John Deere acquires GUSS Automation
John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy, headquartered in Kingsburg, California.
John Deere Australia/New Zealand’s new managing director Luke Chandler says he will prioritise leading the way in technology and investing in strong relationships.
Chandler previously acted as chief economist for John Deere at its Illinois headquarters in the United States.
Chandler said he was excited to have the opportunity to apply his global knowledge and John Deere’s research and development capability to benefit Australian and New Zealand industries.
“My work looking at global agriculture trends for many years has reinforced how competitive our farmers have to be in export markets without the government support many of our competitors receive,” he said.
He said that competitiveness came from the fact that Australian and New Zealand farmers are world leaders in innovation.
He said that the best innovation flowed from John Deere’s investment in relationships.
“Technology only works well when it’s solving real problems,” Chandler said.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting customers and dealers around Australia and New Zealand to get a better understanding of the problems we need to solve.
“I’m also very keen to partner with industry bodies and policy makers as agriculture looks to be more collaborative and cooperative in the future to drive change that’s profitable, productive and sustainable,” he said.
Outgoing managing director Peter Wanckel said Chandler brought vast expertise to the role.
“Luke has worked in agriculture all over the world and his broad experience in the industry at global leadership levels will bring benefits to Australian and New Zealand farmers,” Wanckel said.
“I’m very proud and privileged to have worked for a company like John Deere that has a great culture focused on people and serving customers.”
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.