Upgrade to Autonomy
In this FarmCast episode, presented by 21st Century Equipment, Mike Wemhoff, Troy Randall, and Isabel Drobny break down exactly what it takes to upgrade a John Deere tractor so it’s fully autonomous-ready. They explain how to retrofit older tractors using an upgrade kit. This applies to models as far back as year 2020.5 8R & 8RX, and model year 2022 9R & 9RX. This includes adding the vision system with an array of 16 cameras, G5 Displays, 7500 receivers, enhanced lighting packages, safety-critical braking updates, and the software required to communicate with autonomy-enabled tillage tools. By combining these hardware and software upgrades, operators can transform an existing machine. It becomes an autonomy-capable platform ready for the next generation of field automation.
Minimal Human Intervention
The second part of the conversation focuses on real-world demo experiences. Filmed in Greeley, Colorado next to an 8R tractor equipped with a high-speed disk, Troy and Isabel walk through how the demo unit performed across tough and unpredictable conditions. They describe running the system through pivots, odd-shaped boundaries, road-adjacent edges, debris, fog, dust, and changing terrain. The team highlights how improved the system is between spring and fall. This is especially helpful with dust, object detection, path accuracy, and automating a percentage of a field. This shows customers how the tractor “thinks” its way through a job with minimal human intervention.
Who Benefits?
Finally, the crew discusses who stands to benefit most from autonomy. Growers managing large acreages or tight labor pools are obvious candidates, but smaller operators looking to reclaim time during peak seasons can also see major value. Anyone interested in efficiency, nighttime operations, consistent tillage quality, or reducing operator fatigue will find autonomy appealing. With upgrade options for existing tractors and autonomy-ready tools at the ready, this technology will attract producers ready to streamline their workflow. It will help them stay ahead of the next wave of agricultural innovation.
Our next High Plains Ag Expo is February 25, 2026. Register Here!