Exploring the Potential of Autonomy in Agriculture: How Retrofit Kits are Revolutionizing Farming Operations

Autonomy is gaining traction in the Technology Corner as retrofit kits are being used for various tasks such as mowing and tillage. However, the use of autonomy for planting cover crops is still in its infancy. Jake Warford, a precision specialist at Linco-Precision in Nokomis, Ill., believes that they have only just begun to tap into the potential of autonomy in their customers’ operations.

Currently, Linco-Precision’s focus is on the sod market, which is labor-intensive and requires frequent mowing over large areas. Warford sees opportunities for autonomy in more row crop applications such as fertilizer and lime spreading, as well as cover crop planting. Warford himself used autonomy last year to sow cover crops and wheat, demonstrating the endless possibilities for its application in agriculture.

At Linco-Precision, the Sabanto autonomy kit is offered as a solution for implementing autonomy in farming operations. Warford explains that Sabanto’s philosophy is to take a gradual approach, starting with crawling before moving on to walking and running. Currently, they are in the walking phase as they continue to explore and expand the use of autonomy technology in agriculture.