The Rise of Autonomous Farm Machinery

Autonomous farm machinery is transforming agriculture from a labor-intensive endeavor into a more efficient and technologically advanced process. Tasks such as tillage and grain cart operations are increasingly being performed nearly on their own, thanks to innovations in automation.

The Role of Industry Leaders

Companies like John Deere and AGCO have been driving the push for fully autonomous farm equipment for years. They have developed foundational technologies, including guidance lines, automated turns, and implement guidance. These features serve as stepping stones toward achieving a fully driverless tractor experience.

Commercial Availability

Autonomous upgrades from Deere and AGCO’s OutRun aftermarket kit are moving beyond pilot programs and are set for limited commercial availability by 2025. This means that farmers will have the opportunity to purchase and utilize this advanced technology in the field. According to Michael Porter, the go-to-market manager for large tractors and tillage at John Deere, several units have already successfully tilled fields this year, signaling a promising shift in farming practices.

Benefits of Autonomous Tillage

One of the significant benefits of autonomous machinery is its ability to tackle spring tillage, a time when farmers often operate under tight schedules. This technology is particularly helpful for alleviating labor shortages and ensuring timely planting. As Darcy Cook, senior director of autonomous solutions at PTx Trimble, explains, “We have a mixed-fleet solution we are developing around the crop cycle — from the grain cart to tillage — and we’ll have fertilizer spreading and other functions in the future.”

Hands-Free Farming

Before diving into the world of autonomous farming, farmers must first establish field boundaries and guidance lines using farm management information software like John Deere Operations Center or PTx Trimble Ag Software. The process is relatively straightforward; farmers drive their tractors and connected implements into the field to set these parameters.

Setup Process

For John Deere’s autonomous system, the process begins with the farmer opening the Operations Center app on their smartphone. They select the field requiring tillage and create a work plan detailing the type of tillage, direction, heading angle, and the desired number of headland passes. After setting up, they can accept the work plan inside the tractor.

As Porter describes, “And then, it’s getting out of the machine, using Operation Center Mobile, and swiping to start.”

Safety Features

Once the system is activated, the machine undergoes a series of safety checks using its onboard vision technology. It alerts anyone nearby by honking its horn and lifts the tool to the starting position to begin tilling. This allows farmers to focus on other aspects of their operations while monitoring progress via a mobile app. Notably, Deere’s system is equipped with high-visibility headlights, enabling it to operate effectively overnight, thus preparing fields for the following day.

AGCO’s OutRun System

AGCO’s OutRun system offers a slightly different user experience. Once the tractor is in the designated field, farmers use an operator interface on their phones or the in-cab display to establish boundaries and headlands. They set the machine to autonomous mode, exit the cab, and press an arming button on the tractor’s ladder. After stepping clear of the tractor’s path, they can initiate operation from their phone, streamlining the process even further.

Compatibility and Installation

AGCO’s OutRun Compatibility

AGCO’s OutRun system is designed to be compatible with John Deere 8R tractors from model year 2014 and newer that feature Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT). Compatibility with Fendt tractors is anticipated to begin in 2026. A crucial aspect of OutRun’s technology is its versatile intelligence, which requires only a specific drive-by-wire kit tailored for different tractor makes and models.

Farmers can easily obtain these systems through AGCO dealers who also facilitate installation on the farm, typically completing the process in just one day.

John Deere’s Requirements

Conversely, John Deere’s autonomous tractor kit is compatible with mid-model 2022 or newer 8R tractors and 2022 or newer 9R tractors, including both wheel and 4-track RX machines. Tillage implements can be used as far back as 2017, covering models like the chisel plow, vertical till, high-speed disk, and coulter chisel. The complexity of installation may vary based on the model year and type of tillage tool. According to Porter, a complete installation, which includes software, cameras, and harnessing, usually takes about seven hours.

Final Setup

To ensure a smooth installation, farmers must provide their tractor’s serial number and identify the type of tillage tool to the dealer, who will construct a compatibility kit tailored to their equipment.

For more detailed information on these autonomous systems, visit John Deere’s Autonomous Farming page and AGCO’s OutRun site.

As the agriculture industry continues to adapt to these innovations, farmers are set to experience unprecedented levels of efficiency, allowing them to focus on higher-level farm management while the machines handle routine operations.