All About Tractors By PAUL WALLEM Today’s column is a far cry from the years when I cultivated with my dad’s AC WD-45. Instead, it’s about the future of tractors. And that future is now. Autonomous tractors are now in use throughout the world. The technology was not possible until the development of GPS in the nineties. That made driverless tractors possible, and they are now getting popular. The first driverless tractor was unveiled by CNH Industrial at the 2016 Farm Process Show. It is pictured in this article, and other companies such as Deere, AGCO, Fendt and Kubota have similar programs. The tractor can be controlled remotely. Software permits the operator to select a field, choose the operation and control the route to the field, all from a distance. The operator can then monitor the operation and make changes when necessary. Newer software under testing will allow the equipment to respond internally to weather changes as necessary, and cease operation when weather deteriorates. An entire farm fleet can be equipped autonomously, including tractor, tillage, planter, combine, grain transport and support vehicles. Existing equipment can be upgraded to driverless use. Tractor electrification The internal combustion engine has been the principal source of tractor power for everyone reading this – for our entire lives. Internal combustion goes back a long way. The first patent was issued in 1791. In 1807, a patent involving controlled dust explosion powered a boat in France. Many variations have evolved through the years such as rotary engines. But now major progress is occurring in electric tractor power. Some of the companies that have made significant advances are Monarch, Selectrac, CNH, Deere, Fendt and Kubota. This past December an all-electric autonomous tractor became available on the market from Monarch. The tractor has been under development for 10 years. First ones off the production line have been purchased by a large winery in California that has been a partner in testing. The tractor can be driverless or with driver. Continuous operation before recharging is 10 hours. Recharge from zero takes 4-5 hours. Battery swaps can be purchased, that take 15 minutes to switch. The tractor incorporates a micro weather station that monitors weather conditions and windspeed. Sprayer operations for example will be ceased automatically if wind conditions exceed pre-planned or regulatory conditions for pesticide applications. CNH Industrial is now a significant investor in Monarch and has reached an agreement to utilize Monarch technology in CaseIH and New Holland equipment. Selectric is now well underway with production models of 30 and 40 horsepower, and available up to 70 HP. Deere has announced 2023 production of their 500KW autonomous electric model. It will be available on wheels or tracks. New Holland’s T4 electric prototype is 4WD with a 75 HP motor. A full day of operation is indicated, with recharging in one hour. Electric outlets support tasks such as welding, and it doubles as a backup generator. Production is expected to begin by late 2023. Fendt is a division of AGCO. Their e100 Vario is currently the highest electric horsepower model on the market at 100 HP. India is the largest tractor market in the world with 700,000 sales annually. The electric Escort 21 HP is in production there. An all-electric tractor is being displayed in China. Very few details are available. Labor shortages throughout agriculture have driven the rapid development in autonomous electric designs. Here’s one example: In 2022, an Oregon asparagus farm was so short of labor they gave away their entire crop to pick-it-yourself visitors. More than 6,000 people came to pick the free asparagus. Current immigration policies have perpetuated this labor problem for years. Not only fruit and vegetable operations are in need of remotely operated equipment to fill the gap of labor shortage. Dairy farms are struggling with the same problem, and are ready to buy equipment that can do field work. The need is so dire that “smart tractors” are being developed that can remotely operate implements such as mowers and sprayers. At least one manufacturer is preparing to incorporate a micro weather station in future designs, that will monitor weather conditions, and windspeed. The platform will cease sprayer operations, for example, when wind conditions exceed pre-planned or regulatory parameters for pesticide operations. It looks like the future is now. A closing thought: Money can’t buy happiness. It can buy tractors. So, tractors buy happiness. Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with corporate IH in domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate two IH dealerships. He is the author of THE BREAKUP of IH & SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. See all his books on www.PaulWallem.com. Email comments to pwallem@aol.com |
