LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Farm machinery might soon be getting smaller.
The future direction of farm equipment was a constant topic at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers annual farm machinery technology conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
One theme that was hard to ignore was farm equipment size: bigger or smaller?
Sprayer booms have grown to 120 feet in North America and even wider in Europe and South America. Industry observers think that might be the limit.
Seeding gear, both air seeders and planters, are available up to about 90 feet, with extremes for air seeders topping 160 on a single unit in Australia.
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Combine headers have seen 50 feet, and there is speculation that they might also be nearing the end of their growth.
Speed is now the focus for many machines. As well, computers help with guidance and precision seed placement and keep combines out of trouble, while tractor horsepower is headed to 700. Weights of all machines are up.
“Smaller,” said Maury Salz, who head up Claas America and builds some of the world’s largest combines.
“Smaller,” added senior Case New Holland engineer Larry Hoover. “I think Maury is right, we have about reached the peak of size.”
Chad Yagow of John Deere’s Technology Innovation Center also suggested that the “next big change will likely be little.”
Charlie O’Brien, who leads the American Equipment Manufacturers’ efforts in agriculture, said the move to robotics and un-manned agriculture is underway, which will eliminate the need for large machines.
“Labour needs change. Hours of operation open up and the size of the equipment can fall,” he said.
“New entrants into this marketplace, in the ag space, will be arriving very soon. They will be in the data business and be developing smaller machinery, allowing greater precision…. Companies have spent incredible resources developing machinery cabs. Most won’t have them in the future. Autonomous vehicles don’t need them.”
Salz said the first innovation will be drone or slave implements following a lead, manned machine.
