This week, we’re heading to the Innovation Hub at the 2023 Nebraska Ag Expo, where over 50 ag tech companies gathered to showcase some of the best cutting-edge technology in the industry. We caught up with Susterre CEO Michael Cully, who gives us a rundown on the company’s use of ultra-high pressure water jets to cut through residue in no-till farming.

How Farmers are Teaching Old Tractors to Think for Themselves — that’s the title of a recent Wall Street Journal article covering how OEMs like AGCO, Deere and CNH are expanding their presence in the retrofit market to ease the transition to more automation.

Mississippi State University opened a brand-new Agricultural Autonomy Institute in Starkville. It will serve as an on-campus hub for research in robotics, AI, remote sensing and more. The research infrastructure includes a 4,800 square-foot laboratory space and an “Autonomous Acres” proving ground that stretches 5 acres.

Terrakamp’s Nexat system generated tons of buzz with its Farm Progress Show debut over the summer. The company just announced a partnership with the EW Group, that will give EW Group a minority stake in Nexat.

About 10 months ago, Verdant Robotics received one of the largest investments in ag robotics to date — $46.5 million. The plan was to use the money to scale its fleet, build more machines and cover more acres.

I had the chance to attend the FIRA USA Conference in Salinas, Calif. last week, and I got to see lots of new ag technology on display. Here is Guilherme Guiné, chief sustainability officer at Solinftec, explaining some of the key features of the company’s “Solix Hunter.”

Swiss Agtech company Ecorobotix recently introduced its spot-sprayer ARA in the U.S. Ecorobotix Americas Regional Manager Jose Marchetti goes over the nuts and bolts of ARA.

Drones took flight at the Precision Planting PTI Farm workshop. Precision Planting lead agronomist Jason Webster told the crowd of no-tillers and strip-tillers that he’s on board with the potential of these UAVs to provide a significant ROI.

We’re talking about drones this week, because they seem to be generating a lot of buzz amongst growers and dealers. Luke Schultes owns and operates Viola Drone Services in Audobon, Iowa.