increase font size
John Deere's new concept autonomous tractor.
John Deere looks to be heading towards autonomous tractors.
We've seen lots of information lately about autonomous tractors, particularly from CNH Agriculture.
And though global entity John Deere has been a little slow off the mark, it put this right at a recent dealer event in Valencia Spain, showing attendees a new concept perhaps suggesting its direction.
Its cab-less tractor will have a rated electrical output of about 680hp with zero emissions. But there is so far no information on the exact specifications of the powertrain, although it was displayed with tractors and lacked any visible steering mechanisms.
The tractor contrasted with another concept, shown last year, which had a more conventional layout. It has a front-mounted cable drum and outrigger arm that carries 1000m of extension cable to deliver power to the all-electric 110kW power train.
The latest concept was shown with a conventional three-point linkage, carrying a semi-mounted disc cultivator and seeding unit.
A long way from when AI meant plunging a plastic-covered arm armpit deep up a cow’s rear, John Deere has shown off its new artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, aptly called JD, which aims to simplify data processing on farms.
Leading John Deere technicians and apprentices from New Zealand and Australians were recognised at the recent sixth annual JD Technician of the Year Awards, held in Brisbane.
Gareth Hale is the current custodian of a 160-year legacy that saw his great grandfather dairying in Taranaki since the mid-1850s and grandfather dairying in the Waikato from the early 1900s.
Developed in Australia and launched in 2021, John Deere’s See & Spray Select System uses camera-based green-on-brown technology to identify living green plant matter in fallow paddocks and apply herbicide only where it is needed.
Krone's XDisc 710 direct-cut header can now be used by John Deere and New Holland forage harvesters, as well as the Krone Big X it was originally designed for.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
