“We’re leaving a lot more residue on the field and that residue brings some benefits because it traps moisture and reduces erosion,” explains Trevor Thiessen, president and co-owner of Redekop Manufacturing in Saskatoon. “If straw is not chopped finely and spread evenly, it can also create challenges.”

Why it matters: New machinery innovations have not only improved straw chopping and spreading capabilities but have made the entire process easier for farmers.

Thiessen says poor residue management can leave piles that make seeding difficult, leading to poor emergence and increased risk of second flushes of weeds.

New machinery innovations have not only improved straw chopping and spreading capabilities but have made the entire process easier for farmers. The following are the latest features available on straw choppers.

Increased spreader widths

The move to larger machines with wider headers helped speed up harvesting; however, Kelly Kravig, Case IH harvesting marketing manager for combines and headers, says the 45-foot drapers on most combines can only spread 35 feet, leaving uneven piles of straw on the field.

Case IH introduced Axial-Flow 8250 and 9250 model choppers with optional hood-mounted external Xtra-Chop choppers fitted to the rear of the combine that chop and package residue and spread it across the full required working width. The windrow opening is 45 per cent larger, providing better material flow.

The New Holland Opti-Spread Plus system also spreads residue uniformly across the entire working width. The unit, which is mounted behind the straw chopper, spreads straw up to 45 feet.

Finer cuts

While a lot of farmers can get along with a 40-blade chopper, there are some circumstances where a 120-blade chopper is better suited, according to Kravig. He points to producers growing wheat and barley in Western Canada, where outstanding yields create “extreme” levels of straw. “Those producers may require a much more aggressive chopper,” he adds.

The high-speed chopper on New Holland combines runs at 3100 revolutions per minute on the CR6.90 to CR7.90 models and 4000 rpm on CR8.90 and larger models to ensure fine chopping.

Case IH also added more residue options to its 250 series combines, including a Magna-Cut Extra Fine Cut Deluxe Spreader that uses 120 rotating blades and 40 fixed counter knife blades for the finest residue cuts. This innovation won the AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

In-cab controls

In the past, farmers had to get out of the cab to make any adjustments, but the latest technologies allow for all controls to happen from inside the cab.

“When other manufacturers were developing features for the combine, we were developing features for the driver,” says Luiz Miotto, combine and headers marketing product manager for New Holland. “More and more, everything is coming inside the cab.”

On New Holland combines, the spread width on a CR combine model can be adjusted electronically from the cab to change residue patterns to offset crosswinds or to adjust to field conditions or future planting.

The Case IH Opti-Spread Plus system allows farmers to adjust the speed of the chaff spreader and the discs to counteract wind or side slope impacts without shutting down the combines. John Deere also made upgrades to its S series combines, including enhanced residue management features such as the optional feature to set the chopper knife bank in four different positions without leaving the cab to enhance residue placement.

Increased efficiency, effectiveness

While mainline manufacturers have incorporated high-end residue management technologies on their combines, some producers are struggling with equipment that has inefficient or ineffective residue packages.

Redekop created the MAV Straw Chopper to help producers upgrade their machines to manage the capacity of their residue in a more efficient, more effective way at better price points than going back to the original equipment manufacturer, according to Thiessen. The bolt-on devices fit existing machines.

“We’re trying to upgrade that one component of your machine that isn’t working efficiently for you to make it so you don’t have to buy a new combine,” he explains.

Coming soon: Artificial intelligence

Manufacturers are constantly innovating and Miotto believes artificial intelligence will be the next frontier in residue management.

“We have moved so many operations into the cab that we’re starting to overwhelm the driver,” he says. “He has a lot of decisions to make and needs to know how — and when — to play with all of the switches.”

Developing residue management packages with cameras, radar, weather stations and other sensors will enable manufacturers to use artificial intelligence and automation to adjust on the go, correcting for land grade, wind direction, straw composition and more.

“Five years from now, automation will be the word,” Miotto says. “We are already asking, ‘How can we… reduce the amount of decisions the operator needs to make for their work to be even more efficient?’ That is what’s next for residue management.”

— Jodi Helmer is an experienced journalist who writes about food, gardening, farming, the environment and sustainable living.

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“Our farms are growing, our use of crop protection agents is growing and we have a labour shortage,” says Tom Wolf, a sprayer expert and scientist with Saskatoon-based Agrimetrix Research and Training. “Farm equipment has to be more productive.”

Drone and intelligent sprayers — tools that improve accuracy and efficiency — are the latest developments in sprayer technologies.

Intelligent Sprayers

A 2018 collaboration between researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University led to the development of the first intelligent sprayer. The machine uses sensors to detect plants around the sprayer and applies the optimum level of spray based on a computer algorithm. In field trials, it reduced airborne spray drift, spray loss and pesticide use, resulting in average annual savings of US$230 per acre.

Although intelligent sprayers are relatively new to the market, the technology continues to evolve. The second-generation models use video cameras and artificial intelligence to identify different species of plants, determining which ones are weeds that need to be sprayed.

Bosch claims that its intelligent sprayer only needs 300 milliseconds to recognize a weed and spray it. The Robocrop Spot Sprayer, developed by Zürn Garford in the United Kingdom, can distinguish clumps of weeds in a minimum target area as small as 40 millimetres.

John Deere-owned Blue River Technology created See and Spray technology, which uses artificial intelligence to distinguish between a weed and the crop. The machine moves across fields applying precision shots of herbicides to undesirable plants, protecting crops. The manufacturer claims herbicide costs were reduced 90 per cent when producers traded broadcast sprayers for the intelligent sprayer. It’s currently available on a limited basis for cotton crops in the United States.

Wolf believes it will take time before intelligent sprayers are the norm on farms. “The proof of concept has happened [but] most of the technology has yet to be field-proven. The challenge will be making it so reliable that it could replace a broadcast herbicide,” he explains.

Drone Sprayers

Farmers use drones for tasks ranging from field mapping, soil assessment, and crop health and harvest planning to documenting crop losses. The unmanned aerial vehicles are also being tested as high-tech spraying tools.

Global manufacturers have developed effective drone sprayers that scan the ground and apply crop protection as needed. Drones offer significant advantages, including providing access to steep terrain, and can spray fields up to five times faster than conventional agricultural sprayers, according to some industry estimates. Trading backpack sprayers for drones also helps protect workers from pesticide exposures.

The Yamaha FAZER and RMAX drones were engineered for spray applications and approved for use in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Thailand and the United States. Volocopter teamed up with John Deere to create an aerial crop duster. The VoloDrone is equipped with a sprayer tank that accommodates up to 440 pounds of herbicides and can remain airborne for up to 30 minutes.

In Canada, it remains illegal to use drones to apply pesticides but regulations haven’t stopped companies from developing the technology. Ontario-based Forward Robotics makes a drone with a pull-behind sprayer with a fixed-wing design to minimize drift to make it more apt to fit with conventional aircraft spray regulations.

Wolf expects that Canadian regulations for drone sprayers might change as the technology evolves but it’ll take time before the autonomous machines are the go-to technology on the majority of farms. Widespread adoption requires more mature technology, qualified operators and more competitive pricing. Drone sprayers are quite small, which means more frequent refills, and spray drift is a significant concern.

Cost might also be a barrier that limits widespread adoption of both intelligent and drone sprayer technologies.

“Every agricultural technology has a cost factor associated with it and the return on investment has to be high for it to be justified,” Wolf says. “Some of the early adopters have seen [sprayer technologies] pay for itself in a few years, which is very unusual for a new technology.”

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“[Sprayer tank cleanout] is a challenge because residues can create harm in subsequent crops,” explains Tom Wolf (also known as The Nozzle Guy), a sprayer expert with Saskatoon-based Agrimetrix Research and Training and founder of the website sprayers101.com. “As we become more and more diversified, the situations where that problem can occur increases, so we have to focus on cleanout to a degree greater than ever before to prevent harm to our crops.”

Wolf shares three tips for optimal sprayer tank cleanout.

1. Avoid the problem: Improper mixing can result in poor blending or mixing of the product, resulting in a buildup of hard-to-clean sludge. Follow label directions, mix products in the right order and work slow to avoid improper mixing.

Wolf suggests paying extra attention when you use a new tank mix. “The mixability of those products may not be what you expect it to be,” he says. Start with a jar test, simulating the mixing concentration in a mason jar to ensure it’s a good mixture with minimal sediment and no filmy top layer that could make it harder to clean out the tank.

2. Dilute leftover spray: It’s common to have small amounts of leftover spray in the tank and the boom lines, Wolf explains. It needs to be diluted with a detergent cleaner to remove pesticide products from all parts of the tank. Ammonia raises the pH and removes excess products, and a detergent like All Clear, which is mixed at a label rate of 0.25 litres to 100 litres of water, can neutralize herbicides like MCPA and 2,4-D while removing excess oils. Wolf advises spraying out over and over until all of the leftover material has been diluted.

3. Clean the contact points: With water in the tank and booms, turn to the filters, boom lines, boom ends, screens, valves and other plumbing components that might contain residues. Scrubbing these areas to remove all residues is an unpleasant but essential part of the cleanout process. Residue buildup can clog the lines and nozzles, interfering with future applications.

When you’re in the market for a tank upgrade, consider stainless steel components, which are easier to clean than plastic.

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“In the last 25 years since these kinds of nozzles appeared on the market, researchers have taken it upon themselves to test the performance of these nozzles because we viewed them as valuable to agriculture,” Wolf says. “We found that these nozzles achieve low drift and excellent pest killing performance [and] there’s no risk associated with adopting them because they work.”

Here are Wolf’s top five options to consider:

Billericay Farm Systems: British manufacturer Billericay makes the BFS Bubble Jet Air Induction Nozzle, which maintains precision spray applications by controlling off-target drift. The nozzles have a pressure range of 2 to 4.5 bars and come in nine size variations. bfs.uk.com

Greenleaf Technologies: According to the manufacturer, the AirMix low-pressure nozzle offers the most economical solution for drift control. It operates at lower pressures (the optimal rate is 20 to 60 p.s.i.) and fits standard air nozzle caps to provide both drift control and optimal surface coverage. The nozzle is sold in four configurations. greenleaftech.com

Pentair: The Hypro GuardianAIR is optimized to perform at application rates of 10 gallons per acre, reducing drift and increasing droplet deposits for better performance. According to the manufacturer, it offers better coverage with more drops per gallon than other air-induced spray tips. It is sold in seven sizes. John Deere sells this nozzle under the name LDA. pentair.com

TeeJet Technologies: The compact design of the AIXR TeeJet Flat Spray Tip was designed to achieve optimal drift resistance without compromising coverage. It comes in nine sizes and operates at pressures between 15 to 90 p.s.i. The material is ideal for applying highly acidic products. teejet.com

Wilger: Unlike the other nozzles on the list, the Wilger MR is not air-induced; it’s used for pulse width modulation (PWM). It provides good coverage while reducing drift. The nozzle cap fits other Wilger nozzle bodies and comes with a stainless steel tip and snap-in strainer to reduce clogging. Aside from the Wilger line of nozzles, the availability of low-drift PWM-compatible sprays is limited. wilger.net

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Enter robotic weeders. These autonomous machines address many issues from herbicide resistance to labour shortages. Companies ranging from John Deere and FarmWise Labs in San Francisco to the French agricultural robotics company, Naio Technologies, have all developed autonomous weeding equipment. Although the technology is still in its infancy, successful field tests give farmers hope for the future.

Halifax-based Nexus Robotics started working on its autonomous weeding robot, R2-Weed2, in 2017. The machine uses artificial intelligence to distinguish between weeds and crops and, once weeds are identified, R2-Weed2 either applies a dose of herbicide or pulls the weeds from the roots.

“Most farmers are desperate to find a solution to their problems with weeds,” says Teric Greenan, CEO of Nexus Robotics.

Compared to farm workers who can weed up to one-third of an acre per day, the robot can weed up to five acres per day (assuming 24 hours of operation). During trials on a Nova Scotia farm, the robotic weeder removed or killed 90 per cent of weeds during the growing season and additional field trials will take place in Quebec this summer. Greenan anticipates a commercial release in 2021.

Cultivating worldwide demand

Autonomous weeding machines are already pulling weeds on farms outside of Canada. International companies like Robovator, Garford and Steketee IC have commercialized their technologies and their weeders (distributed in the United States through dealers like Quinn Tractor, Sutton Ag and Pacific Ag Rentals) are removing weeds from the seedlines on vegetable farms.

In Salinas, Calif., Pacific Ag Rentals is the first U.S. dealer to offer the Robovator, a robotic hoeing machine that uses sharp knives to grab and pull weeds among row crops. The machine works on high-value vegetable crops such as lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli, and is 90 per cent accurate in removing weeds from transplanted crops.

Walker, noting that one machine can replace up to 10 farm workers, hoped to sell the machines to farmers who struggled to find labourers and needed an efficient and effective method of killing weeds. Sales of the units, which cost up to US$160,000, were slower than anticipated so the California company transitioned to offering the technology as a service: Pacific Ag Rentals provides the tractor, weeder and a driver to handle weeding.

Nexus Robotics plans to take a similar approach with R2-Weed2, charging a per acre fee for the weeding service and later selling the units.

“It’s autonomous but it still needs to be supervised to some extent and operating it is not trivial,” Greenan says. “Things can go wrong and we don’t want that responsibility on the farmers until the technology is more reliable.”

While the first robotic weeding machines are just starting to be deployed on farms, companies are already working on next-generation technologies that use GPS guidance, machine learning, robotics and solar power to rid farm fields of weeds.

“There are multiple robotic weeders out there right now and lots of different technologies but they all do the same thing,” says Bart Walker, president of Pacific Ag Rentals. “Are there advances we could use to get them to be better weeders? Yes. But it’s exciting to see how technology in agriculture can make us a lot more efficient.”

As the technology for autonomous weeders grows, Greenan believes that they will become as common on farms as tractors, sprayers and air carts.

“Over the next five to 10 years, [robotic weeders] will go from precommercial to standard,” Greenan says. “The technology will become much more efficient and the cost will keep going down — and the cost of labour will keep going up — and that’s going to make them much more than just a fringe thing.”

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Until now, producers had to choose from John Deere’s 550- or 850-bushel air carts, leaving a gap in the market for those who needed an in-between option. Ryan Hough, marketing manager, planting and seeding for John Deere, believes the C650 hits the “sweet spot” for farmers who need productivity in a smaller package.

“Our C850 Air Cart has great technology but it was designed for the biggest of the big farmers with 10,000-acre operations,” Hough says. “With the trends in Western Canada, we knew that operators needed to increase productivity and get more done in a day. Operators loved the technology of the C850 but it was too big for their operations.”

The C650 Air Cart is available in both tow-behind and tow-between configurations. One of the most exciting high-tech features on this “smart cart” is ActiveCal, an on-demand calibration feature that gives operators the ability to automatically calibrate meters from the touchscreen display in the cab. Each of the four tanks is equipped with a tank scale and camera, which minimizes downtime from stopping to recalibrate. All four tanks can be filled in as little as 20 minutes, according to Hough.

Other integrated John Deere technology included in the C650 Air Cart includes SectionCommand to minimize overlaps and skips and improve seed and fertilizer application; and AirPower 2, dual fans (one each for seed and fertilizer) to deliver consistent product rates across the full width of air seeding tools.

John Deere outfitted its newest air cart with several features from the C850 Air Cart, including hydraulic rear disc brakes and digital tank air pressure monitoring. RelativeFlow blockage sensing, which allows operators to see the flow rate of seed and fertilizer from the in-cab display, a popular feature on the C850 model, is also included on the C650 Air Cart.

“[RelativeFlow blockage] sensors give you the confidence that you’re putting the right amount of seed and fertilizer down on the field,” Hough says.

Unlike the larger model, Hough notes the C650 is compatible with more tractors (and also works with select hoe drills and no-till drills). The smaller size makes it easier to pull, allowing operators to maintain speed over tough spots in the field.

The C650 Air Cart is compatible with competitive tools and tractors.

“We always want to sell John Deere tractors first but we know there are a lot of situations where [producers] are happy with their current equipment and need an air cart,” Hough explains. “The technology from our air cart can be put on any colour of tool or tractor.”

John Deere will start taking orders for the C650 Air Cart on June 1, 2020, and start shipping them in the fall.

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The 2021 models feature individual tank weight scales and curve compensation to help producers make every seed count, according to Trent Nowosad, Case IH marketing manager for seeding equipment.

Case IH manufactures nine air carts with capacities from 350 to 950 bushels. The additions to the 2021 lineup include 725- and 915-bushel air carts; both are three-tank, tow-behind models.

“These air carts are very similar to their four-tank companions,” Nowosad says. “It offers growers who don’t need a small product tank, aren’t applying or using … a small seeded-type product like canola or milo in their operations, to have an air cart that is more tailored to their needs at a larger capacity… to give them added flexibility and value in their operation.”

The individual tank weigh scales show operators how much seed or fertilizer are in each tank; the scales are connected to communications that run into the tractor cab. Nowosad calls it a “big aid” for tendering because it gives operators information to place the right amount of seed in their seed drills.

“These weights are all visible from the display in the cab,” he adds. “It aids in logistics for the grower because it provides the ability to see how much product is in the tank and know whether there is enough to finish the field; the system also has a ‘time to empty’ feature that shows the number of hours (or minutes) before the product tank gets too low and the amount of acres that can be seeded.”

Curve compensation is also a new feature on the 2021 air carts. It allows a more accurate rate of product to be applied as growers move across corners and low spots, increasing the rate on the outside section where the drill is going faster and covering more acres and reducing the rate on the inside where less coverage is needed.

“It gives a much more even plant stand, especially on the outside corners,” he says. “When the stand is not as thin, it helps with weed control, helps with a more accurate plant population in sections of the field that are curved and helps with resistance management because we’re keeping a more proper crop canopy.”

Curve compensation, Nowosad adds, is common on other equipment and Case IH added it to its new line of air carts to increase precision.

Based on grower requests, Case IH also allows growers to opt out of onboard fill systems such as augers and conveyors on the newest air cart models. The decision allows for more freedom to tailor the air cart to the specific needs of an operation, reduces the cost of ownership and provides additional value.

“We’re one of the few manufacturers that offer the ability to do that on every air cart,” Nowosad says. “We believe our air carts are going to provide real value, not just this year and not just when they are new; they will provide long service life and the ability to use that technology purchased for a long period of time as well as providing higher resale value.”

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“We have the most skilled operators trapped in a glass cage for days on end,” he says.

Saik, CEO of DOT Technology Corporation, is at the forefront of the movement toward autonomous tractors. The Regina-based startup created a U-shaped platform that attaches to existing farm equipment and uses GPS co-ordinates to turn implements into autonomous machines that help farmers boost efficiency.

Labour shortages are driving the demand for autonomous farm equipment. A whopping 16,500 jobs went unfilled on Canadian farms in 2017, costing the agriculture sector $2.9 billion in lost revenue, and the problem is expected to get worse.

The dwindling pool of farmworkers has forced farmers to turn to autonomous innovations to help plant, protect and harvest their crops.

Some makers, like Autonomous Solutions Inc. and Bear Flag Robotics, work with original equipment manufacturers to integrate their self-driving platforms onto existing equipment while manufacturers like John Deere, AGCO and Case New Holland explore the possibilities of autonomous tractors.

“Finding qualified labour is a really serious problem,” Saik says. “Autonomous equipment can provide a solution to the rising constraint of lack of farm labour.”

In California, Bear Flag Robotics just introduced sensors that turn tractors from major manufacturers like Case IH, John Deere and Kubota, into autonomous machines. Farmers can plan routes, schedule jobs and command a fleet of tractors from their smartphones, freeing them up to focus on other tasks.

“Growers are asking for this tech,” says Daniel Carmichael, farming operations manager for Bear Flag Robotics. “You have the OEMs that build an amazing tractor with some incredible technology but they’re still not doing the fully autonomous… so we’re delivering the technology.”

The technology is currently offered as a service. Farmers can lease tillage equipment outfitted with Bear Flag Robotics’ sensors. Plans are in the works to add the self-driving sensors to additional implements that can be leased through the California startup.

In the future, Carmichael says, the platform will be sold as a product that farmers can use on their own equipment to turn their fleet into self-driving, super productive workhorses.

As farmers get more comfortable with the technology, tasks like seeding and spraying can be programmed to take place overnight, helping farmers become more efficient and productive.

Carmichael recalls talking to a dairy farmer who was going out to dinner with his granddaughters while the self-driving tractor tilled his field.

“Farmers are working 20-plus hours trying to get things done,” he says. “This technology is going to be revolutionary.”

Fewer skills required?

As the market moves toward autonomous equipment, manufacturers like John Deere are rolling out new tractor models that are easier for less-skilled workers to operate. One of the goals of developing the 8RX, a high-horsepower tractor, with advanced automation and self-driving features, was to address the labour shortage.

“You still have to have an operator in the cab but the more we can automate these machines, the skillset needed to get that job done changes, which helps address the major challenge of labour shortages,” says Cyndee Smiley, public relations manager for John Deere.

In addition to helping farmers manage their operations with less manpower, autonomous tractors could also improve crop health and yield.

“One of the questions I’ve been asking farmers is, ‘What would you do on your farm if you didn’t have to do it?’” Saik says. “Would you make another pass with a growth regulator? Would you go in-crop and spread granular fertilizer? Would you do more variable rate desiccation of the crop? How many things would you do if you didn’t have to sit in a machine all day?”

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The principal operator of Campbell Land and Cattle would like to use precision agriculture to monitor moisture levels, make decisions about inputs and improve yields on his fields of wheat, barley, oats, canola, flax, corn and pulses but broadband access on his Minto, Manitoba, farm is slow and unreliable — even cell service is spotty.

“I haven’t adopted precision agriculture because of the limitations [rural broadband],” he says. “I can’t utilize all the features of my equipment that could put me at a competitive disadvantage.”

The lack of reliable broadband isn’t just an issue in the fields. Campbell’s internet connection is too slow to follow cattle sales in other provinces or download YouTube videos with instructions for servicing equipment. The launch of 5G could be a game changer.

5G, the much-hyped fifth generation of mobile broadband, is slated to roll out across Canada over the next 10 years (though rural areas may be among the last to receive high speed wireless access), according to Rob Ghiz, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.

The transition to 5G is expected to increase upload and download speeds, improve communication between devices and expand broadband access in rural areas. While 5G will offer significant benefits to all Canadians, the rollout is expected to have an enormous impact on farmers.

“Rural connectivity is a challenge,” Ghiz admits. “5G is going to make it easier for farmers to farm. As fertilizers and pesticides and cropland become more expensive, precision agriculture makes it easier for farmer to monitor those inputs and outputs; 5G will allow them to do a lot more and spend a lot less [and] enable machines to talk to each other in ways that will increase productivity and will eventually lead to things like autonomous tractors.”

A Qualcomm 5G Economy study notes that 5G sensors allow for connectivity in remote locations and the ability to monitor multiple facets of equipment from tank levels and chemical content to soil moisture. The report notes that 5G will also make it possible for farmers to operate autonomous agricultural vehicles, increasing agricultural output an estimated 5.3 per cent by 2035.

In Saskatchewan, adopting precision agriculture, which would be made possible through 5G, would save the average oilseed farmer upwards of $40,000 in input costs, according to a CWTA report.

Doug Sauder, director of digital project management and analytics for John Deere believes there are countless benefits for farmers who can access connected equipment and farmer-facing digital tools from allowing two pieces of equipment to “talk” to each other and providing dealers with machine trouble codes or access for remote software updates.

“We’re advocating for 5G,” Sauder says. “Faster latency is great but first we need [to bring] the breadth of coverage to rural areas because all of the benefits we talk about with connected equipment require fast, reliable connectivity.”

In Minto, Campbell is waiting.

“As [your farm] becomes larger, you need to have data built-in to your machines and that requires reliable, dependable internet access,” he says. “Otherwise, you’re running by the seat of your pants and not using the best potential for your land.”

Without data, he is unsure whether increasing inputs from 65 pounds of nitrogen per acre to 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre would lead to subsequent increases in yield. Unreliable access to high-speed internet leaves him without the technology to find out, and that could hamper his productivity.

“It’s not worth it to spend money on precision agriculture and find out you’re not quite there in terms of access,” Campbell says. “For rural people to stay in the landscape, we need the most modern capabilities. People will leave without it. It’s integral to the fabric of our farms.”

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Several of the products that took home top honours in the 2020 Innovation Awards categories were conceptual or not available on the mass market and most were small enough to tuck into a suitcase — and then there was the 8RX.

John Deere made headlines when one of its newest tractors was among the honorees at the renowned tech expo. CES confirmed that it was the first time a tractor won an innovation award.

Although CES awards outstanding product design and engineering in 28 categories, including embedded technologies and vehicle intelligence and transportation, Cyndee Smiley, North American public relations manager for John Deere, felt Tech for a Better World was the best fit for the new 8RX.

“[We] knew this was our category,” Smiley says.

On the nomination forms, Tech for a Better World is described as a category for products that, “share a common goal or ability to impact the world in a positive way, whether domestically, or on a faraway corner of the globe…[and] share the theme of positive societal and/or global impact.”

The description, Smiley says, mirrors what John Deere is working to accomplish with all of its machines, including the 8RX.

“There is an intersection between agriculture technology and what our farmers do every day,” she says. “They are out there working the land to provide food for the world and they are embracing technology because of the demand to grow more and more food. So, our farmers are using technology to help the world.”

A panel of judges reviewed the nominations, scoring them based on their innovations in design, engineering, functionality, consumer appeal and their potential positive impact on the world.

The 2020 8RX comes standard with an integrated Gen 4 4600 CommandCenter display, StarFire 6000 integrated receiver and AutoTrac activation. Like other John Deere models, the 8RX is also equipped with a suite of John Deere technology to ensure integration and connectivity between machines.

Smiley believes that features such as advanced automation tools and artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies that make it possible for less skilled workers to operate the tractor and increase yields to feed an ever-expanding population helped impress the judges. The fixed-frame, four track design—an industry first—also puts less pressure on the ground, making it a more sustainable machine.

In a press release about the CES Innovation Award, John Stone, senior vice president of Deere’s Intelligent Solutions Group, said, “Our focus remains on providing innovative solutions to help customers meet the many challenges of farming. We are humbled by this award from a leading technology organization as it highlights our equal commitment to agriculture, innovation, and technology.”

The 8RX might have been the first tractor to take home a Tech for a Better World award but John Deere was not the only agriculture company the judges recognized the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show. The AgriTalk Farming Sensor, which allows farmers to access real-time environmental data about soil fertility, pests and diseases, was also a Tech for a Better World honoree.

At future CES events, Smiley hopes that agriculture innovations will continue to be recognized for their ability to change the world.

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