New Holland has created a diesel-electric autonomous tractor that has been tested in orchards and vineyards. Photo: John Greig

Autonomous machinery still struggles in the field

Manitoba research highlights how a field’s shifting terrain complicates autonomous equipment operation

Changing field terrain is a challenge for autonomous equipment. The University of Manitoba is looking at these farm-specific obstacles to adopting autonomy.

John Deere introduced its fully autonomous 8R tractor for tillage applications in 2022 and began offering it commercially on a limited basis in 2023. Photo: John Deere

VIDEO: Technical skills gap looms for agriculture

Modern farming requires more technical skills and familiarity with the incoming wave of ever-more-sophisticated farm technology; that’s a gap in agriculture’s labour force, experts worry

Agriculture is facing a wave of ever-more-sophisticated farm and food technology. Experts worry the labour pool’s technical skills may not be keeping up.


Robotti Agritechnica

The long march to autonomy

The big players in the machinery market keep adding pieces, but how far away is a final product?

The big players in the machinery market keep adding pieces towards autonomous vehicles for farming, but how far away is a final product?

Versatile returned to Agritechnica in 2025 with this display of its tractors. Photo: John Greig

Five lessons from Agritechnica 2025

Chinese equipment, autonomy and interest in Canadian-made farm machinery were some trends at Agritechnica 2025

Chinese companies, autonomous farm equipment, interest in Canadian-made machinery were notable trends at Agritechnica 2025.



Outrun

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.”





Qiang Zhang, professor with the University of Manitoba’s department of biosystems engineering, speaks about smart livestock farming during a presentation at the university Oct. 23.

Building smart barns for smart farms

More sophisticated sensors and data analysis are pushing the idea of true smart barns, and livestock producers are going to need to jump in on the technology, professor says

Farmers of the future should look to incorporate a network of sensors, technology and computer power that will let them build true smart barns and optimize their farms, professor says.

The Agrobot by BH Frontier Solutions.

New AI-based technologies offer weed control solutions

Canadian and Swiss companies using AI vision tools to target weeds with electricity and minimal chemical use

A Canadian ag tech company is putting a new spark into an old weed control method by using electricity, while a Swiss company is using high tech visioning equipment to target spray to weeds alone.