With the rapid evolution of technology, farmers may not be able to afford to continue to control all aspects of their operations. Autonomous farm machinery could lead to producers outsourcing tasks to a skilled equipment operator, allowing the farmer to focus on other parts of their operation. 

What it takes to run a successful precision department or precision dealership today is different from what was required in the past — and is likely far different from what it will take to be successful in the future. Over the last 10 years, Precision Farming Dealer has recognized dealerships that have demonstrated excellence in precision sales and service as part of the Most Valuable Dealership (MVD) program.

Over the last several years, precision technology has moved from being largely an aftermarket business to most equipment coming equipped with the technology from the factory. As that shift happened, dealers needed to shift how they monetized the precision side of their business. 

Lessiter Media, publisher of Farm Equipment and several other dealer and grower media properties, has announced a free 2-day No-Till Conference Video Review Feb. 24-25 for dealers and their customers. 

The program at the Champaign, Ill., college will leverage AGCO technical experts to train technicians from existing dealerships to support the company’s agricultural equipment. 

As most of you know, our company also publishes No-Till Farmer (NTF), now in its 50th year (my dad, Frank, has personally edited each edition since 1972). With NTF’s half-century milestone and the 60th anniversary of the first commercial no-till plots in Kentucky in 2022, we’ve been preparing a museum display to bring to Louisville for the 30th National No-Tillage Conference (NNTC) in January.

Mike Houghtaling, president and founder of P&C Ag Solutions in Reese, Mich., views adoption of autonomy in six stages. Each stage represents an opportunity for the independent retailer to demonstrate the reliability and necessity for new precision agriculture equipment.