PRECISION AGRICULTURE DIGITAL DIGEST SUMMER 2025 ISSUE 2, VOL 6 JOHN DEERE UNVEILS MULTIPLE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT UPDATES TO SERVE MAN TRUESIGHT & HEADSIGHT FROM PRECISION PLANTING 16 08 22
Easy. Efficient. Effective. www.agcareers.com 877.438.5729 AgCareers.com agcareers@agcareers.com
PRECISION AGRICULTURE DIGITAL DIGEST Farms.com’s Media and Publishing division is responsible for publishing Precision Ag Magazine. © 2025 Farms.com Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, it products or services, nor does Farms.com make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the unintentional omission of any scheduled advertising. PHOTOS: a-r-t-i-s-t/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus COVER PHOTOS: Neustockimages/iStock/Getty Images Plus, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus, stefann11/iStock/Getty Images Plus, simon2579/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images, tolem929 – stock.adobe.com 04 07 08 10 12 16 18 20 22 24 MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Ridley Ryan.Ridley@Farms.com CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Joseph Diego Flammini DESIGN Greg Marlow ADVERTISING SALES Andrew Bawden Andrew.Bawden@Farms.com 877.438.5729 x 5030 Jeff McKee Jeff.McKee@Farms.com 888.248.4893 x 917 MARKETING & OPERATIONS Denise Faguy Denise.Faguy@Farms.com 888.248.4893 x 293 FARMS.COM OFFICE 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 SUBSCRIBE HERE to receive email notifications when future issues of the quarterly Farms.com Precision Agriculture Digital Digest are published. A GUIDING HAND NEW FIELD DATA FROM JORD BIOSCIENCE TO SERVE MAN PAG TECH CLIPS PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING IN THE SWINE INDUSTRY JOHN DEERE UNVEILS MULTIPLE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT UPDATES THE REVOLUTION IS HERE BITS & BYTES TRUESIGHT & HEADSIGHT FROM PRECISION PLANTING THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
04 Gaining plaudits for one’s work is an acknowledgement of good work. But sitting on one’s laurels isn’t what PTx Trimble likes to do. As such, this past April, the company recently debuted NAV-960 next-generation guidance controller at Agrishow in São Paulo, Brazil. Wade Stewart, Product Manager at PTx Trimble noted, “The NAV-960 makes a significant leap forward in agricultural technology. The new guidance controller offers farmers an upgrade to its predecessor, the NAV-900, with a host of improvements designed to enhance positioning accuracy, availability, and overall performance for our customers.” One of the standout features of the NAV-960 is its enhanced positioning accuracy and availability. Positioning accuracy refers to how precisely a system can determine its location—so how accurately the NAV-960 guidance controller can pinpoint the position of agricultural machinery in the field. Such high positioning accuracy ensures that during farming operations such as planting, fertilizing, and harvesting, there are minimal overlaps and gaps. This precision leads to more efficient use of resources, reduced input costs, and increased crop yields. The concept of “availability” refers to uptime, the reliability and consistency of the positioning system. It means that the NAV-960 can maintain accurate positioning even in challenging conditions, such as under tree canopies, near buildings, or during adverse solar weather activity. It helps reduce downtime and ensures continuous operation in the field. The new NAV-960 guidance controller boasts a ruggedized housing, a real-time Linux operating system, multi-core processing power, upgraded inertial sensors, and overall improved positioning and guidance control performance. PTx Trimble said that these advancements will allow farmers to handle the most complex and demanding applications for positioning, guidance, and steering, resulting in improved uptime and the flexibility to seamlessly run field operations, providing increased efficiency and boosted productivity Advanced GNSS Engine + Inertial Sensors If the subheading above sounds like something straight out of Star Trek, in this case science fiction is science fact. The NAV-960’s enhanced GNSS engine and inertial sensors play a pivotal role in improving vehicle positioning and line-following performance. PHOTO: ptxtrimble.com A GUIDING HAND New Guidance Controller Helps Maximize Positioning Accuracy ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM
05 “By fusing onboard sensors, the NAV-960 can set the most accurate path to get the vehicle to the line quicker, reducing the size of the headland required for turning and maximizing the infill area of the field,” explained Stewart. Once on the desired path, the NAV-960 uses advanced filtering and tuning to enable the vehicle to hold the line with minimal adjustment or input. This results in smoother operation, less wear and tear on the equipment, and greater overall accuracy, ultimately reducing input costs for farmers. Although the NAV-960 is built to withstand the toughest, extreme farming environments—don’t let that extra strength scare you. Just note that it’s robust. Thanks to its new cast aluminum base and sleek design, this rugged, dust-, water-, and vibrationresistant base is crucial for applications where the device is placed on the implement, such as water management and implement steering applications, as well as high-vibration applications like chain or wheel trenching machines used in drainage tile installations. The NAV-960’s durability ensures reliable performance in extreme conditions, ensuring the system is ready to work when you are. The Guts of the Tech Stewart said, “The advanced quad-core processor in the NAV-960 significantly enhances overall performance and data delivery speeds. By allowing the system to handle more simultaneous applications, the processor provides extra power and faster calculations.” In applications like WM-FieldForm and Remote Output, portions of the application processing are placed directly on the NAV-960, resulting in faster responses and increased overall accuracy in the field. This improvement in processing power ensures that farmers can make instant decisions at the source of the GNSS position, enhancing productivity and efficiency. The onboard Trimble ProPoint technology, combined with Trimble IonoGuard, helps mitigate downtime caused by solar events and scintillation. “THE NAV-960 MAKES A SIGNIFICANT LEAP FORWARD IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY. THE NEW GUIDANCE CONTROLLER OFFERS FARMERS AN UPGRADE TO ITS PREDECESSOR, THE NAV-900, WITH A HOST OF IMPROVEMENTS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE POSITIONING ACCURACY, AVAILABILITY, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.”
06 ProPoint is the fifth-generation high-precision positioning engine from Trimble, built into the Maxwell 7 base GNSS ASIC chip used in the NAV-960. It provides accurate position and orientation data from the fusion of GNSS signals, globally accessible highaccuracy correction services, and measurement data from various onboard sensors. IonoGuard is used to specifically target filtering ionospheric disturbances that can impact the delivery of GNSS radio signals to rovers on the ground. Together, these technologies offer faster cold starts, reduced convergence time, more accurate positioning, and reduced downtime from solar events, ensuring higher accuracy and profitability for farmers. The NAV-960 supports a range of correction services available at different prices to fit each customer’s accuracy requirements based on their location. This flexibility ensures that farmers can choose the best solution for their specific needs, enhancing productivity and efficiency. The NAV-960’s is compatible with Trimble CenterPoint RTX (Real-Time eXtended) correction signal. CenterPoint RTX provides centimeter-level accuracy via satellite, reducing downtime and startup time while eliminating the need for base stations. This added convenience and cost savings result in repeatable results that reduce overlap and input costs. Benefits for Farmers According to Stewart: “Farmers who implement the new receiver will see improvements from the start, including increased uptime, reduced overlap, lower input costs, reduced labor costs by maximizing operator effectiveness and eliminating idle time, reduced stress and fatigue during long days in the cab and decreasing operator mistakes and errors in judgement.” Looking ahead, the NAV-960’s onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities facilitate easier support and future enhancements, whereby technicians can remotely support the product without having to enter the vehicle or connect diagnostic cables. Firmware updates and feature licenses can be sent to the receiver with the push of a button on the PTx Trimble ToolBox+ App, allowing technicians to finetune the steering performance even while the machine operates, ensuring optimal functionality and efficiency. The NAV-960 is compatible with all GFX series displays, providing a simple upgrade path for customers needing advanced performance in their applications beyond what is available from the NAV-900. This compatibility ensures that farmers with mixed fleets can seamlessly integrate the NAV-960 into their operations, enhancing overall productivity and efficiency. Stewart acknowledged that “Customers like the simplicity of being able to easily swap out existing hardware with minimal downtime; the faster convergence time for correction signals so they can be up and operating without delays; the high accuracy online performance smoothing as the tractor does not make as many adjustments to maintain the desired path; improved headland turning functionality for greater repeatability all day; and fewer interruptions to GNSS signal during peak solar cycle leading to less downtime.” With its enhanced positioning accuracy, durability, advanced processing power, and compatibility with various correction signals, said Stewart, the NAV-960 offers farmers a reliable and efficient solution for their field operations. He summed up: “As precision agriculture continues to evolve, the NAV-960 stands out as a key tool for maximizing productivity and efficiency, ensuring a profitable and sustainable future for farmers worldwide.” To learn more, visit https://ptxtrimble.com/en/ products/hardware/guidance-control/nav-960guidance-controller. | pag “AS PRECISION AGRICULTURE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, THE NAV-960 STANDS OUT AS A KEY TOOL FOR MAXIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY, ENSURING A PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR FARMERS WORLDWIDE.”
07 A team in the ag biologicals industry has released new field data showing its products support increased soybean yields. Jord BioScience, which provides customizable microbial solutions for agriculture, recently released two years of field trial data showing its products perform better than other industry-standard soybean treatments. Jord works to enhance existing microbial products. “For the past two years, Jord has studied five microbial leads in soybean seed treatments to identify biological ingredients that can spur emergence, plant health and yield,” the organization said in a press release. The work started in 2022 for farmers to trial in 2023 and 2024. Across 16 locations in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Illinois, Jord’s innovations “delivered yield increases of 1.4 bushels to 3.1 bushels per acre during both the drought-affected 2023 season and the wet 2024 season,” the press release says. Jord’s inoculants are supported by the company’s 6,500-isolate global microbial bank. And the company works to identify how microbes work together to enhance activity in the soil. “In two drastically different growing seasons, our microbial leads consistently delivered yield improvements and high win rates—even in high-yield environments where biologicals rarely show ROI,” said Andrea Arias, Jord’s vice president of Data Science and Crop Testing. “This consistency is a gamechanger for growers seeking reliable biological crop protection.” | pag NEW FIELD DATA FROM JORD BIOSCIENCE Yield Data Shows Increased Soybean Yields Across the Midwest DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM “IN TWO DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT GROWING SEASONS, OUR MICROBIAL LEADS CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED YIELD IMPROVEMENTS AND HIGH WIN RATES—EVEN IN HIGH-YIELD ENVIRONMENTS WHERE BIOLOGICALS RARELY SHOW ROI.” PHOTO: starlineart – stock.adobe.com
08 In the heart of Itasca, Illinois, Sabanto, Inc. is pioneering a new era in agriculture with its cutting-edge autonomous farming technology. Founded by Craig Rupp, a visionary with deep roots in both farming and technology, Sabanto is addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by farmers today: rising input costs, labor shortages, and shrinking margins, and he’s doing so by retrofitting existing tractors with advanced autonomy systems to help transform the agricultural landscape. The name Sabanto is derived from the Japanese word for “servant,” reflecting the company’s mission to serve farmers with innovative solutions. Rupp explained, “I didn’t want to follow your typical ag-based startup; naming your company with the word ‘farm,’ ‘field,’ ‘yield,’ or ‘ag.’ I wanted something unique, easy to search, and easy to remember.” His journey to founding Sabanto is as unique as the company’s name. Growing up on a farm in northwest Iowa, Rupp initially left agriculture behind to pursue an ag tech career in electrical engineering. After working at Motorola and Apple, he found his way back through a stint at John Deere, where he developed the StarFire Receiver and Greenstar Display. His experience in the wireless industry and ag tech, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, led him to start Sabanto. “It was obvious to me that autonomy was going to fix the labor problem. I figured I had as good a chance to pull this off as any other person. And here we are,” Rupp said. Innovative Retrofit Autonomy System The company’s retrofit kit is a game-changer for farmers, according to Rupp: “Your next-generation tractor is already in your machine shed.” The retrofit kit includes a proprietary main control unit, GPS navigation, cameras, hydraulic valves, and various other actuators and sensors. The AI-enabled main control unit communicates with the tractor and implement over CAN (Controller Area Network, which is used to facilitate communication between the main control unit and the tractor’s various components, ensuring seamless operation and integration of the autonomous features) and to the cloud over cellular and Starlink. Sabanto’s Mission Control software, running in the cloud, creates complex coverage maps and path plans, deploying and monitoring tractors remotely. Despite the complexities, what sets Sabanto apart from the competition, according to Rupp, is its flexibility and brand-agnostic approach. “We don’t believe autonomy is an all-or-nothing proposition. Once our autonomy kit is installed, the tractor can still be used manually.” Additionally, Sabanto targets smaller tractors running longer hours, envisioning a future where horsepower is commoditized and efficiency is maximized. One of the more compelling success stories comes from Justin Yirsa, a wheat farmer in Montana. Faced with the prospect of spending over $2 million to replace his aging equipment, Yirsa turned to Sabanto’s autonomous technology. By using smaller tractors and drills running 24/7, he saved $1.8 million in capital expenses. PHOTOS: Sabanto, Inc. TO SERVE MAN Ag Tech Company Retrofits Older Vehicles with New Autonomous Farming Technology ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM
09 “Sabanto’s autonomous technology is making me rethink how I farm. I want to spend my capital on land, not equipment,” Yirsa stated in a testimonial. Overcoming Technical and Trust Challenges Developing GPS-based navigation and obstacle detection systems was no easy feat. “GPS navigation in wide-open farm fields sounds simple until you’re actually out there, dealing with signal dropouts, tree canopy cover, and terrain variability,” Rupp explained. Obstacle detection required integrating perception specifically for agriculture and building fail-safes to earn farmers’ trust. “Farmers don’t want a science project in their field. They want something that works every day in the real world,” Rupp emphasized. Sabanto’s 24/7 Mission Control software is the backbone of its autonomous system. Farmers can plan entire field operations remotely, monitor real-time tractor activity, and respond to unexpected obstacles. “Our users can access images from the cameras and even stream video,” Rupp noted. “And that’s a big deal, especially when you’re managing multiple autonomous machines across large acreages.” Another success story is Daren Richards, a contract hay producer in Utah. Richards, who recently graduated with an agriculture degree, uses Sabanto’s autonomy to run lower-cost equipment for longer hours. “Quite often, you’ll find him autonomously windrowing and manually baling in the same field,” Rupp shared. Looking ahead, Rupp said he sees a fundamental transformation in agriculture driven by autonomy. “I see a shift toward leveraging smarter, more costeffective technology that maximizes output with less horsepower,” he predicted, adding that Sabanto aims to expand geographically and innovate continuously but always remain rooted in solving real-world problems for farmers. Of course, labor shortages remain a critical issue in agriculture, but Sabanto’s autonomous technology helps farmers get more done with less labor and overhead. While the recent influx of tariffs certainly poses challenges, Rupp sees them as opportunities to drive innovation and build resilient domestic supply chains. Farmers appreciate the ease of use and reliability of Sabanto’s systems. “We hear the same thing over and over again: ‘I thought this would be a lot more complicated.’ That’s exactly what we’re going for,” Rupp said, adding that once onboarded, farmers quickly trust the system and often declare that they will never go back. The company is already operating in 25 US states and Canada, with plans to expand further. Rupp said he envisions a fully connected farm with fleets of small, autonomous machines operating in sync. “We’re staying rooted in the farmer’s experience. We don’t release features because they’re cool,” he summed up. “We release them because they solve realworld problems for farmers.” | pag “WE HEAR THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN: ‘I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.’ THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE GOING FOR.”
10 05 Running Multiple Drones Discover the latest updates on the EAVision J100 drone system as Agri Spray Drones shares how it’s advancing precision ag tech and what to expect this summer when operating multiple advanced drones. 03 Hitting the RightSpot Looking for precise and accurate sprayer control? Ag Leader’s RightSpot might be the solution. This system automatically maintains boom pressure, ensuring droplet size and coverage aren’t compromised as you speed up and slow down in the field. 01 Take Control of Your Data Precision Planting’s Panorama app/website allows you to view, transfer, and analyze data from your 20|20 monitor on your phone or computer. The high-definition maps and data generated on your display are seamlessly transferred to your mobile device for analysis via the cloud. 04 Debunking Misconceptions Experts from Carbon Robotics and Western Growers debunk misconceptions about farm robotics and laser weeding and explain how automation is revolutionizing agriculture and shaping the future of farming jobs. TECH CLIPS WATCH 02 Advancing Automation New automation features are available on John Deere X9 and S Series combines, including predictive ground speed automation, weed detection, harvest settings automation, combine auto-unload, and more. WATCH WATCH WATCH WATCH
11 07 INC Like a Pro John Deere’s Individual Nozzle Control Pro (INC Pro) gives you section control down to each specific nozzle, saving farmers 2-5% on chemicals with this technology. Compatible with model year 2008 and newer 4030 Series, 4 Series, and 400R/600R Series sprayers. 06 Microalgae Momentum SmartSoil is an organic, microalgae-based liquid that produces yield increases from 15 to 39 percent, enhances root and microbial growth, improves nutrient uptake, and increases plants’ tolerance to stress through soil microbe stimulation. 08 Seeking Weeds PTx Trimble’s ISOBUS-based WeedSeeker 2 is a targeted spot spraying technology that can travel up to 25 miles per hour and hit a target of about 3/4”. WATCH WATCH WATCH 10 High Tech Harvest Advanced harvesters revolutionize farming with speed, precision, and efficiency. This video highlights their impact on productivity, quality, and the essential role of technology in agriculture’s future for carrot, potato, corn, and other crops. WATCH PHOTOS: DS70/E+ via Getty Images, stefann11/iStock/Getty Images Plus, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus 09 Listen Up Precision Planting’s ReconBlockage system detects flow variance on your seeder or strip-till bar. Interestingly, this is achieved with an acoustic sensor that instantly alerts you to blockages. Think of this sensor as a stethoscope! WATCH WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE? WATCH & LEARN TO FIND OUT
12 Data driven decision making is the key to success when you are a swine farmer. Conception Ro-Main Inc. is a high-tech agricultural company, that was started in 1999 by brothers Robert and Germain Labrecque -- the company name is a clever amalgamation of their names “Ro-” and “-main.” The company’s first technological invention was the Contact-O-Max, a remote-controlled boar cart that revolutionized swine reproduction by facilitating largescale artificial insemination. Over the years, Ro-Main has evolved into a global leader in precision livestock farming, particularly in the swine industry. The company specializes in creating intelligent, practical technologies that enhance farm productivity and animal and worker welfare. Precision is important in every aspect of the swine business, which is why the company relies not only on AI but on experts. Ro-Main operates with a multidisciplinary team of veterinarians, agronomists, data scientists, engineers, and computer vision experts, all dedicated to supporting farmers worldwide in achieving more efficient and ecological protein production through high-tech solutions. PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING IN THE SWINE INDUSTRY High-Tech Ag Company at the Forefront of AI Usage ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM PHOTO: Ro-Main Inc.
13 Jacquelin Labrecque, Ro-Main’s chief executive officer, joined the company in 2011. Born and raised on his family’s pig farm, Labrecque pairs firsthand knowledge of swine farming with his academic background in mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence. After rising through the ranks in both technical and leadership roles, he became CEO in early 2024. “In 2008, we stepped into the realm of data-driven decision-making, integrating software and algorithmic technologies into our family’s pig farms,” states Labrecque. “It started with PigWatch, a motion sensorbased Italian system designed to predict the optimal time for insemination, a product technology that RoMain eventually acquired.” Labrecque discovered a passion for artificial intelligence (AI) while pursuing his master’s degree. “Combining AI with our work on PigWatch revealed just how powerful these technologies could be in transforming swine farming by enhancing human decision-making and automating key processes.” The company has always been driven by innovation, but 2014-2015 marked a turning point. It was during this time that Ro-Main reinvented itself, embracing modern artificial intelligence—a set of tools previously untapped in livestock farming. This strategic shift placed them at the forefront of technological advancement in the swine industry, pioneering new ways to optimize production and animal care. “The evolution of our flagship products—PigWatch, SmaRt Breeding, and SmaRt Counting—reflects not just technological progress, but a deep understanding of how to bring AI into one of the most complex and traditional industries: livestock farming,” he notes. While the company’s PigWatch technology was groundbreaking at the time, Labrecque says that as deep learning and computer vision evolved, there was an opportunity to transform the foundation of the system. This led to the birth of SmaRt Breeding, which Labrecque calls a reimagined, camera-based system that gathers far richer data using a single camera to monitor four animals simultaneously. It reduced hardware costs and unlocked much higher precision. “From there, we focused on leveraging farm-collected data to improve the AI’s accuracy, especially for single-dose insemination,” he explains. “It was a major milestone that truly elevated SmaRt Breeding into a predictive, continuous learning platform.” The SmaRt Counting product followed a similar path but tackled a different challenge: accurate pig counting. The first hurdle was to ensure the AI could perform with high precision in vastly different farm environments, such as different lighting conditions, pig sizes, breeds, and behaviors. “It took two years of refining to get it right, and that was our first major milestone: a working, reliable counting algorithm.” Next came packaging. After starting with a consumergrade computer in a robust case, Ro-Main built its own Edge Intelligence Platform (EIP), an industrialgrade supercomputer in a rugged enclosure, designed entirely in-house to be farm-ready. “This iteration,” says Labrecque, “allowed us to shift the focus from technology to value delivery.” But, as he pointed out, even with powerful AI and hardware, adoption only happens if it fits into existing SOPs (standard operating procedures) and workflows. “We developed new features like usage compliance tools that act as auto-training systems for farmworkers while also alerting managers about potential usage issues or even animal welfare concerns—like pigs piling up during counting. “THE EVOLUTION OF OUR FLAGSHIP PRODUCTS—PIGWATCH, SMART BREEDING, AND SMART COUNTING— REFLECTS NOT JUST TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS, BUT A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO BRING AI INTO ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: LIVESTOCK FARMING.”
14 “The goal was simple: make the tool seamless, intuitive, and valuable for every stakeholder, from the person counting the pigs to the business owner analyzing performance,” continues Labrecque. “But, through this journey, one truth became clear. Building AI for this industry is about much more than AI,” he explained. “It’s about being a pioneer, yes, but that means guiding the change, not just sparking it. It’s our responsibility to help farmers adopt the technology, not just use it.” Labrecque said that Ro-Main is continuing that mission with its next product, SmaRt Weight, which he says will debut at the 2025 World Pork Expo, June 4-5, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. “The SmaRt Weight is an add-on to SmaRt Counting, which provides not only pig counts but also average weights and coefficient of variation—with zero extra effort,” he points out. “This gives farmers instant insight into the uniformity of a group, which in turn reflects how well the animals were managed during early life. “That data,” he continues, “helps save time and money and can guide decisions about treatment, feeding, and forecasting through to market. It’s not just about better data; it’s about actionable intelligence, available instantly, at scale.” AI, and particularly deep learning, has opened a new era in swine monitoring “by allowing us to capture and analyze unstructured data—like images, video, or even sound—24/7, just as if we had human senses present in the barn at all times.” Cameras and microphones can now continuously observe animal behavior, while AI interprets the data in real-time to detect patterns, count pigs, and monitor their well-being. “One of AI’s greatest strengths is its ability to learn from variation,” reveals Labrecque. “In a pig barn, for example, where lighting conditions, animal sizes, and movement can vary widely, deep learning allows our systems to adapt and perform with a high level of precision. That said, AI is not magic, nor is it a human brain. Because it’s a powerful tool, it needs the right conditions and training to perform reliably. “That’s why, when we design our products, we don’t just rely on AI. We take a holistic approach,” he notes. “We identify edge cases—unusual but important situations—and we adapt our hardware and processes to reduce the burden on the algorithm. Sometimes that means improving lighting, adjusting camera angles, or engineering mechanical features that create more consistency in the environment,” offers Labrecque. “Ultimately, it’s the combination of human ingenuity and AI capabilities that makes these systems work so well. “The goal isn’t just to make smart tools,” he sums up, “it’s to make smart tools that work on real farms, under real-world conditions.” In February 2025, Ro-Main joined the IMV Technologies Group, a global leader in assisted reproduction biotechnologies, for a partnership expected to accelerate Ro-Main’s growth and further its mission of providing sustainable, high-tech solutions for animal farming. Ro-Main Current Product Portfolio: • SmaRt Counting: An AI-powered system that automatically counts pigs with high accuracy, aiding in inventory management. • SmaRt Breeding: A tool that monitors sow behavior to determine optimal insemination times, improving reproductive efficiency. • Contact-O-Max: A self-propelled, remotecontrolled boar cart that optimizes sow sexual stimulation by ensuring sustained and precise snout-to-snout contact, improving reproductive performance. • Hercules’ Arm: A self-propelled carcass cart designed to assist in the safe and ergonomic removal of deceased animals, especially large sows, from tight spaces, enhancing worker safety. • Companion Cart: A self-propelled carcass cart designed to assist in the safe and ergonomic removal of deceased animals, especially gilts and finisher pigs, enhancing worker safety. • No Backdraft: A ventilation solution that prevents air backflow, maintaining stable and microbe-free barn environments. For more information on Ro-Main, visit www.ro-main.com. | pag
MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. PigCHAMP Mobile allows for remote data entry of PigCHAMP Reproductive information while providing basic reporting functionality and validation to users. This allows users to interact directly with PigCHAMP Online or Client Hosted PigCHAMP. NEW functionality for mobile is intermittent connectivity, allowing use in areas with limited internet capabilities. Contact our sales team to learn more about PigCHAMP Mobile products. FEATURES › In-barn data validation › Optional intermittent connectivity › Bluetooth-enabled RFID function › Bar code scanning › Real-time data Intermittent mode is NOT available for iOS. AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD:
16 John Deere is bringing multiple updates to its application portfolio. “There are a number of features that we’re bringing when we look at technology improvements and capability improvements within the cab of the machine,” Josh Ladd, John Deere’s go-to-market manager for application equipment, told the Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. “A nice diversity of updates that fortunately benefits a lot of our customers.” One update for model year 2026 400R and 600R series sprayers with 90-ft., 100-ft., or 120-ft., booms is variable rate with See & Spray Select. The See & Spray system includes 36 cameras across the boom that overlap with one another to provide a comprehensive view of the field. This factory feature for 2026 uses the existing hardware and a software update to allow the cameras to detect the amount of green biomass in the field. Using this information and the G5 or G5Plus CommandCenterTM, farmers can customize how much product they’re applying across the entire boom. This flexibility supports precision placement, especially with products that have approved bands of application. “Then the system will automatically, as it detects the biomass in the crop, adjust the rate of application, still staying between those approved bands,” Ladd said. “So, there’s a confidence from the operator that on any given acre across the entirety of their field, they are applying only the amount of product necessary for what the system is observing.” See & Spray Select will also now be available as a precision upgrade. Farmers with model year 2018 or newer John Deere sprayers with ExactApply, BoomTracTM Pro 2 and a 120-ft. boom can purchase a precision upgrade kit. John Deere is also making changes to its See & Spray Premium product. One is around availability. Premium will now be available as a factory-installed option on Hagie’s lineup of STS16 and STS20 sprayers. There are also three software upgrades. One increases the speed of See & Spray Premium from 12mph to 15mph using approved nozzle kits. Another is related to the boom and its fallback mode. “Today, at a certain height around 47” or above, the See & Spray system loses confidence and goes into a fallback mode or a broadcast by default,” Ladd said. “I was very, very proud of the team to improve the model to work at higher boom heights providing even greater value later into the spray season.” The third upgrade is a new canopy map data layer. See & SprayTM Select Variable Rate, AutoTracTM and ExactApply Are All Designed to Support Precision Product Applications DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM JOHN DEERE UNVEILS MULTIPLE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT UPDATES
17 “As the sprayer is passing through the field with those cameras turned on, there’s a new data layer just to give (farmers) some more insights on what’s happening in the field throughout the season and where they may want to take some proactive moves.” John Deere is also bringing AutoTrac updates to its application equipment. AutoTrac Turn Automation, available for John Deere and Hagie sprayers and spreaders, helps ensure consistent and accurate turns at the end of each pass. And farmers can customize their setups. “It’s really just going to enhance the precision and also the efficiency of the machine,” Ladd said. “And so, as the operator is going into the turn, they can preset their turn buffer, or the overall width of the turn, and the system can really take over and make sure they stay on that line to avoid over application to mitigate crop damage or excess rollover.” Farmers with John Deere 400R and 600R series selfpropelled sprayers, 800R floaters, or Hagie STS12, STS16, and STS20 sprayers, model year 2022 and newer, can purchase this technology. The tech is included with Automation 4.0 on Gen4 displays and the G5 Advanced license for machines with G5 displays. In addition, farmers can benefit from AutoTrac Vision 2.0. This represents an overhaul of the existing AutoTrac Vision 1.0 system, Ladd says. “It’s a new stereo camera (and) mono camera combination that is working in conjunction to maintain pinpoint accuracy of our sprayer tires as we complete our application passes,” Ladd said. With the previous system, farmers would have to complete field by field calibrations. With the new version, the machine can calibrate once and have continuous accuracy. And farmers can bring this system into the field earlier than its predecessor, Ladd said. “Now we can get in at up to four inches of crop emergence, so the system at four inches or above will be able to maintain the position of the sprayer going through the field, and that’ll be consistent all the way up through nearly 90 percent crop canopy,” he said. AutoTrac Vision 2.0 also has a maximum speed of 22mph and can handle slopes up to 6°. It’s available on model year 2026 John Deere 400R and 600R sprayers only. ExactApply is also receiving updates. The system’s new multi-rate capability, paired with a prescription, helps operators perform multiple application rates across the whole boom in up to 11 specific sections. “At any given point in field, you may have a certain section where you only want to apply 10 gallons an acre, and then elsewhere on the boom at that same time you want to apply more or less,” Ladd said. “Everything that we’re doing with ExactApply multi-rate has effectively been pre-decided by that prescription that is loaded into the sprayer that is informing the machine on when and where to vary the rate of application.” These upgrades are available as a software update for model year 2023-2025 400R and 600R sprayers and will come factory installed for model year 2026 with updated software. Farmers interested in learning more about any of these tech upgrades are encouraged to contact their local John Deere dealer. Ladd discusses more about these updates in this video. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO PHOTO: John Deere
18 CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH) has introduced its latest ground-breaking advancement in precision ag equipment— the IntelliSense Bale Automation technology. This innovative system—available for New Holland and Case IH large square balers—will, according to the CNH team, enhance baling efficiency, productivity, and the overall bale quality. As we are well aware, the North American ag industry continues to suffer from labor shortages, which is where CNH’s new bale automation technology comes in. Along with the need for consistent bale quality, its IntelliSense Bale Automation offers a wide range of benefits that cater to both novice and experienced operators. At the heart of IntelliSense Bale Automation lies the integration of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology. This sophisticated system digitizes the field surface ahead of the baler, taking into account the swath position and cross-section to predict the crop load. The LiDAR sensor emits laser pulses to measure distances to the ground and crop, creating a detailed 3D map of the field. This data, combined with inputs from baler sensors, is processed to automate the tractor’s ground speed and swath following. The system’s automation capabilities eliminate the inconsistencies often associated with manual steering and speed adjustments. By ensuring consistent crop feeding, improved chamber fill, reliable bale flake thickness, and uniform bale length, IntelliSense Bale Automation significantly enhances the baling process. The technology is compatible with New Holland and Case IH tractors equipped with Class 3 ISOBUS, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Available as a dealer-installed kit for balers produced from model year 2022 onward and as a factory option for balers from model year 2025 onward, IntelliSense Bale Automation is set to become a staple in modern baling operations. Night Moves + Day Labor One of the standout features of IntelliSense Bale Automation is its capability to operate efficiently both day and night. In dry climates, nighttime baling is often necessary to produce high-quality alfalfa bales, for example. However, this can lead to long hours chasing the dew with limited visibility, increasing operator fatigue, and reducing productivity. IntelliSense addresses this challenge by enabling the LiDAR sensor to view the row ahead even in darkness, thereby enhancing operator awareness and safety while boosting throughput. Labor shortages are a persistent issue in agriculture, and inexperienced operators can significantly impact productivity and machine reliability. Operating skill is not acquired overnight; it requires extensive experience to master the nuances of baling, such as adjusting ground speed to accommodate varying crop yields across a field. IntelliSense Bale Automation smooths the learning curve for novice operators, making it easier for them to achieve optimal results. For experienced operators, the technology enhances their skills, allowing them to perform even better. THE REVOLUTION IS HERE Baling Gets Updated with IntelliSense Automation, Providing a Leap Forward in Precision Agriculture ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM
19 Technical Specifications and Benefits The IntelliSense system is equipped with several advanced features that contribute to its efficiency and reliability: LiDAR sensor provides real-time 3D mapping of the field, enabling precise swath following and ground speed adjustments. Baler sensors: These monitor various parameters such as crop flow, chamber fill, and bale density to ensure optimal performance. ISOBUS compatibility ensures seamless integration with New Holland and Case IH tractors, facilitating easy installation and operation. Automation algorithms use data from the LiDAR and baler sensors to make real-time adjustments, ensuring consistent bale quality and reducing operator workload. By reducing the risk of overfeeding, the longevity of baler components is increased, leading to higher uptime and lower ownership costs. Simplifying the operator’s workload not only reduces fatigue but also improves safety, resulting in greater baler throughput and lower production costs. Additionally, the technology ensures improved bale quality and consistency, which translates to more complete truckloads, reduced hauling and handling costs, stable haystacks, and a more uniform product for marketing. As precision agriculture continues to advance, technologies like IntelliSense Bale Automation pave the way for more efficient and sustainable farming practices. By automating critical aspects of the baling process, CNH America is helping farmers overcome traditional challenges and achieve higher productivity with less effort. The integration of LiDAR technology and intelligent automation represents a significant leap forward, promising a future where precision and efficiency are the norm rather than the exception. By addressing key challenges such as labor shortages, inconsistent bale quality, and operator fatigue, IntelliSense Bale Automation offers farm businesses a comprehensive solution that enhances both productivity and safety. According to the CNH team, as farmers adopt this technology, they can look forward to a future where baling is not only more efficient but also more sustainable, ensuring high-quality outputs with minimal effort. | pag PHOTO: cnh.com
01 An Earful of Data Researchers are using smart ear tags to track cattle activity, helping producers pinpoint optimal breeding times, improving conception rates, and enhancing livestock management with advanced technology. MORE 20 BITS & BYTES 02 Turnkey Rates & Batches GeoPard’s Rates Calculator and Batch Equations modules help farmers reduce planning time, cut input costs by up to 30%, and boost profitability with precision planning tools accessible via web and mobile apps. MORE 05 Joining Forces HerdStar® LLC has merged with BinMaster to enhance agricultural technology. This acquisition strengthens feed monitoring and climate control solutions like BinTrac and MicroZone, expanding capabilities and providing advanced support for livestock producers. MORE 04 Flying Above the Red Tape Syngenta and crop protection companies fund studies to standardize UAV pesticide labeling and reduce regulatory delays. Their goal is to provide reference data, streamline approvals, and improve safety for UAV applications. MORE 03 I See You, VPU John Deere introduces its high-performance vision processing unit, now available to OEMs. Designed for rugged environments, it enables advanced vision-based automation, offering robust performance and extensive camera integration capabilities for OEMs to integrate into their own products. MORE
21 08 Ag in Orbit CNH teams up with Starlink to deliver high-speed satellite internet, boosting precision farming through real-time connectivity, smarter data use, and improved efficiency—even in remote rural locations worldwide. MORE 07 Worry-Free Water-Watching Ranchbot offers remote, real-time water monitoring using satellite-connected sensors, helping ranchers reduce labor, fuel, and maintenance costs while improving livestock care and ensuring reliable water system oversight. MORE 06 Never Miss a Day Syngenta and Planet Labs have expanded their partnership to provide farmers with near-daily satellite imagery, enabling better crop health monitoring, pest detection, and disease identification through Syngenta’s Cropwise platform. MORE 09 Harvesting Data Intel Ceres AI and FieldView unite to bridge farm and finance data, delivering realtime risk insights that empower farmers, insurers, and investors to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions. MORE PHOTO: FluxFactory/E+ via Getty Images 10 Carbon Clarity EarthOptics launches the first scalable MIR soil carbon test, delivering fast, lowcost, high-quality data to support carbon markets, sustainability goals, and climatesmart agriculture with unmatched speed and precision. MORE
22 Farmers looking to upgrade their harvest capabilities may want to consider two products from Precision Planting. One is HeadSight, which is designed for growers with aftermarket headers. It provides automatic header height control and comes in two configurations. One for corn and another for canola, small grains, and soybeans. Sensors are mounted in the tip of the snout to measure the vertical distance between their mounting location and the ground. This gives the combine an early warning of changes in the ground surface. “Our sensor design is extremely accurate and very robust,” Paul Harms, a product support manager with Precision Planting, told the Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. “We recommend one sensor every eight feet.” Poly sensors mute any unnecessary information, ensuring the header stays where farmers want it during row passes. Farmers can choose between Standard, Terrace, or Low-Pro mounting styles for the poly sensors. Standard mounts behind the cutter bar for flex and draper headers. The Terrace mounts in front of the header on the crop dividers, and Low-Pro is installed directly under the cutter bar using existing bar guard bolts. The sensors work in tandem to form a combined average height reading. This helps ensure consistent header placement regardless of the field conditions. “We’ve put in the time and the energy, and we know what the combines are capable of,” Harms said. “Our controllers will take our sensor information and manipulate the signals going to the combine to make sure we’re creating an aggressive enough response out of the combine to match the terrain.” Farmers can manage the data from HeadSight using a control system that can integrate into other virtual terminals. The control system features automatic calibration, diagnostics, in-cab monitoring, and control of header functions, and up to seven height sensors. WATCH THE VIDEO PHOTOS: precisionplanting.com These Harvest Solutions Support Header Control and Combine Steering TRUESIGHT & HEADSIGHT FROM PRECISION PLANTING DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM
23 “The raise, lower, and tilt functions on the joystick of the combine will be the same,” Harms said. “We just feed and control that in the background. Farmers set how they want the combine to run, and our system will hold to that.” The other harvest solution farmers may want to explore for harvest is TrueSight. This is Precision Planting’s full combine steering control system. It works by directly controlling steering valves or the steering motor for maximum control. On a corn head, a poly sensor is installed on the snout left of center. “The sensor has two arms that reach back and touch the rows of corn on either side of that snout,” Harms said. “The industry standard is two sensors on neighboring snouts on one arm to feel a single row between those snouts. But that kind of setup can be prone to poor performance in challenging conditions.” TrueSight helps ensure precision harvests because it takes its cues from the crop. “It responds to where the crop actually stands instead of a line on a map or a GPS signal,” Harms said. And similar to HeadSight, farmers can interact with TrueSight directly from the combine’s virtual terminal. Data from Precision Planting shows TrueSight’s potential benefits for producers. A typical corn grower could capture an additional 0.30.7 bushels per acre in harvested yield compared to manually steering by adding combine row guidance. Anyone interested in learning more about HeadSight or TrueSight can contact Precision Planting or a local dealer. Take a closer look at TrueSight and HeadSight in this video. | pag
24 Forgetting politics, the global ag sector is under pressure to produce more food while at the same time reducing negative impacts on the environment. A recent promising solution is the use of SolarPowered Irrigation Systems (SPIS), which involves using solar energy to power irrigation pumps. Combining the SPIS with precision ag technologies has revolutionized farming practices by offering a sustainable path forward for the industry. The Problem of Tradition Irrigation is essential for global food production, with over 320 million hectares of land currently equipped for irrigation—more than 20 percent of all arable land available. According to an online article on Reporter Linker (www.reportlinker.com/ dataset/79ee415b4f74018506e91d2ce9c8c32adc521f23), as of 2023, the land area equipped for irrigation in North America, which includes both Canada and the US, is approximately 28.14 million hectares—and has grown over the past decade from continuing efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and water management. Despite the results, traditional irrigation methods are energy-intensive, consuming an estimated 62 TWh annually worldwide. TWh = terawatts, whereby one watt-hour (Wh) is the amount of energy used by a device that consumes one watt of power for one hour, which means that one terawatt-hour (TWh) is 1,000,000,000,000 watt-hours, a substantial amount of energy. Many of these traditional irrigation systems rely on fossil fuels, with 26 percent of agricultural pumps in the US alone running on diesel or other non-renewable energy sources. This drives up operational costs and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The Promise of Solar-Powered Irrigation As noted, SPIS uses solar energy to power irrigation pumps, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 98 percent compared to dieselbased alternatives, according to a white paper on the subject from the Global Ag Tech Initiative (www.globalagtechinitiative.com/in-field-technologies/ irrigation/solar-powered-irrigation-and-smart-controltechnologies-in-agriculture/). A reduction from this shift would certainly better support global decarbonization efforts and provide farmers with a more reliable and cost-effective solution, particularly in remote areas where grid connectivity is limited. In a typical SPIS, electricity is generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and used to operate pumps for the abstraction, lifting, and distribution of irrigation water. The essential components include: • Solar generator: PV panels or arrays to produce electricity; • Mounting structure: Fixed or equipped with a solar tracking system to maximize solar energy yield; • Pump controller: Manages the operation of the pump; • Water Pump: Surface or submersible, integrated with an electric motor; • Distribution System: Pipes and storage tanks for irrigation water. The Use of Solar-Powered Irrigation and Precision Ag Technologies Helps Farmers Produce More Without Negatively Impacting the Environment THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM PHOTO: DOERS – stock.adobe.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQyMDk=