ALL ABOUT TRACTORS BY PAUL WALLEM “Autonomous” is no longer a word for the future of tractors; it is here now and progressing rapidly. Spring tillage is often a period of limited time, weather delays and labor shortages. This particular season has received a lot of manufacturer attention involving autonomous operations. Drones are often the first things that come to mind. They are ideal for small or irregular fields. These same fields are ideal for autonomous tillage. Not so much yet for planting, but that’s coming. Where labor shortage exists, autonomy also fits well in harvesting season for grain carts, sowing wheat and tillage. Bandwidth is a critical factor. An area must have 4 LTE or 5G to service some autonomous technology. The AGCO OutRun aftermarket kit progressed to limited availability during 2025. Users could buy and test the technology. This system is usable with 2014 or newer John Deere tractors with Infinitely Variable Transmissions (IVT). It will adapt to Fendt tractors during 2026. The main part of the OutRun intelligence technology is the same across all tractor models, needing only a specific drive kit for each make and model. OutRun can be ordered through AGCO dealers that retail PTxTrimble technology. Installation requires one day. All major manufacturers have extensive projects underway regarding autonomous operations. Tillage is getting extra attention due to the potential spring limitations due to weather. A dealership expectation regarding 2026 Mark Hickey is a veteran in agricultural sales, with three decades with IH and CaseIH dealerships, most recently with Johnson Tractor, Rochelle, Ill. I spent time with him to get his opinion regarding expectations for 2026. He would like to maintain the sales volume experienced in 2025, even though it was down from the prior year. He knows it will take good yields to do so. With producers paying even more for inputs, they are hesitant to trade up. More plan to make machinery last another year. However, stronger crop market prices during the spring and summer could change that. He sees a new but still rare development showing up: small farm startups. This is appearing around the corn belt. Typically, a couple that were raised on the farm that no longer exists will search for small acreage that they can afford. Using small, used equipment, some will grow fruits, vegetables, organic crops or specialty crops. Wives will plan to continue a job providing family medical insurance, plus helping on the farm. A strong motive often is the desire to raise children on the farm, like they were. I also asked Mark’s opinion about the constant increase in tractor horsepower. He feels that trend will continue, as long as large operations continue to add acreage. First hydrostatic transmission International Harvester engineered the first hydrostatic transmission in 1961. With infinitely variable speeds, this was a revolutionary concept. Before this, no speed between two gears was available. The first hydrostatic transmission was installed behind a gas turbine engine turning 57,000 RPM, burning jet fuel. The tractor was a 1967 HT-341 and advanced the benefits of the transmission but not the engine. It was extremely noisy with poor fuel economy. The HT-341 was donated to the Smithsonian and is now on loan to the I & I Tractor Club in Penfield, Ill. It is on display there. Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with IH in domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate two IH dealerships. He is the author of THE BREAKUP of IH and SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. See all his books at www.PaulWallem.com. Email comments to pwallem@aol.com. |
