Company puts money into Monarch Tractor and Sabanto, both either building or equipping autonomous implements
Trimble Ventures has made investments over the last year into two start-ups that specialize in autonomous farming equipment. Last fall it invested in Monarch Tractor, an American company that builds autonomous electric compact tractors, and it recently invested in Sabanto. Sabanto equips tractors with autonomous technology to perform in-field operations. The company built a fleet […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Salad days for doomscrolling
Doomscrolling is a term I first came across in the early days of the pandemic. It denotes the process of moving through text on a computer or phone screen, typically on social media, to keep up to troublesome or ominous events. The interesting times we’re living in may be the heyday of doomscrolling. For instance, […] Read more
Used farm equipment to remain pricey
The price of new and late model farm equipment will continue to be elevated going into 2023. As the loonie’s value falls in relation to the American dollar, assets manufactured outside of Canada cost more. “Especially when you’ve got a piece of equipment that you put on order, at some point they’re (dealers) going to […] Read more
Soil analysis business booms
A Canadian agricultural tech company is rapidly growing as its gamma ray-based soil analysis system gets adopted around the globe. Practical Precision was founded in 2017 by Paul Raymer and his parents Barry and Elizabeth Raymer, and it developed a soil sensor called SoilOptix that provides a detailed view of soil contents. Paul Raymer said […] Read more
Barley origin’s impact on beer flavour studied
Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre hopes study will support future marketing campaigns that use the terroir effect
Malt barley varieties and growing locations have a significant impact on a beer’s overall quality, but these differences are difficult to identify by taste, according to research by the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. Marketing campaigns for craft beer often emphasize taste qualities of a specific malt barley variety, or that specific growing regions provide […] Read more
Hydrogen-powered tractor engines becoming reality
Versatile says working with Cummins on a 15-litre engine is a good opportunity for the company to prepare for the future
The first place farmers will see the 15-litre hydrogen engine being developed by Cummins will likely be in a Versatile tractor. “We’ve had a partnership with Cummins since the second year we were building tractors,” said Erron Leafloor of Versatile. “They’ve relied upon us a couple times in the past, most recently with the Tier […] Read more
Identifying microbial compounds helps predict crop risks
Company uses genomic sequencing to identify a wide variety of pathogens and pests that can pose a threat to crops
An American company uses genome sequencing of soil tests to monitor pest, disease and fertility risks for corn and soy crops. Pattern Ag uses soil metagenomics, a tool that can identify compounds produced by microbes in soils, to produce long-term predictions about crop risks and nutrient deficiencies for row crops. “We provide advanced predictive analytics […] Read more
Autonomous spreader introduced
The Case IH Trident 5550 applicator equipped with Raven Autonomy could be available for sale as soon as next year
The first spreader to come with factory-fit, autonomous operations was unveiled at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. Farms could receive deliveries of the Case IH Trident 5550 applicator equipped with Raven Autonomy as soon as next year. “The release is perhaps the end of 2023. So, at this stage it’s unveiled to invite […] Read more
Electric tractors ready for Ohio rollout next year
The new machine is autonomous, so users can show it a job such as spraying or mowing and it will copy that task
Monarch Tractor has scaled up production of its autonomous electric tractor, which will soon roll out of the Foxconn plant in Lordstown, Ohio. Mark Schwager, president and co-founder of Monarch Tractor, said the facility provided Foxconn a great opportunity because it wanted to get into EV manufacturing in North America. Taiwan-based Foxconn is the world’s […] Read more
Trimble adds green-on-green spray tech partner
The acquisition of Bilberry helps Trimble complete its application lineup, which includes guidance and rate control systems
Trimble has added to its suite of spray technologies by acquiring Bilberry, a company that builds a selective spraying system capable of green-on-green applications. Green-on-green systems identify and treat individual weeds within a crop canopy. “Bilberry is the first company that has a commercially available product. It’s already available in Australia,” said Guillermo Perez-Iturbe, senior […] Read more
