25 Years of John Deere Automated Guidance: A Precision Ag Timeline
This year marks the 25th anniversary of John Deere moving into automated guidance.
Easily missed on its expansive Agritechnica site, John Deere offered visitors to the bi-annual event, the first opportunity in Europe to see John Deere’s E-Power 130hp electric tractor prototype.
Said to have been developed for orchards, vineyards, vegetable and livestock farms, the format also addresses situations inside buildings where diesel emissions are not acceptable.
From the outset, the design brief was to deliver a unit that had the look and feel of a conventional 130hp (100kW) tractor, while delivering the benefits derived from an electric driveline, including instant torque, smooth acceleration, quietness, simple control and reduced maintenance.
Previewed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas earlier this year, the manufacturer suggests that there will be a configurable offering of for cab type, axles and tyre equipment.
E-Power will be available with up to five Kreisel 39kWh batteries, offering several hours of light work, such as tedding, spraying or raking. Battery swaps are said to be quick and easy, with the company also developing a range of charging solutions.
Looking at outputs, 87kW of power is available at the PTO, and 82kW for the drivetrain. Said to be compatible with existing implements, the E Power tractor has the capability to provide off-board electricity for power tools at remote worksites. Multiple prototypes have been tested throughout 2025, with a plan for a limited number of models released by the end of 2027 in North America.
Deere & Company acquired majority ownership in Kreisel Electric in December 2021, an Austrian company that develops electric battery modules and packs, and a charging infrastructure platform.
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
OPINION: The Irish dairy sector is facing a new dilemma - maintaining year-round fresh milk supplies.
OPINION: Could beef cows play an increasingly important role in improving profitability and resilience on hill country farms?