John Deere announced the market introduction of its first fully autonomous 8R tractor, designed to work alone in tillage applications.

John Deere to release robotic 8R tractor

Tillage work is first of many fully autonomous field functions to come

In early January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev., John Deere held what may arguably be a milestone press conference. The green brand announced it was set to launch commercial sales of a fully autonomous 8R tractor designed to work alone in tillage applications when mated with Deere’s Tru-Set chisel plow. In […] Read more

Agrifac sprayers will be available with Exxact Robotics’ 3S green-on-green spot-spray technology for the 2022 model year.

Agrifac to offer green-on-green technology in 2022

Exxact Robotics’ 3S system will debut on Agrifac sprayers

Advanced spot-spraying technology has become the hottest topic in application equipment recently, with numerous announcements from brands offering green-on-brown systems or talking about future green-on-green capability. Green-on-green refers to the ability of a sophisticated artificial intelligence-based software system to identify unwanted weeds in green, growing crops and spot spray them. Green-on-brown identifies weeds in fallow […] Read more



The redesigned Fendt Xaver seeding robot could soon see commercialization.

Fendt’s Xaver robotic project continues to evolve

Second-generation field robot debuts at global event

Last October, AGCO’s Fendt brand had a lot it wanted to talk about publicly, and it wasn’t about to let COVID-19 prevent that from happening. The brand live-streamed a digital press conference online. A few European farm machinery writers and editors were physically present at the event held at the Marktoberdorf, Germany, brand headquarters and […] Read more


Electric loaders and trucks are being used in feeding equipment.

Manufacturers feature crimpers and electric feeders

Electric power silage carts and feeder trucks in Europe

As well as robotic feeding systems, visitors to recent EuroTier trade shows learned about the developments in electric-powered ration feeders and the increased popularity of crimping grain. German manufacturer Siloking has several self-propelled diet feeders including one that focuses on using renewable energy to power itself. The eSilokamm machine comes complete with a cab offering […] Read more

(LakelandCollege.ca)

Alberta’s Lakeland to offer ag tech degree

College to launch first-in-Canada program in September

East-central Alberta’s Lakeland College is set to offer what’s billed as Canada’s first degree program in agriculture technology, as a two-year post-credential program, starting in September. The program, announced Wednesday, will consist of full-time studies at Lakeland’s campus at Vermilion, about 180 km east of Edmonton, plus “experiential learning practicums” off campus, en route to […] Read more


(Staff photo)

Sollio outlines pandemic recovery plan for food sector

Support sought for automation, digitization, telecommunications

Ottawa — One of Canada’s largest agri-food companies has laid out a five-point industry recovery plan for federal politicians to consider. During a meeting Tuesday of the Commons standing committee on finance, the president of Quebec-based Sollio Co-operative Group shared plans to limit consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agrifood supply chain. Sollio employs […] Read more

Nexus Robotics’ R2-Weed2 uses artificial intelligence to distinguish between weeds and crops. The robotic weeder removed or killed 90 per cent of the weeds during the growing season in field trials in Nova Scotia.

More robotic weeder field trials to take place in Quebec, commercial release 2021

The R2-Weed2 removed or killed 90 per cent of weeds during growing season

Weeds can take over farm fields and lead to significant crop losses. Without adequate control, crop yields could decline up to 50 per cent in corn and soybean fields across the United States and Canada, resulting in US$43 billion in economic losses, according to data from the Weed Science Society of America. Additionally, controlling weeds […] Read more


Wheat leaf rust. (James Kolmer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Digital supercluster backs precision fungicide development

Project aims at wheat leaf rust, reducing pesticide load

A West Coast ag tech company in the crop pest control business is setting its sights on wheat leaf rust, with support from one of Canada’s five research superclusters — but not the cluster you might expect. Out of the five federally-supported superclusters launched in early 2018, Protein Industries Canada has been most closely linked […] Read more

The Lift is a automated device for cutting into open face of a silage pit. In this photo the Shuttle Eco robotic feed cart has arrived, at left, and stopped next to the Lift which will load it with fresh silage.

EU beef producers ready for robotic feeders

Systems can feed precise rations 24 hours a day

With labour shortages increasing across the agricultural industry internationally, robotic feeding is set to play a significant part on livestock farms in the future. In Europe and other parts of the world, small and large beef units, even outdoor feedlots, are all targets for autonomous feeding systems backed up by the latest sensors, clouds and […] Read more