A photo of an autonomous tractor pulling a grain cart in a field.

Agco autonomous farm equipment rig ready for limited release

Outrun, the autonomous grain cart and tillage system from Agco’s PTx Trimble, has improved since its 2024 debut and is now preparing for limited commercial sale

Agco’s PTx Trimble has made a few changes to its Outrun autonomous grain cart and tillage system in the past year, in which the company has “taken that system and converted it to look at it as an autonomy platform.”

Stefan Graner stands with his left hand on his robotic FarmDroid seeder and weeder at his farm near Paddockwood, Saskatchewan.

Farmer uses robot seeder, weeder

A Saskatchewan organic producer has put a precision agriculture robot to work for stronger plant outcome

FarmDroid is an autonomous seeding and weeding robot whose efficiency and accuracy have proven to have strong economic benefits for producers.

The DOT autonomous agricultural robot, seen here fitted with a sprayer attachment.

Autonomous equipment may follow GPS trendline

Agco expects farmer acceptance of autonomous systems will mirror adoption of other new technology

When GPS first arrived on the scene, farmers were cautious, autonomous systems may well follow the same pattern of farmer adoption, slow at first and then rapid acceptance.


A promotional photo of three new John Deere electric tractors on a stage designed to look like an old barn.

John Deere displays its electric future

An inside look at John Deere’s prototype electric tractor lineup

In late February, Deere invited the Western Producer to a vineyard in California to see and operate three battery electric prototype tractors and find out more about its entire electrification project.



Canadian farmers still can’t ditch the combine cab, industry experts say, but the technology isn’t off the table. | FILE PHOTO

Driverless combines possible, but not for a while

A lot of other fully autonomous equipment will hit the field before automated harvesters do, says expert

Not long ago, a piece of farm equipment trundling through a field without need for a driver was front-page news. Today, autonomous technology still draws the crowds during farm show demonstrations and has been cropping up more and more — everywhere except on farms. John Deere’s website displays the promise of a fully autonomous tillage-tractor […] Read more

The UFPS cart used in the AAFC spring wheat trials in Lethbridge. | AAFC photo

Phenotyping a la carte

AAFC, USask team up in robotic phenotyping of spring wheat trials

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers are strapping phenotyping equipment to unmanned, ground-based vehicles (UGVs) in an effort to develop technology that will advance crop breeding programs. Keshav Singh, a research scientist from AAFC Lethbridge, is leading the three-year pilot project. Other stories in the New Seed Variety Guide 2025: “The primary goal of the project […] Read more

Tech start-up company Sabanto now offers an expanded range of autonomous conversion kits for 19 tractor models, including Kubota, John Deere and Fendt.  |  Scott Garvey photo

Sabanto adds more compatible models

Company will remotely monitor autonomous tractor activities as they perform a growing list of agricultural jobs

Tech start-up company Sabanto appeared on the agricultural scene not all that long ago with its autonomous conversion kit for regular ag tractors. Early in the company’s evolution, the model-specific kits were limited to just Kubota M5s and some John Deere 5000 Series models. However, that list of compatible tractors has grown significantly. “We have […] Read more


Developed by Upside Robotics of Waterloo, Ont., this small robot is designed to work continuously in a group, travelling between 30-inch corn rows to apply in-season fertilizer.  |  Scott Garvey photo

Robotic swarm makes it easier to fertilize row crops

Small robot called Beethoven by Upside Robotics travels between rows to deliver inputs though the growing season

A pint-sized robot is set to undergo wider field trials next year in Ontario corn crops. At only 24 inches wide, the robot is designed to travel between 30-inch corn rows in crops and apply in-season fertilizer. With a number of them working 24 hours a day in groups called swarms, they could cover a […] Read more