dairy that required them to manually attach milking tubes to the teats of each cows. Kawaguchiya says he quit a job as a manager in Tokyo for Shoko Fund & Co., a business lender, because he saw an opportunity to make a better living in agriculture, provided he could change the economics.

To add scale, he merged the farm with four nearby dairies to create Kalm Kakuyama, a stock company that now has 610 animals, including 380 cows purchased last year. About 250 are calves or pregnant females who aren’t producing milk for the dairy.

-1x-1

©

Automation has transformed the business. After investing 1.5 billion yen to install the robots and the 150 kilowatt per hour generator about 14 months ago, Kawaguchiya says his raw-milk production will quadruple this year from 2015 to 4,500 metric tons, and reach 5,600 tons next year, almost 10 times the output of the average dairy farm in Japan. He’s now the largest producer in western Hokkaido. With less time spent on manual labor, he can analyze data on milk output, quality and animal health to be more efficient.

Kawaguchiya isn’t alone. The island has more than 100 milking robots, according to Shinichi Otsuka, the head of the agricultural technology department at the Hokkaido prefecture government.

With bigger and more efficient dairies emerging in Hokkaido, raw-milk output is recovering. In the first half of 2016, production in Japan rose 1.1 percent from a year earlier to 3.78 million metric tons, heading for a second annual gain since touching 7.33 million tons in 2014, the lowest since 1984, according to the Agriculture Ministry. While the number of dairies continues to drop, the ones that remain are getting bigger and productivity per cow is increasing, the data show.

Mega Farms

“So-called mega farms are emerging in Hokkaido, increasing their presence in the Japanese dairy industry,” said Koichiro Omoto, head of the information planning department of Japan Finance Corp., a government-affiliated lender that boosted loans to dairies by 17 percent in the year through March.

Use of robots may spread faster in Japan than other countries because the industry -- populated mostly with small family farms and aging owners -- is faced with a labor shortage and needs to get more efficient, said Yoko Takeda, chief economist at Mitsubishi Research Institute in Tokyo.

The number of dairies has plunged 28 percent in the past eight years to about 18,000, Agriculture Ministry data show. Farmers in Japan are also getting older, with the average age last year at 67, compared with 63.2 in 2005.

“Young people are reluctant to take over their parents’ farms as they cannot see a bright future,” Kawaguchiya said. “Their earnings are very small compared with other jobs.”

Technology Investments

More investment in information technology is a key to enhancing productivity in agriculture, according to Yuji Yamamoto, selected by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as agriculture minister when he reshuffled his cabinet on Aug. 3. Japan can sometimes face shortages of dairy products, with the country needing to import an additional 4,000 tons of butter to meet demand.

The government began subsidies for milking robots last year after signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which will mean cheaper dairy imports and more competition for domestic producers. The financial support expanded 12 percent this fiscal year to 68.5 billion yen, according to the Agriculture Ministry. Kalm Kakuyama took advantage of borrowing costs near zero percent to buy its robots. Money is cheap because the Bank of Japan is seeking to revive the stagnant economy with record monetary stimulus.

Robot Makers

More investment is good news for makers of milking robots, including DeLaval of Sweden, Lely Industries NV of the Netherlands and GEA Farm Technologies of Germany. Sales of milking robots in Japan will jump 67 percent this year from last year, after doubling in 2015, said Satoshi Shinya, director at the Tokyo office of DeLaval, which provides robots and related service to Kawaguchiya’s farm. The use of robotic systems may reach 30 percent of all dairy farms in Japan, compared with 2 percent now, he said.

“Sales are expanding as the government shoulders half of costs to introduce robots, and farms have difficulty finding cheap labor,” Shinya said. “As local dairy farms are under pressure from TPP, the government is boosting subsidy payments for them, which is positive for us.”

One robot can handle as many as 60 cows and produce 3 tons of milk a day. The traffic is managed by the machine, which uses cameras to identify each cow, find the nipples and disinfect them before milking, a process that can take less than 10 minutes.

The operations at Kalm Kakuyama is attracting visitors from as far away as Indonesia looking for tips on how to revive farms struggling with low profitability and high costs. Kawaguchiya says the business has been so successful that it has brightened his outlook for the future. He hopes to expand into cattle breeding, feed sales and tourism, and he may acquire or manage operations of retiring farmers.

“We want our company to be a core of economic activities in this community,” Kawaguchiya said. “Then we can find successors, either from our family members or outside.”

Wisconsin State Firm Develops Fitbit-like Device for Cows

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:59:09 GMT

By: Nate Beck, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

It’s a hot, hazy morning under the awning where cattle congregate at Abel Dairy in Eden, Wis., 2,200 miles from Silicon Valley.

This doesn’t feel like tech start-up country, but it is, USA Today Network-Wisconsin reported .

Over five years, David Cook, a co-owner of Eden start-up BoviSync, developed software that organizes and analyzes the health of a herd of cows. Dairy owners can use the software to learn why milk production has dipped, how illnesses have spread through their herd and other ways.

With a smartphone strapped to his wrist, Cook uses a wand to scan an electronic chip embedded in dairy cows. Think Fitbit for cows. Each animal’s vital signs can be relayed to BoviSync’s system, then broken down into scatterplots and spreadsheets.

Cook holds a doctorate, a master’s degree and undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in fields at the intersection of dairy and engineering. As dairies become larger and more sophisticated, creations like his help eliminate the guess work of cattle production and bovine health.

“The dairy industry is becoming a lot more technical,” Cook said. “Quite a few of the very large farms are already using a system similar to this.”

Cook learned skills for his startup from an entrepreneur development course at Fond du Lac’s Emergent Technology Center. The 12-week session aims to help people bring their business ideas to fruition. Wisconsin often tracks near or at the bottom of state-by-state start-up rankings, but the center is working to change that.

Cook learned to develop back-end business planning steps to launch BoviSync. The software was largely completed when he enrolled in the course, but there are always more steps to starting a business than developing a good product, Cook said.

He and his team had worked years on the software, so getting constructive feedback before launching was helpful, he said.

“It’s like building QuickBooks from scratch,” Cook said. “You’re not going to do it overnight.”

Sitting at his kitchen table, Cook pulled up the BoviSync site on a Microsoft tablet. Through an array of graphs, he can see how much milk each cow produces over an extended period. The software allows nearby dairy farms to share their statistics (neighbor farms are rarely in direct competition) to compare if a production drop is isolated or a seasonal trend.

Cook’s challenge is that dairy farmers are reluctant to update equipment, but there have been hopeful signs. Abel Farms, just down the road from Cook’s home, saw value in Cook’s product and made the switch.

Cook hopes that as larger dairies adopt his software, smaller operations will see the value in his product, too.

In this niche market of dairy technology, the best test of a good product is a farmer’s recommendation, Cook said.

World's Largest Robotic Dairy Coming to Chile

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:58:39 GMT

By the end of the year Agricola ANCALI’s 6,500 cow dairy near Los Ángeles, Chile will be home to 64 individual robotic milkers.

It was announced Tuesday at DeLaval’s VMS Pro Vegas event in Las Vegas that Fundo El Risquillo farm owned by Agricola ANCALI will become the world’s largest robotic dairy.

The dairy currently milks 460 cows with eight DeLaval VMS robotic milkers. The first robots were installed in October 2014. At the moment, four rotary parlors milk another 6,000 cows.

Construction is underway to build another separate barn with eight more robotic milkers. The barn will be completed by the end of March.

When the new barn has been completed there are plans to install 48 VMS robotic milkers into the free stall barn housing cows currently milked in rotary parlors. The 48 robots would milk 3,120 cows by December.

Once the installation has finished the dairy will milk more than 4,000 cows in robots.

“We are preparing for the future,” says Odrióm Escobar, dairy operations manager for Agricola ANCALI.

Escobar has served as the manager since 2012 and he estimates cows in the robots produce almost 10% more milk in the robots compared to the rotaries.

Milking in the eight robots currently onsite averages 5,754 lb. per robot each day. Cows milked in robots produce 99.65 lb. per day and spend 6 minutes 49 seconds in the robot at each milking. Typically a cow will average 2.9 milkings per day.

Dairy Farms Turn to Robotic Milking Devices

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:56:47 GMT

Robotic dairy systems offer reduced labor, happy cows.
By: Mateusz Perkowski, Capital Press

The cows at the Averill family’s dairy seem unimpressed by the high-tech gadgetry surrounding them.

They calmly pass through an automated gate that sorts the cows based on how recently they’ve been milked, which is monitored using radio-frequency identification devices on their ears.

Those who have been milked too recently are returned to their stalls, while those who are ready to be milked are ushered toward one of six robotic milkers.

After waiting their turn in line, each cow steps into a pen and enjoys some grain while the giant robotic arm does its business.

To many, this scenario represents the future of farming. As labor costs increase and the labor pool shrinks, farmers such as the Averills are turning to robotics and other technology to provide better care for their animals and increase efficiency.

Adoption of robotic systems has been growing at about 25 percent a year, and has particularly “taken off” during the past decade, said Larry Tranel, an extension dairy specialist at Iowa State University who has studied the economics of automation.

“We don’t see it slowing down,” he said.

At the Averills’ dairy, the robot first sprays the entire udder with an iodine formula, then washes and dries each teat before attaching suction cups to harvest the milk. Each robot can handle 60 cows.

Once the task is complete, the cow is again set loose among its peers, free to enjoy a comforting session with the robotic touch-activated spinning brushes that clean off manure and remove loose hair.

Occasionally, the cows indifferently step over the mechanical manure scraper that slowly and continuously cleans the barn alleys. They are fed by an automated feed pusher that maintains their rations in orderly rows.

“They adapt quite well to technology. Probably easier than people,” said Mark Brown, a general manager for DeLaval Dairy Service, which builds and installs the equipment.

The cows certainly seemed less intrigued by the automated dairy system than the farmers who visited the Averills’ dairy during a recent open house organized by DeLaval.

While DeLaval first patented the idea for robotic milkers in 1978 and made them commercially available in the late 1990s, the technology didn’t really hit its stride until the mid-2000s, said Brown.

Several other manufacturers also produce robotic systems, including Lely, GEA, BouMatic and Insentec.

With the growing strength of computer power and the increased familiarity of dairymen with the technology, such milkers are now catching on, Brown said.

“It’s become really reliable and accepted,” he said.

The robotic systems have gained in popularity even though they’re a more expensive option over the lowest-cost milking parlors, said Tranel of Iowa State University.

The lowest-cost milking parlor systems equate to 25 cents to $1 per hundredweight in milking costs, compared to $2 to $3 per hundredweight with robots, he said.

Maintenance and repairs can also be expensive for robotic systems, running about $7,000 to $9,000 per year, he estimated.

“It’s definitely not the cheapest way to milk a cow, but there are other factors encouraging producers to put in robots,” Tranel said. “The bottom line is cows like them and people like them.”

Aside from labor concerns, there are “quality of life factors,” since dairymen are less physically tied to the facility, he said. “Someone doesn’t always have to be there.”

Don Averill, whose family owns the dairy, said he decided to invest in the robotic milkers and other machinery when undertaking an expansion of the operation.

The primary motivation was reducing the need for labor, which has grown more scarce in recent years, he said.

With automated equipment performing many of the duties in the dairy barns, management of the operation is easier for Averill, who can attend to other tasks.

Averill also sees the system as less stressful for the cows, as they’re able to set their own routine without frequent interactions with humans.

For example, the automated brushes provide the perk of entertaining the cows while they’re being cleaned, he said. “It gives them something to do. That’s cow TV.”

Apart from improving the health and longevity of his cows, the system is expected to increase their productivity, Averill said.

Before the system’s installation, the cows were only milked twice a day. Once their bodies are at full holding capacity, they stop producing milk. Now, the herd is milked three times a day, so they don’t hit that limit.

A major advantage of robotic milkers is information about the health and production of individual cows, since the systems provide “instantaneous data,” Tranel said.

Yield is measured on a per-cow and per quarter-udder basis, so a farmer can quickly notice if a cow may be getting sick or if there’s an infection on one of its teats.

If there are changes to the herd’s feed rations, the impact on production also quickly becomes evident, he said.

By informing farmers whether new techniques are helpful or detrimental, the system allows for “day by day management,” Tranel said. “They can gauge that pretty quickly.”

Each robotic milker costs roughly $200,000, but the total cost will depend on how much a dairy must be retrofitted to accommodate the units and which type of gate system the farmer prefers, Brown said.

Manure scrapers cost about $30,000 per unit, feed pushers cost about $20,000 and touch-activated brushes cost about $2,600 each, he said.

Robotic systems are best suited for dairies with about 260 or fewer cows, as larger operations can achieve greater profits with low-cost milking parlors, said Tranel. “For me, it’s more of a smaller-farmer technology.”

Robotic systems that involve a major upfront investment are often more difficult for dairies to manage than traditional milking parlors, in which the labor costs are more spread out, said Mathew Haan, a dairy educator at Pennsylvania State University who has studied the systems.

That challenge is mitigated by dealers who can lease the equipment or banks that agree to finance it, Haan said. “It makes it much more attractive from a financial standpoint.”

GEA Debuts New Robotic Milker

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:54:21 GMT

A new robot milker could be headed your way.

GEA unveiled a prototype of the company’s Monobox milking robot at Automation Day 4.0 in Teichröda, Germany.

The concept milking robot could join the MIone multi-box model and the DairyProQ rotary parlor system in GEA’s lineup. The robot found in the Monobox would be identical to the milking unit found in the DairyProQ.

Much like other single unit robots GEA’s Monobox will be gear towards smaller dairy operations looking to reduce labor at milking.

For now the Monobox is just in the pilot phase in countries like Germany, Canada and the Netherlands. Currently, there is no timeline for when the new robot will go on a global sales release, but there is a controlled market introduction being planned for the end of 2015.

Checkout this video of the Monobox’s debut:

Here are some additional photos of the Monobox on display in Germany:

Precision Technologies in the Dairy Industry

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:41:26 GMT

Precision dairy management involves the use of technology to measure indicators on individual animals and the use of automation to perform tasks. These technologies are intended to increase efficiency and improve cow management; ultimately improving farm productivity and profitability. Many of these technologies can be applied to both small and large farms.

By Mathew M. Haan, Penn State

Robotic milking systems, cow activity and rumination sensors, automatic calf feeders, and other precision technologies are becoming increasingly popular on dairy farms. Many of these technologies are not new; for example, robotic milking systems have been used in Europe for over 20 years. The increased use of precision technologies in the dairy industry is driven, in part, by an increase in the number of technologies available as technologies originally developed for other industries are adapted to the dairy industry and by increased familiarity and comfort with using technologies (smartphones, tablet computers, GPS, etc.) in every aspect of our daily lives. Earlier this summer over 550 dairy farmers, researchers, educators, and other industry professionals gathered in Rochester, Minnesota for the Precision Dairy 2013 conference to learn about precision technologies and their potential roles in the dairy industry.

Precision dairy management involves the use of technologies to measure physiological, behavioral, and production indicators on individual animals and the use of automation to perform labor and management tasks on the dairy farm. These technologies are intended to increase labor and feed efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and improve cow health through automation or increased availability to information for improved cow management; ultimately improving farm productivity and profitability. Many of these technologies can be applied to both small and large farms.

Even though these technologies offer a lot of potential benefits, adoption rates – while increasing – still tend to be slow. The three main factors limiting adoption of precision technologies according to a 2008 University of Kentucky study were 1) a lack of familiarity with the technologies that are available, 2) an undesirable cost to benefit ratio, and 3) too much information is provided by the technology without knowing what to do with it (Bewley, 2013). Other factors limiting adoption of precision technology include a fear of technology, poor technical support, lack of time to work with the technology, lack of perceived economic value, and concerns that the technology is not yet mature.

Many factors must be considered when evaluating the adoption of a particular technology. While economics is important, in the case of robotic milking other factors (quality of life and a lack of access to labor) are of more importance. Hogeveen and Steeneveld (2013) reported that several studies in Europe and the US have shown robotic milking is not economical when compared to conventional milking systems. Even though these systems may not be as economical, over 14% of Dutch dairy farms have adopted robotic milking technology and greater adoption rates are seen in other countries.

No matter what technology is being considered or what priorities the farmer uses when evaluating it for use on the farm, the technology is only beneficial if it is used. If breeding management and conception rates are already at a high level the addition of activity monitors may not be beneficial. Similarly, if breeding and conception rates are poor because of poor management the addition of activity monitors may not be beneficial unless other management factors on the farm are corrected.

Trusteed IRAs: why they are popular, who should consider them, what benefits they offer

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:01:45 GMT

Q: I’ve heard a lot about trusteed IRAs. How do they differ from traditional IRAs?

A: Simply put, trusteed IRAs offer potential tax benefits of traditional or Roth IRAs with the protection and control of a trust. They provide tax advantages that stretch into the future and offer the ability to control how, when and in what amounts assets are distributed. Trusteed IRAs have become more popular given some of the inherent limits of traditional IRAs and the growing prevalence of self-directed retirement accounts combined with the decline of pension plans. They also are more cost-effective than setting up a trust and are generally more compliant with tax laws.

Q: Who should consider a trusteed IRA?

A: There are several reasons why someone should consider a trusteed IRA, the most consequential of which is if an owner has an interest in controlling assets and realizing tax benefits beyond their lifetime. This can mean an owner is concerned with the financial discipline or sophistication of heirs.

Other reasons include if an owner remarries and wants to provide for a current spouse as well as children from a previous relationship and/or is concerned about IRA management in the event of incapacitation.

Q: I’m in the middle of estate planning. How can a trusteed IRA help with the process?

A: They can help process if only to preserve the potential tax-advantaged accumulation of IRA benefits to pass on to heirs. Under traditional or custodial IRAs, a beneficiary is required to withdraw at least the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) each year. However, a beneficiary may withdraw additional amounts, for any reason, at any time—and incur possible fees or tax penalties.

Additionally, owners can restrict payouts to a beneficiary to the RMD, enabling it to operate as a spendthrift trust. At the owner’s death, the trusteed IRA would be automatically split into separate accounts for individual beneficiaries, with distribution terms defined for each account.

Another benefit is that estate plans don’t need to be rewritten or updated; trusteed IRAs can be added independent of an estate plan to protect IRA assets which legally pass outside of wills.

Q: Is a trusteed IRA better suited to farmers or owners of farm assets?

A: Not expressly, but a trusteed IRA can play an important role in legacy planning and preservation of farm assets over multiple generations. Given the growing generation gap among farming families, trusteed IRAs could be a way help preserve farm family values over generations from beyond the grave. Moreover, as farm economics continues to change, farmers may find value in the highly customizable nature of trusteed IRAs. In the event of a divorce in the family, for example, assets can be made to not leave the family’s bloodlines.

Q: Are there any downsides to trusteed IRAs?

A: Given that a trusteed IRA requires a corporate trustee, it’s harder to change ownership and family members cannot be named as trustees. Not all financial institutions offer trusteed IRAs so they may not be widely available to interested clients. Additionally, while they offer greater customization and more control, trusteed IRAs carry some limits. To have the highest level of customization and control, a trust would need to be created.

Please send questions, comments or requests to address a topic or issue to Rees Mason at rees.mason@ml.com.