John Deere has announced its Precision Upgrades service offerings (formerly Performance Upgrades kits) for the 2024 season. Upgrades are available currently for sprayers, planters and combines. The manufacturer plans to announce its upgrade packages for tractors in the months ahead.
The name change comes as John Deere focuses on unlocking advanced precision technology for its user base via install kits that farmers can purchase and even install themselves.
Sense & Act
Perhaps the most notable Precision Upgrade is a premium bundle that adds Sense & Act spot-spraying capabilities to existing model year 2018 and up sprayers. Sprayers equipped with ExactApply, BoomTrac Pro 2 and 120-foot spray booms are eligible and ready to be upgraded for $25,000. Interested farmers can fill out this form to kick start the process.
“Our dealers have inventory coming for this season, so customers who are interested can go purchase this technology today and have it installed prior to the spring application season,” says Kyle Barry, tactical sales manager.
It’s all about making technology more accessible as farmers face down historically high-interest rates and operating expenses, the company says.
“Maybe some customers think, ‘Oh, you know, there’s this cool new technology out there, so now I have to order a brand-new piece of equipment’ and that’s not necessarily the case anymore,” Barry says. “We’re bringing the latest tech coming out of the factory on new equipment to the existing fleet.”
Sprayer Updates
Beyond the top-tier Sense & Act package for sprayers, a Basic Precision Tech package is available for farmers who don’t have a lot of technology integrated today. That package provides a StarFire 7000 receiver, G5+ in-cab display and JD Link Modem, and it is available on machines across the farmers’ fleet (not just application equipment). The customer then chooses which license, or annual subscription, to purchase based on the features they want to unlock.
An Advanced option for sprayers takes that Basic package and unlocks satellite based StarFire RTK capabilities, as well as AutoTrac, AutoTrac Turn Automation, AutoTrac Implement Guidance, Boom Section Control, and JD Machine Sync and field data sharing.
Farmers have a variety of options for installation, including taking delivery of the kits and installing themselves, or having local dealer technicians complete the installation at the dealership. There’s also an option to have John Deere mobile service techs come to your farm shop and handle everything, or you can ship your machine to one of two regional service centers (Des Moines and Quad Cities, Iowa) and have the installation completed there. All options are backed by a one-year warranty from John Deere.
Planter Upgrades
Planter upgrade season is already upon us, and an array of upgrade kits are offered back to model year 2005 — everything from ExactEmerge Seed Meters to CCS tanks to row cleaners to hydraulic downforce add-ons.
There’s a new Central Tire Inflation system option, which automates the back-aching task of inflating planter tires for road transport and then deflating at edge of field to lessen pinch-row compaction. FurrowVison, a technology that deploys a sensor in the shank to capture seed furrow data, is currently in pilot mode and will be available as a Precision Upgrade kit once it’s released.
John Deere has set up an online tool where farmers can input a planter serial number to find out exactly which options are compatible with their setup. Click here to go to the tool and input your planter serial number.
Combine Updates
Farmers who just wrapped up harvest and are thinking about adding some upgrades for next fall have the following to choose from:
- Cross Auger and Shutoff Adjustable Auger Spout options for S700 combines
- Remote Separator Grate Cover option that John Deere says is proving useful for farmers harvesting small grains
- LED Lighting Kit and Short Points kit for corn heads
“It’s all about bringing in [the equipment] and doing a better job with what they already have,” Barry says. “It could be that, now they can plant their crops within the optimum seeding window because they have the high-speed seed meter technology that allows them to maximize their yield because they planted when they should have. It’s because they’re planting at 10 miles an hour now, instead of five. Or with Sense & Act, we’re helping them reduce their herbicide use.”
Head over to the Precision Upgrades homepage if you’d like to learn more.
