John Deere Names 2026 Technician of the Year Finalists
John Deere has announced the finalists for its 2026 Technician of the Year Awards, with 30 regional finalists being named in five award categories.
The connection also extends to Ravendown’s HawkEye and Ballance Agri Nutrient’s MyBallance software, streamlining farm management, eliminating manual reporting, and saving farmers and their partners’ valuable time.
Precision Farming chief operating officer Chloe Walker believes farmers need quick, easy access to accurate data.
“We are leading the way in application data connectivity to help farmers reduce paperwork and improve their nutrient management. It’s about saving farmers time, keeping costs down and improving sustainability outcomes. Our connection with John Deere Operations Centre is another crucial step towards providing farmers with the tools they need.”
Walker also believes the connection brings together the strengths of all the partners involved.
“This integration merges John Deere Operations Centre’s advanced guidance technology, precision agriculture solutions and operational planning capabilities with Precision Farming’s automated nutrient management tools.
“Farmers can now easily connect their John Deere tractors to our platform, as well as MyBallance and Hawk-Eye.
“This means they get real-time reporting, automated Proof of Application, nutrient heat mapping and simplified nitrogen cap compliance.”
Siobhan Lynch, director of sales – Precision Technology at Brandt Agriculture, says that as a John Deere dealer, she has seen first-hand how this technology can make a difference for farmers.
“We first met the Precision Farming team at Mystery Creek Fieldays in 2023 and discussed how this integration would benefit our customers. Just one year later, we proudly stood together at the 2024 Fieldays to prelaunch the integration with some of our Precision Agriculture customers.
“Precision Farming has made data transfer between these systems effortless, eliminating the need for the frustrating manual process farmers used to endure. It’s a huge step forward for efficiency and simplicity in farming operations.”
Mike Cleland is integrated solutions manager with Southland Farm Machinery Limited, John Deere dealers for the lower South Island.
“John Deere tractors have been equipped with world leading guidance technology since the mid 2000’s. It is included in basically all new tractors,” he says. “So, to now have Precision Farming’s connection with Ravensdown and Ballance directly working to and from the tractor’s display is a fantastic advancement for our customers.”
Drummond & Etheridge research & development manager Paul Galletly agrees. “Data from John Deere Operations Centre is essential to farmers as it saves them both time and money in their everyday operations,” he says.
“Having the connectivity to MyBallance and Hawkeye is a huge asset and will be a great benefit to both our customers and the environment.”
These collaborations help farmers make datadriven decisions, save time, and contribute to better environmental outcomes eliminating the hassle of manual nutrient and N-cap reporting.
“Manual reporting is time-consuming and prone to inaccuracy,” Walker explains. “Automating this process saves time and ensures accuracy. By connecting John Deere tractors to these platforms, farmers can ease their administrative burden and focus on what they do best - farming.”
Beyond the operational benefits, Walker says this partnership represents a significant step towards more profitable and sustainable farming practices.
