The green brand brings auto steer to its UTVs
It goes without saying that GPS auto-steer capability on ag equipment is a pretty ordinary feature these days, but John Deere is now bringing that technology to a machine you might not have expected to find it on, the Gator UTV.
“John Deere is enabling the productivity gains farmers have seen while using AutoTrac technology on their tractors and integrating it into a smaller, more nimble machine — a Gator utility vehicle,” said Maureen McCormack, go-to-market manager of Gator utility vehicles for John Deere.
Yes. AutoTrac-ready Gator utility vehicles are now available from the factory and come equipped with all of the necessary wiring harness and brackets to hook up seamlessly to Deere’s GPS hardware. Buyers can order a new Gator already fitted with a 4640 Universal Display and a StarFire 7000 Receiver, or they can retrofit Gators they already own. After activating their guidance subscriptions, farmers can then start to use the hands-free steering feature. That means a Gator can then be used for a variety of precision tasks, such as spot spraying localized areas with minimum overlap just like with a regular field sprayer.
Read Also
Powdery mildew can be combine fire risk
Depending on the crop, powdery mildew may not be much of a yield killer for grain growers — but dust from the fungal disease can build up to cause fires in combines.
“Farmers and ranchers can use their AutoTrac-equipped Gator Utility Vehicle for precise grid sampling, spraying and field boundary creation,” said McCormack. “AutoTrac equipped Gator UTVs feature a combination of functionality and versatility that help drive efficiency and productivity into everyday jobs.”
The AutoTrac-ready option can be ordered on model year 2023 Deere 835/865 cab units including the XUV835M HVAC, XUV835R, XUV835R Signature Edition, XUV865M HVAC, XUV865R and the XUV865R Signature Edition.
Deere has announced the base price of a full-sized Gator for model year 2023 will now include factory-installed side mirrors on cabbed models, spray-in box liner on M- and R-trim level machines, power lift cargo box on R-trim models and extreme-terrain radial tires.
All E- and M-trim models come from the factory with black vinyl bench seats. R-trim units are available with stone cloth bench and black vinyl bench seat options, while Signature Edition models come equipped with a leather bench seat. The previously used yellow and bucket seat options Gators used to get have been discontinued on full-size machines. A limited release of AutoTrac-equipped Gators will be available by late 2022. GN
