Of the dealers queried, nearly 60% shared their customers would fall into the “likely” or “very likely” category of interest in autonomous farm machinery. They estimate 20% would be unlikely to have an interest and 20% uncommitted or “neutral” in their interest level.

Micro-processors monitoring Li-ion surge charging in real time allows rapid battery recharge while protecting battery cycle life. Inventors say it’s scalable to current farm tractor electric prototypes.

Farm producers and dealers alike should have an easier time mixing and matching different brands of ISOBUS-equipped tractors and implements after AgriTechnica 2019.

As the digital tools of precision farming have helped growers better manage ever-smaller portions of their fields on an individual basis, the successful selling of those tools has opened up profitable new opportunities based on selling “solutions” rather than just selling products.

With a commitment to precision fertilization practices comes an expectation of financial savings and stellar tech support for Kansas operation Kramer Seed Farms.

Tipping points sometimes occur long before their true impact can be totaled, and the recent introduction of MTZ’s new-to-North America diesel-electric farm tractor could rank in that category — especially since the competitively-priced machine will be available for sale in the last quarter of 2018.