The iconic 186-year-old manufacturer still makes green tractors, but now loaded with digital tech that aims to bolster farmer productivity. Last year, Deere debuted See & Spray Ultimate, which uses computer vision and machine learning to detect and spray only weeds (not crops) and its first fully autonomous tractor, which can be remotely managed via an app. Half a million machines worldwide are now connected; John Deere aims for 1.5 million by 2026, with a bespoke satellite service on the horizon. “We’re looking to move the farmer away from broad decisions for an entire field to plant-level management—opening up a new level of visibility and precision on the farm,” says CTO Jahmy Hindman.
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