Tractors

JCB Tractor Earns Pete’s Pick of the Week Honors, Fuel Price Starts to Impact Machinery Sales

Mon, 11 May 2026 23:59:48 GMT

This week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week puts a tractor in the spotlight: a 2019 JCB Fastrac 8330, with 4,174 hours, sold for $112,000. Steffes Group, Inc . hosted a reduction sale for KJ Farms in Hoisington, Kan. This is the highest auction price in 20 months for a Fastrac with over 4,000 hours.

Machinery Pete credits the Steffes Group’s marketing plan for getting top dollar for the tractor. The auction listing had 217 photos.

“Give me every angle, good or bad; it just tells potential buyers we are being as transparent as we can,” Machinery Pete says.

Machinery Pete Notices Shifting Prices and Inventory Levels

Machinery Pete is starting to see slight changes in used equipment prices – the shock of diesel prices is starting to sink in. For example, a sale in Ohio on May 9 had a completely restored 1972 John Deere 4000 diesel that sold for only $14,000. A 1984 GMC K3500, also completely restored, sold for $29,000.

While the number of equipment auctions in 2026 is up 19.5% through May 7 compared with last year, the number of one- to three-year-old items sold at auction is down by 19.9% overall, including:

Tillage is down 28.6%.
Planting/seed is down 25%.
100- to 174-hp tractor is down 23%.
Harvesting equipment is down 13.7%.

While it’s too early to know the extent of softening prices and inventory levels, he continues to hear reports of high late-model tractor values. On a recent AgriTalk segment, Machinery Pete and host Chip Flory attributed the increase to:

Farmers have been focused on acquiring the best condition of used machinery.
The cost of new machinery remains high.
The supply of later-model used machinery has been tightening.

Upcoming Machinery Auctions

Looking ahead at the week, Machinery Pete is watching a consignment sale by Adam Marshall Land and Trust Auction in Kearney, Neb., featuring:

2005 John Deere 8120 2WD with 3,301 hours
2008 John Deere 9570 STS with 1,637 hours
2000 John Deere 8110 Tractor 2WD with 6,230 hours
2020 Fast 9553PTF Sprayer with a 500-gallon tank

On Thursday, Ritchie Bros . will be having a sale that features 15 tractors, 14 combines and nine sprayers, including:

2024 S780 John Deere with 480 engine hours
2024 S780 John Deere with 508 engine hours
2023 John Deere X9 1000 with 350 engine hours
2021 Claas Trion 740 with 377 engine hours

Pete's Pick of the Week: 1999 Bobcat Skid Steer Tops $20,000

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:20:37 GMT

Auction prices continue to hold strong, as highlighted by a recent auction hosted by Sexton Auctioneers in Pomona, Mo. Taking Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week honors, a 1999 Bobcat 773 skid steer with 291 hours sold for $20,500, the highest auction price for this model in 20 months. The consignment auction also featured:

2026 Bobcat T770 with seven hours sold for $68,500.
1916 Luverne wrecker truck sold for $18,750.

The 1999 Bobcat 773 skid steer is a prime example of how low hours on a machine can help maintain its original market value. However, farmers and “bargain hunters” will still look at models with more hours. A Case IH Maxxum 140 with nearly 20,000 hours sold for what Machinery Pete describes as a “respectable price.”

“They have no fear of the hours as long as the purchase made sense,” says Casey Seymour, co-host of the Moving Iron podcast .

A sale hosted by Merit Auctions featuring equipment from three dealers highlights strong prices for late-model tractors:

2023 John Deere 9RX 540 with 390 hours sold for $440,000.
2023 Fendt 936 Vario with 700 hours sold for $268,000, the second highest sale price.
2023 Fendt 936 Vario with 800 hours sold for $266,000, the third highest sale price.
2024 John Deere 8R 410 with 600 hours sold for $372,000.
2024 John Deere 8R 410 with 1,499 hours sold for $318,000.

Historic Farm Days Auction to Showcase IH Black Stripe and JD 4000

Machinery Pete has his eye on an upcoming two-day consignment auction in Markleville, Ind. On May 8 and 9, Jeff Boone Auction & Realty will feature a variety of equipment, including a 1989 Case IH 7120 2WD tractor with 3,333 hours and a Boxcar Magnum 1989 7120 two-wheel drive with 3,333 hours.

In conjunction with the four-day Historic Farm Days in Penfield, Ill., Alex Kerr from Kerr Auction is organizing a “historic tractor auction” on July 9. The auction will highlight Allis-Chalmers equipment, but will feature all equipment types and brands, including an International Harvester 1066 Black Stripe and a John Deere 4000 diesel.

John Deere Announces Updates to See & Spray

Fri, 01 May 2026 20:47:09 GMT

Five years ago, John Deere introduced See & Spray technology. The most recent updates include:

Farmers and custom applicators are now able to use See & Spray in fallow for no additional cost. Previously, the capability was billed at $1 an unsprayed acre.
Starting in 2027, John Deere is rolling out See & Scout – launching field insights at no additional cost. All See & Spray Premium, Ultimate and new Gen 2 systems will generate weed pressure maps with every pass and stand count maps (starting with corn).

“Farmers can now use weed pressure data as an incredibly powerful proof point for decisions made throughout the year on the farm,” says Josh Ladd, marketing manager for John Deere’s application portfolio. “Whether it be tillage decisions, cover crops, seed varieties or even sprayer passes in general, the weed pressure is a very powerful point of data on if the intended outcome is being achieved.”

For its Gen 1 Premium and Ultimate machines, John Deere will now benefit barley (broadleaf only) and canola starting in 2027. That’s in addition to wheat, sugar beets, peanuts and milo announced at Commodity Classic . See & Spray Premium is available as a retrofit precision upgrade for ExactApply-equipped machines for model years 2018 to 2026.

According to Ladd, John Deere is continuously developing new features to help farmers.

“I think it speaks to the resiliency of our farmers. They’re continuing to push us to advance the technology every day – both in new crops and additional insights, day in, day out,” Ladd explains.

Record-Breaking Auction Prices Signal Scarcity in Top-End Used Machinery

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:20:11 GMT

“Top-end” farm machinery is hard to find, driving auction prices up over the years. Case in point: The average auction price for a John Deere 8R340 ( mentioned in Pete’s Pick ) has gone up 12.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same time frame in 2025, according to Machinery Pete .

“The thinning at the top-end of the used equipment market in terms of volume-based paired with the lack of new sales the past couple of years is really starting to show up in the auction market,” he says.

High Auction Prices Highlight Growing Demand for Quality Used Units

Testament to the trend for high-quality, well-kept equipment, on April 14, a 2009 Stinger 6500 bale wagon with 53,000 miles sold for $140,000. This is the highest auction price on a pre-10 model Stinger 6500 in 15 years.

For reference, the price tag for a newer 2024 Stinger is more than $300,000. Machinery Pete explains that farmers will tend to go with the less expensive option, as long as it is well-maintained.

“At $140,000, if a new one is $340,000, it’s just such a more palatable option than that new number,” says Machinery Pete.

This trend continues with this week’s Machinery Pete’s Pick . On April 25, in Albertson, N.C., a 30-year-old John Deere 6500 three-wheel sprayer with 2,486 hours sold for a record of $65,000 at an auction hosted by Jason Aycock Auctioneering . That price tops the previous record by $15,000.

That same day in Scottsville, Ky., a 2011 Kubota M9540 2WD tractor with a loader and 4,524 hours sold for $45,650 at an auction hosted by Mills Real Estate and Auction Company . That’s the second-highest auction price ever on that model.

An auction in Union, West Virgina, by David Atkins Farm Equipment also featured two record-high sales showing farmers would rather buy pre-owned, well-kept equipment:

Massey Ferguson 4707 tractor with a loader and 900 hours sold for $54,500, a record-high auction price on that model.
1994 John Deere 7600 MFWD tractor with 8,309 hours sold for $69,000, the highest auction price ever on a John Deere 7600 with more than 4,000 hours.

Meanwhile, in Berger, Mo., Schneider Auctioneers LLC had a couple hot-ticket tractors of their own:

2004 John Deere 7320 2WD with only 195 hours and one owner sold for a record-high $106,900.
2008 John Deere 7730 MFWD tractor with 257 hours and one owner sold for $162,700. This is the second-highest auction price ever on a 7730.

Securing High-Quality Equipment Before Inventory Thins

The best time to buy equipment is, arguably, between the planting and harvesting seasons, says Casey Seymour.

“Look how much has been picked over already and where we’re sitting today, I think your best opportunity for good quality equipment is going to be between planting season and harvest,” says Seymour.

Procrastinating until the last quarter of the year to buy equipment risks the quality of equipment for sale. The machinery can also get more expensive as the year goes on. Machinery Pete points to the 12.5% increase in used prices for John Deere 8R340s. This can lead to the “lesser quality” equipment becoming more expensive.

“When the good stuff goes away, it’s all been bought up that the second-tier stuff now becomes the ‘good stuff’,” Machinery Pete says.

Listen to the latest Moving Iron podcast for more from Machinery Pete and Seymour on the continued development of tractor sales.

Broadband is Transforming How an Arizona County Uses Ag Tech

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:03:25 GMT

Imagine a future where autonomous tractors navigate the roads and fields as farmers give commands from miles away. This future also allows farmers to optimize water usage. Precision and efficiency take on entirely new meanings. A county in Arizona is working to make that future a reality.

The dry, hot, sand-colored landscape of Yuma County, Ariz., sprinkled with fields of bright green lettuce, is getting a boost from high-speed internet.

Today, farming is a matter of precision. With better internet comes better precision. According to the Association of Equipment Management , precision agriculture adoption leads to a 5% increase in crop farming productivity, a 5% reduction in water use and a 7% reduction in fuel consumption.

Turning the “Winter Lettuce Capital” into a Global High-Tech Testing Hub

Known as the “ Winter Lettuce Capital of the World ,” the Middle Mile Fiber Network and broadband system will bring better internet. This will ultimately help farmers implement the latest technology. Like roots from a plant, underground fibers now stretch throughout the county connected to 32 broadband towers that reach to the sky.

“It is exciting; there’s been a lot of products and things [such as water sensors] that I’ve wanted to do out on the farm, but without the ability to have permanent or productive internet services, I’ve been reluctant,” says Mike Pasquinelli, a local farmer and president of the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association .

Yuma produces about 90% of the leafy greens for the U.S. in the winter. They’re hoping with the broadband system more companies will be attracted to test technology in Yuma.

“In our intense agricultural system we have the ability to farm year-round, so there’s a lot of advantages for companies to come in, test new products and develop new products,” Pasquinelli says.

Broadband Network is Fueling Yuma’s High-Tech Agricultural Future

From autonomous drones and tractors to water monitoring, the broadband system will allow agriculture to connect.

“Farming is not the farming of yesterday. This is not your mom and pops farm,” says Jonathan Lines , a Yuma County supervisor who helped get the project up and running. “This is a high-tech business for food production here in the United States.”

When it comes to herbicide and pesticide applications, the broadband system will allow for farmers to apply a much smaller droplet using a drone rather than an airplane or helicopter. Tractor and tech updates can be made in the field instead of having to be taken out of production and connected to a computer.

“It is a large game changer for our community as well as our county. If we want more sensors and more automation, we need the bandwidth to do it,” Pasquinelli says.

Gov. Hobbs Backs Broadband Network to Modernize Arizona Agriculture

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is in full support of the broadband network. In November 2025, Gov. Hobbs visited Yuma for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and to sign two bills. SB1320 and SB1661 are both meant to help support the project in some capacity:

SB 1320 updated the legal definition of “implements of husbandry,” otherwise known as farm equipment, to include autonomous equipment. This allows for the autonomous farm equipment like tractors to drive short distances on public roads.
SB 1661 created a legal structure for the broadband service district authority. This authority would be in charge of things such as facilitating the expansion and maintenance of broadband infrastructure.

Pasquinelli says these bills, along with the broadband project, will be helpful for Yuma farmers as they continue to navigate this technological boom. When the broadband network and autonomous technology are in full force, they can help Yuma farmers address labor challenges.

“The farm workforce is aging, and it’s more and more difficult to get labor out of Mexico, so automation is going to be really key as the workforce diminishes,” says Paul Brierly , director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture .

$6 Million Broadband Project Hopes to Attract Younger Workforce

The broadband network might also be able to solve the aging workforce by attracting more university students. Brierly believes with the research and investment tied to the network, along with Yuma’s landscape, it can be a hot spot for young scholastic minds.

“With climate change, more of the world is having to produce food in arid climates, so what we solve in Yuma County, and in Arizona, will apply and be useful all around the world,” he explains.

The project is set to cost around $6 million and the broadband network is expected to be up and running by the end of summer in August.

“Not only does that allow Yuma County farmers to use the latest technology but also this is going to be the most connected production area in the world,” Brierly says.

Pete's Pick of the Week: 2009 Stinger Bale Wagon Hits 15-Year Price High

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:26:12 GMT

This week, Pete’s Pick isn’t his typical tractor or combine, but rather a bale wagon. On April 14 in Torrington, Wyo., the Kerr Auction and Tri Brothers equipment consignment auction sold a 2009 Stinger 6500 bale wagon with 53,000 miles for $140,000. That’s the highest auction price on a pre-2010 model Stinger 6500 in 15 years.

On April 18, Jason Aycock Auctioneering had a farm retirement auction for Joe Godwin in Benson, N.C. These auctions continue to prove that machinery in good condition brings strong sales prices:

Rooster RP10 sold for $150,000. It is a root-picking machine described as a land-prep with 180 teeth. “This machine eliminates anything to pick up on the new ground,” says Godwin.
John Deere S670 with 2,150 hours sold for $130,000. This is the second-highest auction price in the last 38 months on this model with more than 2,000 hours.

Meanwhile, on April 17 in Dayton, Ohio, an auction by Wilson National LLC for Bear Creek LLC Farm continues to show how the 8R 340 models are in demand:

2022 John Deere 8R 340 with only 292 hours sold for $350,000. The average auction price for this specific model is up 12.5% this year.
1998 Case IH 9350 articulating 4WD with 2,379 hours sold for $67,000.

Machinery Pete is also anticipating several auctions this week. DPA Auctions is having an online sale April 21 featuring heavy equipment:

1977 John Deere 6030 with only 3,563 hours. The top bid already topped $47,000 as of Monday morning.
2024 Fendt 932 dry machine with 568 hours.
1998 Case IH 9370 QuadTrac with around 7,300 hours.

Used Equipment Gains Traction While New Tractor Sales Face Decline

While Machinery Pete says sales for some used machinery segments are increasing, such as the John Deere 8R 340, new tractor sales are not experiencing the same success. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, total farm tractor sales are down 8.8% this year versus last year. As of March 2025, tractor sales across all segments totaled 36,941; so far this year that number is 33,708. Meanwhile, 4-wheel-drive farm tractor sales are down by 15% as well.

Farming the Frontier: Alaskan Farmer Awaits Arrival of No-Till Air Drill to Beat the Arctic Clock

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Sixth-generation farmer Clayton Griffith is pioneering a new era in Delta Junction, Alaska, by introducing the state’s first John Deere 1890 no-till air drill . Moving from Kansas to the “Last Frontier” five years ago (because of his passion for fishing and hunting), he is transitioning to a no-till system to condense the planting window — a critical shift in a region where winter comes early.

As the equipment travels via a four-truck convoy through the U.S. and Canada, Griffith hopes to prove that modern conservation practices are the key to building a sustainable operation in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

“The idea is to get into the fields quicker, get the crop in the ground as soon as possible,” Griffith says.

How No-Till Can Transform Alaska’s Short Growing Season

In a conventional-till system, Griffith says planting takes three to four weeks. With a short growing season that lasts 90 to 110 days, every day counts for his barley, oats, hay and grass crops to thrive. Using the no-till air drill, he expects to plant 5,600 acres in approximately five days.

“Winter could come as early as September; you can’t predict the weather, so it’s crucial for us to expand the growing season,” he explains.

After an opportunity to locally source an air drill fell through, and with the clock ticking, Griffith reached out to Quality Drills based in Kansas.

“To be bringing something to [Alaska] that focuses on what I view as a really important cause is very rewarding,” says Stefan Alderson , CEO, in regard to helping Alaska agriculture and the people who call that state home.

The two drills along with two tractors headed to Griffith’s farm once belonged to Howard Turner Farm in Muskogee, Okla. After Turner passed away, Quality Drills was tasked with selling some of the farm’s estate.

“His machines and his legacy are going to be a part of something really big in Alaska, where hopefully it’ll live on for a good, long time,” Alderson says.

The convoy of four semi-trucks and a passenger vehicle is traveling from the U.S., through Canada into the Land of the Midnight Sun, where they are expected to arrive in three days.

On the Leading Edge of A No-Till Movement in Alaska

Griffith looks forward to getting to work once the equipment arrives and building soil health as he starts to plant on May 15.

“If you want to build a sustainable local food network, you have to be efficient,” Griffith says. “Using variable-rate applications is crucial to saving on fertilizer and herbicide costs.”

Due to his location, the only fertilizer Griffith can get in bulk is dry fertilizer, such as urea and phosphorus. Not to mention, fertilizer and herbicides are more expensive.

Eventually, he hopes his neighbors will be convinced to invest in no-till practices and equipment. He compares farming in Alaska to “farming on the moon” because the only equipment he has is what he brought with him.

“If we have the same kind of equipment, we can help out with parts, etc.,” Griffith explains.

In Alaska, there is heavy competition for the small labor pool. Between the pipeline, mining and Fort Greely , it can be hard to find good help. That is why no-till practices and machinery are crucial to farming.

“Having machines that can get the job done quicker, be more efficient, and save costs on fertilizer is a huge advantage,” Griffith says. “This has been a long time coming. It’s a great opportunity for the state of Alaska.”

Pete’s Pick of the Week: Alva FFA Restores John Deere 4020

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:48:02 GMT

An FFA chapter in Alva, Okla., has earned Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week by restoring a tractor. After logging more than 2,500 hours, the students were able to bring the 1968 John Deere 4020 back to life. On April 15, the FFA group will sell the tractor via a PurpleWave.com auction.

In a video interview with PurpleWave , one student described the tractor “as about unusable as it could be.” It had numerous issues, such as a cracked cylinder liner, flaking paint, an irreparable cab and flat tires.

During the process of restoring the 4020, the students learned valuable skills such as teamwork, patience and problem-solving. Student Clay Schafer worked on the tractor every day.

“It kind of feels rewarding to see all of the hard work we put into it just to be used,” Schafer says.

His classmate Jaxon Headle was also heavily involved in the project – from the initial teardown to the mechanical restoration and final bodywork.

“Getting to see a second wind for this tractor means a lot; letting it have another chance at being useful again is just really rewarding,” Headle explains.

With the combined efforts of teachers, community members and education, anything is possible, he adds. All sale proceeds will be donated to Alva’s FFA chapter.

A 1972 John Deere 4020 diesel PowerShift, with more than $50,000 spent on a professional restoration, sold for $74,900 on April 11. Machinery Pete’s “co-pick of the week” sold on the second day of the fourth annual Kraft Spring Antique Truck and Tractor Auction Day in Valparaiso, Ind. That’s the second-highest price ever on a John Deere 4020.

The Used Equipment Sweet Spot: Why Age and Hours are Redefining Value

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:25:19 GMT

Classic and late-model iron has been a hot commodity with recent auctions breaking records. For example:

A 2023 John Deere X9 1100 with 1,132 engine hours sold for $510,000. “That’s the highest auction price I’ve ever seen on an X9 1100 with over 1,000 engine hours,” Machinery Pete says.
A 1982 International 5288 two-wheel drive, with 6,498 hours sold for $30,000.
A 1993 Case IH 7110 with 4,436 hours sold for $45,500.

Despite the age of the machine, Casey Seymour says these older models still hold value for farmers in need of equipment.

Sweet Spots for Machinery Demand

The “sweet spot” in used equipment continues to be the 10-year mark, according to Machinery Pete . Everyone is looking for a 10-plus-year-old tractor in good condition with low hours, he adds.

Seymour broadens the sweet spot to the eight- to 12-year-old gap. A recent auction in Rock Rapids, Iowa, featured a 2004 John Deere 8120 with only 897 hours that sold for a record high of $158,000.

“That was almost 10,000 over the highest I’d ever seen,” Machinery Pete adds.

When it comes to the sweet spot, both Machinery Pete and Seymour agree the most value lies in the three- to -seven- year age range. At the moment, supply is limited, so machines might be harder to come by.

Then there’s the pre-DEF equipment.

“In 2015 and 2016, people weren’t going back and trying to buy a 2012 or something like that; it wasn’t on the radar, but today they are,” Seymour says.

When it comes to condition, the dollars add up when the equipment has been well maintained.

“If you want to trade, your dealer is going to be able to sell it immediately,” Machinery Pete explains.

He once heard of someone who “washed the cab with a toothbrush,” which says a lot about how the machine was maintained. Gold Key tractors, a John Deere machine whose owner participated in a special factory tour and drove it off the assembly line, also maintain their value. Going to the factory or providing specific maintenance details can make a huge difference, Machinery Pete explains.

Listen to the latest Moving Iron podcast for more from Machinery Pete and Seymour on the evolution of the buyer’s intent in tractors.

‘Farmville for Real:’ How Autonomous Tech is Rebranding Tractor Drivers as Digital Operators

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:25:32 GMT

For George Grote, a typical day doesn’t involve a steering wheel or a dusty cab; instead, it looks like he’s glued to his phone or tablet. From the climate-controlled comfort of a pickup or while strolling between the crop rows, Grote monitors a fleet of autonomous tractors as they navigate with precision. It’s a scene that Agtonomy CEO Tim Bucher calls “Farmville for real,” where gripping the steering wheel is being replaced by the quick-twitch reflexes of the gaming generation.

As the agricultural industry grapples with a deepening labor crisis and an aging workforce, companies such as Agtonomy are betting that high-tech autonomy is the key to recruiting Gen Z. By rebranding traditional tractor driving as “digital operation,” the California-based startup is leveraging app-based interfaces to transform farming into a tech career.

Raised on a dairy farm, Bucher coupled his love of agriculture and machinery with a career in the tech field to create the prototype that would become the company’s first autonomous tractor. Today, as a farm owner and father of three, Bucher says it’s not likely his children will return to the farm. With this technology, he hopes to attract the next generation to his farm and the industry.

“The younger generation doesn’t want to be in the dirt and the dust because there are other opportunities for them,” he says.

(Photo provided by George Grote)

The Gaming Advantage: Why “Fast Hands” Matter in the Field

Grote, a 30-year-old field engineer with Agtonomy, does not have a farming background, but he always knew he wanted to work outdoors. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in crop and fruit science and now works alongside Agtonomy customers. He says being able to process information on a screen while being fast with his hands is something he picked up from gaming.

“I can tell you [gaming] 100% helped me, being able to toggle between different features in the app and being quick with technology,” Grote says. “If you can play a video game, then you’re more than capable of running five, six, seven or eight tractors at once while sitting in your truck and watching them run autonomously.”

8.14.25_agtonomy-102

(Agtonomy)

Marc Di Pietra, regional service maintenance manager for Treasury Wine Estates , says the cutting-edge technology can help bridge the labor gap, provide upskilling opportunities and reduce physical demands.

“New technologies are making it incredibly dynamic and attractive for younger generations,” Di Pietra says. “With a younger workforce, I expect that evolution to accelerate. There’s a natural comfort with technology, and a willingness to challenge legacy processes, which is critical.”

Adding this technology has been game changing in the wine business, De Pietra says, and it can shape the rest of the agricultural industry as well.

“These technologies allow us to be more precise with our farming, winemaking techniques and sustainability efforts, effectively creating safer environments for our employees, reducing our emissions and producing better quality wines,” he explains.

Agtonomy_George Grote

(Agtonomy)

How Agtonomy Works

At this point, Agtonomy is being used on fruit and nut tree, grapevine, avocado and citrus operations. The company works with Bobcat , specifically the Doosan Bobcat CT 4045, for more versatile utility and maintenance tasks, and Kubota to automate narrow-track diesel tractors, such as the Kubota M5N series.

Agtonomy’s software is embedded into a tractor’s OEM control system at the factory. Outfitted with the technology, the machine can autonomously handle repetitive tasks, such as mowing, spraying and seeding. Using cameras and sensors, tractors can “see” their surroundings, allowing them to navigate rows and avoid obstacles. Sensors and data links also ensure that sprayers or mowers are working at the correct intensity and height. When an issue occurs, a notification is sent to a smartphone and/or tablet, complete with details to help the tractor decide what to do when it deviates from the original instructions.

Deere & Co. Reaches $99 Million Settlement in Multiyear ‘Right-to-Repair’ Litigation

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:08:30 GMT

On April 6, Deere & Co. announced a settlement agreement resolving the “right-to-repair” litigation before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The company will pay $99 million (plus interest accruing since Jan. 15) into a settlement fund for the benefit of the settlement class. In a press release , the company states the agreement brings the case to a close with “no finding of wrongdoing.”

The agreement marks a pivotal moment in the multi-year legal battle, aiming to compensate producers for repair restrictions while avoiding a formal admission of liability. While Deere marks the move as a step toward better customer support, the settlement fuels a debate with advocates who argue the payout fails to address control over farm machinery repairs.

Under the terms of the settlement, Deere will establish a fund to cover administrative and legal fees, with the remainder distributed to eligible class members. Deere says it remains committed to supporting customers with access to manuals, diagnostic software and specialized tools.

“As we continue to innovate industry-leading equipment and technology solutions supported by our world-class dealer network, we are equally committed to providing customers and other service providers with access to repair resources,” says Denver Caldwell, vice president, aftermarket & customer support. “We’re pleased that this resolution allows us to move forward and remain focused on what matters most – serving our customers.”

Industry Advocates Raise Questions Amid Settlement Announcement

Despite the settlement, some are still skeptical.

“I suspect there is a lot less to this deal than meets the eye,” says Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the Repair Association .

She has questions, including: In the settlement, Deere agreed to make available to farmers for 10 years “the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis and repair” of large agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines and sugarcane harvesters. What does that mean for other John Deere equipment?

In response, John Deere says its latest digital self-repair tool, Operations Center PRO Service, launched in July 2025, is designed to enhance how John Deere equipment owners use, maintain, diagnose, repair and protect their equipment. The tool provides support capabilities across John Deere’s agriculture, turf, construction and forestry equipment portfolio.

Yet unknown, Gordon-Byrne says, are the outcomes of 16 right-to-repair bills that cover ag equipment filed this year in 16 states.

“Several are likely to pass with much stronger requirements,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Willie Cade, Repair Association board member and a consultant on the case since it was filed in 2022, says he believes Deere will continue to move the goalposts and keep farmers reliant on their “monopolistic” repair policy.

“It’s too little, too late, and it will not fundamentally change the monopolistic repair environment that Deere enjoys,” he says.

The settlement must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Pete’s Pick of the Week: 2004 John Deere 8120 Sells for Record High $158,000

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:07:19 GMT

Entering March, machinery auction volume rose by more than 5%. According to Machinery Pete , the current market is nuanced: While the tractor market remains strong and combines are holding steady, the planter market has shown less consistency.

Despite the conclusion of the year’s busiest month, used equipment prices remain robust in early April. For example, Doug and Mary Berg’s farm retirement sale in Rock Rapids, Iowa, conducted by Zomer Company Realty and Auction , featured Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week — a 2004 John Deere 8120 with only 897 hours, which set a new record-high auction price of $158,000.

Older iron has also commanded impressive prices in recent weeks. On April 4 in Wawaka, Ind., Schrader Real Estate and Auction saw strong results for the following:

1993 Case IH 7110 with 4,436 hours sold for $45,500.
1982 International 5288 2WD with 6,498 hours sold for $30,000.
1983 Case 2290 with 2,787 hours sold for $18,000.
1968 Case 730 with more than 4,900 hours sold for $8,000.

Similarly, the Macke Bros Inc. auction in Bellmont, Ill., hosted by Schmid Auction on March 31, saw high demand for classic John Deere models.

1981 John Deere 4440 with 6,260 hours sold for $45,000.
1986 John Deere 4050 2WD with 3,794 hours sold for $41,200.
1958 John Deere 720 diesel sold for $22,100.

North of the border in Radisson, Saskatchewan, Ritchie Bros ’ EP Farms Ltd. auction featured relatively new, high-capacity machinery:

2024 Case IH 715 Quadtrac tractor with 812 hours sold for $491,830.
2024 Case IH 9250 combine with 704 engine hours sold for $355,410.

Looking ahead at the week, on April 7, in Brillion, Wis., an auction by C.A. Tesch Equipment with 92 tractors will sell:

2021 John Deere 8R 280 with 763 hours.
2011 John Deere 7930 with 1,780 hours.
1974 IHC 1468 with 6,242 hours.

On April 14, an online auction in Kearney, Neb., by Adam Marshall Land & Auction LLC will have equipment from the Old Cellar Vineyard in Arapahoe, Neb., including a 2000 New Holland Braud SB64 grape harvester with 4,681 hours.

Old Iron, New Beats: How an Iowa Farm Family is Retrofitting Legacy Tractors for the Digital Age

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:07:31 GMT

Frustrated by the lack of modern technology in older machinery, a fifth-generation farm family in northeast Iowa took matters into their own hands. After cycling through unreliable aftermarket transmitters, the Herbert family developed the Cab Radio Upgrade Kit , a solution designed to bring modern connectivity to legacy equipment.

The project was a collaborative effort between T.L. Herbert, his wife, Rochelle, and their three teenage sons: Thomas, Mason and Colin. The idea sparked when Mason and Thomas grew tired of subpar audio options while working on their row-crop and cattle operation.

“We tried a bunch of different designs. We tried cheap radios that we could find in stores, and nothing really worked out,” Mason explains.

CabTech Family

(CabTech)

The brothers brought their vision to their father, T.L., who contributed 20 years of experience working for major tractor manufacturers. By combining the sons’ innovation with the father’s technical expertise, the family designed a professional-grade kit.

“We decided to design our own, and we decided it was actually a pretty good design, and we were going to try to sell it,” Mason says.

Just picked one of these up for the 8120! Pretty stoked! Plus supporting a couple young entrepreneurs. https://t.co/L81YI8l6xl pic.twitter.com/jIgJwJPzud
— Michael Steeke 🌾 (@steeke7) March 24, 2026

The kit features a dedicated screen that allows operators to wirelessly connect phones for music and hands-free calling. Perhaps most importantly, it integrates two camera feeds to improve visibility. Currently, the kit is specifically engineered for John Deere tractors in the 7000 to 7030, 8000 to 8030 and 9000 to 9030 series. The Herberts use the technology daily on their own farm, noting the camera system is a game-changer.

“When we’re dumping corn from the grain cart to a wagon, we can look over at the screen and see exactly how full we’re getting because it’s faced right down into the wagon,” Thomas says.

The kit is already gaining traction with other producers, including Ben Bonson, a fourth-generation farmer in northwest Iowa. For Bonson, the kit offers a cost-effective way to modernize a fleet without the price tag of a new machine.

“Putting this newer technology in an older tractor kind of gives it a whole new feel,” Bonson says. “Taking these old tractors and merging them with that new technology for so much cheaper is a great investment.”

Bonson also appreciates that when calling and talking over the Bluetooth mode, he sounds clearer, and the hands-free functionality allows him to focus on other work.

“Say you’re doing something like you’re on a silage pile. You can’t really take your hands off the wheel to call someone,” he says.

T.L. appreciates the ability to easily stream podcasts and audiobooks to help pass the time in the tractor cab.

While the Herberts hope to expand the kit to other tractor models in the future, their current focus remains on perfecting the offerings for their supported John Deere models. Beyond the business success, Rochelle notes the venture has strengthened their family bond.

“Being able to learn together, being able to create a stronger family together, will take us to the next level where we can start expanding the product,” she says. “Being able to celebrate together, seeing the success they’ve had … has been really, really cool.”

The Midas Touch: How a Golden Tractor Captured the Spirit of National Ag Day

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:02:56 GMT

Hundreds of farmers, ranchers, growers and industry leaders gathered at the White House last week to celebrate National Agriculture Day.

Iowa farmer Ben Riensche, who attended the celebration, noted the overwhelming sense of community on the South Lawn.

“It was an amazing celebration,” Riensche describes. “It just grabbed you, pulled you in and embraced you that you were on the lawn of the White House.”

Standing prominently to the left of the President’s platform was the event’s unofficial star: a golden tractor. The tractor’s presence was a fitting symbol for an event defined by its deep agricultural roots.

AGCO Fendt Golden Tractor at White House

(AGCO Corporation)

While the celebration featured several major policy announcements, the tractor — outfitted with bright red tires and a window mural depicting a farm worker with a child — frequently stole the show. It was showcased in various iconic locations across the grounds, most notably near center stage at the base of the White House steps.

“We all knew President Trump likes gold, so that was a plus,” says Brandon Montgomery, senior brand manager for Fendt .

The golden machine also served as a showcase for American manufacturing. Although Fendt was originally founded in Germany in 1930 and later acquired by AGCO Corporation in 1997, it now maintains a significant American footprint with factories in Minnesota and Kansas. This specific tractor, manufactured at AGCO’s Fendt facility in Jackson, Minn., is composed of nearly 100% American-made parts.

AGCO Fendt Golden Tractor at White House

(AGCO Corporation)

The vehicle has a storied recent history. It made its public debut at last year’s Commodity Classic, where Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins added the first signature to its frame. From there, it traveled to the U.S. Capitol at the Great American Farmers Market in 2025, collecting signatures from notable figures including Ambassador Monica Crowley, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Lara Trump. After a stop at the National FFA Convention, it received its final invitation to the White House.

“It was a celebration of American farmers, American manufacturing, and our ’Gold Star’ customer care ,” Montgomery explains.

While President Trump did not sign the tractor himself, Fendt presented him with a miniature scale model of the golden machine.

Fendt Golden Tractor

(AGCO Corporation)

In an ironic twist, the tractor has been sold and is now bound for Europe. However, its legacy will remain in the United States. AGCO is retaining the signature-covered hood, which will return to the Jackson facility where its journey began. The impact of the display is already being felt, as Montgomery noted that several farmers have already called asking how they can secure a golden tractor of their own.

Pete’s Pick of the Week: 2010 Case IH Magnum 245 Sells for $120,000

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:07:14 GMT

As the busiest month for machinery auctions draws to a close, several high-profile sales caught Machinery Pete’s attention. Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week took place on March 24 in Currie, Minn., where the Steffes Group conducted the Bill Maher farm retirement auction . A 2010 Case IH Magnum 245 with 4,052 hours sold for $120,000 — the highest price ever recorded for that specific model and hours.

On March 26 in Tallula, Ill., Sullivan Auctioneers and BigIron Auctions hosted the Hincrich Farms retirement auction . Machinery Pete notes this event underscores the intense demand for well-maintained equipment, regardless of age:

1988 John Deere 4450 2WD with 5,028 hours sold for $53,400 – the third-highest auction price ever for this model with over 5,000 hours.
1994 John Deere 4960 with 8,321 hours sold for $70,000 – the second-highest auction price for this model with over 7,700 hours.
2012 John Deere 9410R with 2,694 hours sold for $230,500 – the third-highest auction price ever for this model with over 2,500 hours.

By March 28, the momentum shifted to Lebanon, Ohio, for Steiner Auctions’ 20th annual Warren County consignment auction . A fully restored 1964 John Deere 4020, featuring a complete nut-and-bolt restoration and an engine overhaul, sold for $42,500.

On the same day in Kevil, Ky., Harris Real Estate & Auction conducted a retirement auction for Ingrum Farms, where a duo of tractors saw strong results:

2016 John Deere 8320R with 2,439 hours sold for $187,000.
2017 Claas Lexion 740 combine with 977 separator hours sold for $116,600.

The annual spring consignment auction by Kyle Kelso Auctioneer in Adair, Ill., saw a record price on Saturday as well:

2022 John Deere 6R 140 with a loader and 777 hours sold for $163,500 - a record-price for this model.
2021 Case IH Steiger 540 4WD tractor with 1,199 hours sold for $285,000.

Finally, in New Holland, Ohio, Schrader Real Estate and Auction held a retirement sale for Butch and Carol McCoy. A 2008 Case IH 2577 combine with 1,815 separator hours sold for $82,000. This marks the third-highest auction price recorded for this model in the past 39 months.

March Auction Volume Surges as Used Equipment Values Hit Historic Highs

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:48:59 GMT

March continues to be a busy month for equipment auctions. According to Machinery Pete , there has been a 5% increase in the total number of machinery auctions so far this year. As producers shift away from buying new equipment, the search for high-quality used machinery with fewer hours has intensified.

Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week highlights this trend, showcasing record-breaking sales and historic prices over the past month.

“The number of auctions is up, and a big part of that is driven by the guys at the top of the chain who maybe would just keep farming because they love it to their core,” he observes.

A standout example of this demand is a 1986 John Deere 4850 with 4,100 hours that sold for a record $80,500 on March 21. Despite a volatile global geopolitical landscape, Casey Seymour adds that auction values have remained remarkably resilient.

“The one thing we’re seeing so far with auction values is that they’re staying ‘stable’ compared to everything else around them,” Seymour explains.

The “Gravity” of Mid-Age Iron: Why Farmers are Flocking to Five- to 10-Year-Old Machinery

Farmers are increasingly gravitating toward equipment in the five-to-10-year-old range. Dealers report that this specific inventory is moving rapidly, with some lots selling out entirely. Conversely, one-to-two-year-old models remain scarce in the marketplace.

Seymour warns that this trend could leave buyers “stuck in a box,” as they are forced to compete for a tightening supply of premium older machinery.

“As you’re seeing these things come up, it’s like more and more gravity is being put on these pieces of equipment that are five to 10 years old,” Seymour says.

Machinery Pete notes that this market dynamic is unique in his 36-year history of tracking data.

“This is the first time in my 36 years I’ve seen values move higher when there’s not a component of corn and beans going up behind it,” he says.

Industry Experts Brace for Shifting Demographics and a Potential Drop in Active Buyers

The industry is also keeping a close eye on buyer demographics over the next 24 months. While older farmers are currently the most active participants at auctions, their imminent retirements raise concerns for future market demand. Seymour suggests these producers might begin stretching out trade cycles and making their current equipment last longer before finally “hanging up their boots.”

“I don’t feel like there’s going to be as many buyers as there are today, as we see come to [auctions] today,” Seymour concludes.

Listen to the latest Moving Iron podcast for more of Machinery Pete and Seymour.

Trump Signals More DEF Rollbacks, Pushes Manufacturers to Lower Equipment Costs

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:48:07 GMT

In front of a gathering of farmers, ranchers and growers at the White House, President Trump and EPA announced new guidance that will remove the DEF sensor requirements, which the Small Business Administration (SBA) estimates will save farmers $4.4 billion a year and translate into $13.79 billion for Americans. Administrator Lee Zeldin says the move impacts farmers, truckers, motor coach operators and other diesel equipment operators.

“I have heard from truck drivers, farmers and many others complaining about DEF and pleading for a fix in all 50 states I visited during my first year as EPA administrator,” Zeldin says. “Americans are justified in being fed up with failing DEF system issues. EPA understands this is a massive issue and has been doing everything in our statutory power to address this. Today, we take another step in furthering our work by removing DEF sensors. Farmers and truckers should not be losing billions of dollars because of repair costs or days lost on the job.”

Every farmer now has the Right to Repair their own equipment thanks to President Trump. It’s crazy that our talented farmers were being prevented from doing this previously. This announcement is about common sense. Farmers will be able to spend more time in the field and less… pic.twitter.com/4hROUN45EU
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) March 27, 2026

New Guidelines Focus on DEF Sensors

EPA says that sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures compromise safety and productivity. It calls the issue unacceptable and problematic. In a release, EPA says it plans to continue to pursue all legal avenues to address Americans’ complaints. On Feb. 3, 2026, EPA demanded critical data on DEF system failures from the manufacturers that account for over 80% of all products used in DEF systems. This information will arm EPA with what it needs to permanently address DEF system failures. Thus far, the agency has received data from 11 of the 14 manufacturers, and in less than a month, EPA has turned around preliminary findings to issue today’s guidance, demonstrating Administrator Zeldin’s commitment to fixing this issue.

“Today, by eliminating DEF mandates, the Trump Administration is taking yet another step to free up hardworking Americans to focus on the vital work of feeding, clothing, building, and fueling our nation,” says SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “I applaud Administrator Zeldin for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to our continued collaboration to cut red tape for small businesses across the U.S. food supply chain.”

Several ag equipment manufacturers were highlighted during the event at the White House, including John Deere. The company weighed in EPA’s latest announcement about DEF.

“John Deere applauds the EPA’s leadership to provide as much flexibility through agency guidance as possible to limit the frequency of false DEF-quality inducements,” says Kyle Gilley, vice president for global government affairs at John Deere. “Today’s announcement builds upon EPA guidance from February 2026, requested by John Deere, to provide farmers additional tools to complete emissions-related repairs. These announcements are a win for farmers and their ability to keep modern equipment operating in the field.”

EPA says the preliminary review of the warranty data suggests that DEF sensor failures are a significant source of warranty claims and DEF-related inducements. The agency’s new guidance makes clear that under existing regulations, manufacturers can stop inaccurate DEF system failures by removing traditional emission sensors, known as Urea Quality Sensors, and switching to nitrous oxide (NOx) sensors.

EPA also affirms that approved NOx sensor-based software updates can be installed on existing engines without being treated as illegal tampering under the Clean Air Act. This is in line with EPA’s February 2026 Right to Repair clarification guidance , which removed a major barrier keeping farmers from fixing their faulty DEF systems in the field. EPA anticipates the switch will greatly curb errors that traditional sensor technologies have been prone to and reduce the issues Americans face with inaccurate DEF failures.

For more information, see EPA’s Diesel Exhaust Fluid .

Trump Calls on Manufacturers to Lower Equipment Prices If DEF Rolled Back

During Friday’s event, Trump also spoke about the rising complexity and cost of modern farm equipment.

“When you buy a tractor today, you spend 50 percent of your time fixing the environmental — I say environmental impact statement garbage that’s on the tractor,” he says.

He adds that equipment often includes computerized systems that can shut down tractors unnecessarily, increasing repair costs.

“I said to the head of John Deere, ‘Is this a good thing or a bad thing?’ He said, sir, you have no idea how bad it is. It’s made our tractors so complicated. … We want to go back to the old ways, sir. And I said, I agree with you 100 percent.”

During remarks at the event at the White House today, President Trump said EPA is working to further roll back DEF-related requirements and pushed manufacturers to cut equipment costs:

“You’re going to lower the cost of a tractor… they’re going to be able to very shortly…
— Tyne Morgan (@Tyne_Ag) March 27, 2026

The president says the administration is looking into further rolling back DEF requirements, but as he does, he is also urging manufacturers to reduce equipment prices for farmers if the added environmental regulation costs are no longer there.

“Lee (Zeldin), I think we can say, I know you’re in the process of cutting out massive amounts of nonsense that are mandated to be put on your tractors, that all of your trucks that cost your fortune…and I know that they’re going to do this. And I asked one thing, you got to promise me one thing. You’re not going to take any profits. You’re going lower the cost of a tractor. I want you to lower the costs. And if they don’t lower the course, you’ll let me know. And I’ll have to do a big number of those companies. Okay? They’re going to be able to, very shortly, produce a bigger, better tractor and substantially less money. It’s going to be better. It’s gonna be a better tractor at substantially less,” Trump says.

He adds that future tractors will be simpler, more reliable and less expensive.

“I want John Deere and Case and all of the great companies … to give it to you in the form of lower tractor and equipment costs. And I think it’s going to have a huge impact,” he says.

President Trump then directed EPA Administrator Zeldin to explore ways to require, or mandate, manufacturers to lower the cost of farm equipment.

EPA’s guidance issued on Friday is part of a broader effort to address complaints from farmers, truckers and other diesel equipment operators about DEF system failures that cause equipment shutdowns, but Trump says more action on DEF is currently underway.

Bizarre Tractor Theft on Iowa Farm Leads to Manhunt, Wild Bust

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:47:28 GMT

At 4 a.m., with heavy snow piling and mercury crashing, Sawyer Wise woke to the unexpected rumble of a diesel engine on his isolated Hawkeye farm. Roused from bed, he shuffled toward wide kitchen windows overlooking the property and caught the blink of red tractor lights fading into darkness a quarter mile down his driveway.

Surrounded by a tightknit rural community of row crop growers and cattlemen, Wise’s reaction was gratitude. A kindhearted neighbor, he assumed, was already clearing driveways. Thankful for a helping hand, Wise, 30, eased back across his home, checked on two toddler daughters, and slipped under the covers beside his wife.

Five hours later, storm ebbing, Wise layered up and exited his backdoor, expecting a morning of chores. Instead, he confronted telltale signs of trouble: visible boot prints and a drive still covered in deep snow.

Trailing prints stamped in fresh powder, dread and anger danced up Wise’s spine, along with the realization of theft: a John Deere 4430 tractor gone from the machine shed, a zero-turn Ferris mower buried in drifts, and a missing bag of Milwaukee tools. Brazen larceny in blizzard conditions and subzero temps—on a farm located in the back of beyond.

A manhunt was about to commence, and Wise was standing dead center of a surreal crime spree and fundamental violation of farm and family.

On the Fringe
On the night of February 19, 2026, in the extreme corner of northeast Iowa, a skip from the Minnesota line, Winneshiek County nightshift deputies were overwhelmed by wild, winter weather. Past midnight, scattered across a rural region characterized by plentiful hills and pastures, vehicles were sliding and stacking alongside highways and backroads.

At 2 a.m., Sheriff Dan Marx’s cell rang with news of stranded motorists and snowplows slipping sideways, all with only one wrecker service covering 690 square miles of hazard.

Climbing into a Chevy Silverado pickup, Marx drove away from his home, out of a valley, and into what some locals later described as one of the worst storms in 40 years. Hekuva night for Marx: freezing temps and 30 concurrent vehicle incidents.

John Deere 4430 tractor tire tracks told their own tale.

(Photo public domain)

By 9 a.m., Friday morning, February 20, the chaos had ebbed. En route to assist deputies with a stalled vehicle in the northern reaches of Winneshiek County, Marx received a peculiar call from Detective Chris Wuebker, regarding a John Deere 4430 tractor and Ferris mower stolen in the northeast neck of the county.

Marx’s truck diverted east, along semi-passable roads flanked by bluffs and woods, bound for the remote 220-acre farm property of Sawyer Wise. With Det. Wuebker almost on his heels, Marx was first on scene.

“It was really remote, very pretty and hilly. There was a long, long lane leading to the farm. I drove down it to speak with the farmer and about halfway along or so, I saw a lawnmower in the snow. It was stuck off the side of the lane and looked like someone had tried to drive it away. Literally, it was buried in snow and if it hadn’t been mentioned in the initial report, I might not have known specifically what it was.”

Having dealt with every facet of crime across a 27-year career in law enforcement, Marx was about to connect the ill-fitting pieces of an odd puzzle. “There’s no limit to the nature of what we see in this line of work,” he says, “but this one was on the fringe.”

Pickups and Pistols
Perched roughly 1 mile from the closest neighbor and 30 miles from the nearest town of Decorah, Sawyer Wise’s farm property, in proximity to trout streams and abundant hills, is a piece of God’s country: 220 acres covered in-season by corn, soybeans, and alfalfa, along with a cow-calf operation.

Wise’s property via Google Earth. “Don’t tell me this is about a stolen tractor or stuck van,” he says. “I’ve got a young family and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them.”

(Photo by Google)

His ranch-style home, a half mile off a gravel road, hides beside a detached garage, barn, and several sheds, along with multiple silos and grain bins. “We’re got a pretty large grove of pine trees around us that are tall, about 60’,” Wise describes. “You really can’t see our house or farm buildings from the road. You don’t accidentally find this place.”

In the pitch black of early Feb. 20, Wise stirred to the grumble of a John Deere 4430.

“I looked out my kitchen and could see flashing lights about halfway down the driveway of what looked like a tractor,” Wise recalls. “But I couldn’t tell if it was mine or even what kind it was. We live in wonderful place and people are always doing helpful stuff. Thinking the best of where I live, I thought for sure one of my friends was plowing snow. Neighbors helping neighbors, with no thanks needed, is normal for this area.”

“Also, I had no tractors plugged in that night,” he adds. “My tractors are older, and in our northeast Iowa winters, generally, if you don’t have a tractor plugged in, it’s probably not going to start if it’s an older machine.”

Hours later, finding his farm robbed of machinery and tools, Wise hopped in his pickup and began following the tire tracks of his own tractor. On his side, a pistol. Bullet in the chamber.

Facts and Felonies
“Right off the bat, I found my Ferris zero-turn buried up to the seat,” Wise recalls. “I kept going, turned out of my driveway onto the road, and about a mile down, I saw a red minivan that had clearly been stuck, and tractor tires leading directly to it. No driver or passengers around.”

The minivan carried Clayton County (caddy corner southeast to Winneshiek County) license plates. Wise rubbed down the windows, peered through the glass, and saw junk, trash, and—Milwaukee tools.

“That tractor had sat all winter, not plugged in, and now I’ll have to find out what kind of damage he did by running it with no warmup,” says Wise.

(Photo courtesy of John Deere)

“Looked like an out-of-towner. Looked like drug-related activity. My mind immediately went to one guy who lives in our immediate area with a history of methamphetamine. In some way, I figured the van was connected to him. This wasn’t about getting a van unstuck. There was much more going on, despite how this was portrayed by the media.”

As initial details emerged, news coverage and social media shaded the narrative of a coldhearted farmer, overzealous sheriff, and an innocent man stuck in a snowbank who borrowed a tractor. No malice; just misunderstanding.

However, the stubborn facts point to felony.

Bagging a Thief
Standing beside his farm structures at roughly 10 a.m., Wise gave Marx and Wuebker a rundown of the suspect’s entrance and exit. “I pointed out where my property was stored because things were in separate buildings, and I’d tried not to touch a thing, because I wanted the sheriff to see the situation as I’d seen it.”

Sheriff Dan Marx, left, and Det. Chris Wuebker.

(Photos by Winneshiek County)

While showing Marx and Wuebker the boot prints and shed locations, Wise’s phone rang.

His wife, inside the house and staring out the bay windows, was calling. “She said, ‘Do you see it? There’s a tractor parked toward the end of our driveway. I can’t see anyone, but it’s parked out there.’”

At Wise’s physical distance, he neither had seen the tractor approach or heard the engine. As Wise relayed the surprise, Marx hustled to his truck and spun up the lane in hot pursuit.

“Sure enough, there was a John Deere sitting hundreds of yards away that hadn’t been there just minutes before,” Marx recalls. “The tractor was empty, but a window was busted out and there were footprints leading away. I couldn’t see anyone, but I kept driving.”

Turning onto the road, Marx saw a figure legging up the shoulder. “He wasn’t running, but he was moving, certainly trying to flee. I caught up behind him and he raised his hands and gave up.”

And the whodunnit suspect? Timothy Schmitt, braced with a rap sheet including firearms, drugs, and theft violations.

In detention, Schmitt recounted his tale to Wuebker, portraying himself as a stranded motorist who borrowed ag equipment to pull a vehicle out of ditch during extreme weather, and then returned the machinery.

Per the subsequent police report: Schmitt admitted that during the snowstorm he got his minivan stuck in the ditch about a mile away. Schmitt admitted that he took the zero-turn lawnmower to pull his stuck minivan out of the ditch, but got the lawnmower stuck in the driveway. He then went back to the machine shed and took the 4430 John Deere tractor to pull his minivan out of the ditch. Once Schmitt successfully had the van out of the ditch, the van remained stuck in the snow on the roadway. Schmitt then drove the tractor to a nearby friend’s house for a few hours. Upon attempting to bring the tractor back to the victim’s machine shed, Schmitt then put the tractor in a different ditch, breaking a window out of the cab. Schmitt proceeded to maneuver the tractor out of the ditch and made it about halfway down the driveway before realizing deputies were at the residence. Schmitt left the tractor and fled on foot.

Who ya gonna believe? Me or your lyin’ eyes?

Damning Tools
The tractor tire tracks told their own tale.

“First of all, in my opinion, drugs were either being taken or dealt, or both,” Wise says. “The tractor tracks led right from the minivan to my distant neighbor who has a documented meth history.”

“This wasn’t about getting a van unstuck,” says Wise. “There was much more going on, despite how this was portrayed by the media.”

(Photo courtesy of John Deere)

“At some point in the night, Schmitt got his minivan stuck. He walked to my place and stole the riding lawnmower to pull himself out? No. That’s not logical. That tells me either drugs or something else is at the root. We know he got the riding mower stuck, left it, and then stole the tractor to pull himself out.”

After extricating the minivan, Schmitt then drove the tractor to a third location approximately 4 miles to the home of Wise’s neighbor, where the vehicle remained for roughly five hours.

“The tracks led right to my neighbor with a prior for meth,” Wise says. “And I believe that’s the only reason the tractor was returned in the first place. At some point, I suspect my neighbor told Schmidt something like, ‘Get this tractor back where it belongs because I don’t want any trouble coming to my house.’”

The 4430 had visible external damage. The left side window was shattered and the front side shield dented. Wise was far more concerned with the internals. “That tractor had sat all winter, not plugged in, and now I’ll have to find out what kind of damage he did by running it with no warmup.”

While the tractor and tracks provided a roadmap of evidence, the tools were damning.

Either during the theft of the mower, or during the theft of the tractor, Schmitt entered a separate shed and stole an assortment of machine tools.

Per the police report: Upon further investigation Schmitt also admitted to stealing Milwaukee tools from an outbuilding. Deputies were able to recover the tools that were still in his minivan stuck in the snow on the roadway.

“It’s plain,” Wise says. “He helped himself to a bag of tools. He sure wasn’t bringing those back. The media’s story they ran with was an innocent guy who just made a couple of bad choices in a snowstorm. Nope. This guy is a thief and put my family in jeopardy.”

“Truth Got Flipped”
Timothy Schmitt was charged with a Class C felony for third degree burglary and an aggravated misdemeanor for operating a vehicle without owner’s consent.

However, Wise predicts the case will end with a revolving door.

“Here’s the problem, and it’s the same problem other communities in other states face. We’re lucky to have a great county sheriff and his deputies that are very diligent. They support rural people and protect us, and support us protecting ourselves. They catch the criminals and do their job. But when they turn those same criminals over to the court system, that’s where unreasonable leniency happens. There’s a slap on the wrist and the bad guys are right back on the street and right back to victimizing someone else. It ends up where the judicial system undermines the power of our local law enforcement.”

“And then to make things even worse, you have the media running headlines that make the sheriff’s office look they’re playing rough, make me look cruel, and make the thief look like an unfortunate bystander stuck in a storm,” Wise adds. “The truth got flipped.”

And the truth, Marx echoes, is found in Schmitt’s actions.

“First, in my opinion, this was never, never about a man down on his luck,” Marx notes. “It’s important to remember this guy stole several hundred dollars’ worth of Milwaukee tools that he had no intention of returning. Second, my opinion, also, is that the tractor wasn’t returned because doing so was the right thing. Third, Schmitt left that tractor damaged with a broken window and offered the farmer no explanation and no compensation, and he was more than willing to leave the farmer’s lawnmower completely buried in the snow and potentially damaged.”

“Bottom line,” Marx concludes, “if everything was innocent, he would have stuck around and made things right. My opinion is this was far, far from an innocent situation.”

Tolerance Ends
The theft of Wise’s property ended with tractor damage. However, Wise emphasizes, the next family may not be so fortunate. As in, things go sideways in a hurry when a criminal steals from a farmer under cover of darkness and passes within feet of the house and rooms where a wife and children sleep.

Schmitt was charged with a Class C felony for third degree burglary and an aggravated misdemeanor for operating a vehicle without owner’s consent.

(Photo by Winneshiek County)

“Don’t tell me this is about a stolen tractor or stuck van,” Wise says, in a measured, but firm tone. “I’ve got a young family and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them. We’re armed around here and we know how to handle a firearm. I’m not looking to shoot anyone dead, but if I’d have realized someone was prowling around where it’s my right and duty to keep my family safe, things would have ended very differently.”

“I can handle a lot of things and extend mercy. I hope the guy who did this gets help and straightens out his life,” Wise concludes. “But when my wife and kids are put any level of risk, my tolerance ends.”

For more from Chris Bennett (@ChrisBennettMS or cbennett@farmjournal.com or 662-592-1106), see:

When Conservation Backfires: Landowner Defeats Feds in Mindboggling Private Property Case

Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

How the Deep State Tried, and Failed, to Crush an American Farmer

Game of Horns: Iowa Poacher’s Antler Addiction Leads to Historic Bust

Ghost Cattle: $650M Ponzi Rocks Livestock Industry, Money Still Missing

Pete’s Picks of the Week: Red and Blue Oldies But Goodies

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:30:13 GMT

At an auction hosted by Joel’s Tractors and Auction in Strawberry Point, Iowa, a trio of tractors caught significant attention, including that of Machinery Pete. Here are the details on Pete’s “Pick of the Week,” which sold on March 5:

1975 International 1568 with 4,510 hours sold for $55,000 – the third-highest auction price ever for that model.
Ford TW-35 two-wheel drive with 5,000 hours sold for $33,500 - the second-highest auction price ever, and the highest since August of 2000.
Ford 8730 sold for $36,500, setting a new record.

That same day in Bloomville, Ohio, Walton Realty & Auction held a farm sale for Kenny Kalb. The event featured three tractors that landed in the top 10 all-time high category for their respective models:

1995 Case IH 7240 with 4,379 hours sold for $76,500
1991 Case IH 7110 2WD with 3,350 hours sold for $50,000
1970 Farmall 1026 sold for $25,500

Additionally, a 2009 Case IH 7088 combine with 3,017 engine hours sold for $82,500 — a record high for a 7088 with over 3,000 hours.

On March 7, in Delhi, Iowa, Hoge Auctioneering conducted the Sands Farm retirement sale. Several tractors brought noteworthy prices:

IH 1086 with 4,054 hours sold for $38,500 - the third-highest price for that model.
1973 IH 766 with a 414 motor sold for $18,900.
1953 Farmall Super M sold for $10,500.
1947 Farmall M sold for $4,200.
4366 IH four-wheel drive with 5,715 hours sold for $15,000.

That same Saturday in Murphysboro, Illinois,, Canning Auctions held its 42nd annual spring auction. A 2001 John Deere 9200 4WD with 3,260 hours sold for $102,000, making it the fifth-highest auction price ever and the highest price for that model in 12 years.

Auction Heat: Pete’s Picks Put Case IH Tractors in the Spotlight

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:45:52 GMT

The weather might have been typical for winter in Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, on Feb. 18, but a trio of Case IH tractors sold for atypical prices. Pete’s Pick of the Week comes from an auction hosted by Shackelton Auctions :

2012 Case IH Steiger 400 HD 4WD with 2,588 hours sold for $214,284, the second-highest auction price ever for that model.
2020 Case IH Magnum 220 CVT with 1,119 hours sold for $155,511, again the second-highest auction price ever for that model.
1974 IHC 1066 front-wheel assist with 4,200 hours sold for $37,782, the eighth-highest auction price.

On Feb. 24, Adam Marshall Land and Auction in Litchfield, Neb., sold a 2023 model Cornhusker 48’ grain trailer. Bidding stopped at $58,250, which Machinery Pete says is the third-highest auction price on any Cornhusker grain trailer. That same auction also sold a 2022 model Westfield MKX 1394 auger for $35,750. That price tag is the highest hard cash auction price Machinery Pete has ever seen on that auger.

Meanwhile, in Elora, Tenn., a Feb. 24 farm retirement auction featured:

John Deere 4455 MFWD with only 2,404 hours sold for $80,000, breaking into the top 20 all-time highest auction prices for the model. The auctioneer referred to the tractor as a “nice baby doll.”
John Deere 8R 410 with 1,454 hours sold for $320,000.
John Deere 8RX 370 with just over 1,200 hours brought $302,500.
John Deere 7760 cotton picker with 1,602 fan hours sold for $197,500.

The pressure in cotton country is evident at auction. About a year and a half ago, a pair of John Deere CP770 cotton pickers sold in Tunica, Miss., for around $700,000 each. On Feb. 5, in Jonestown, Miss., those same models sold for $597,000 and $598,000.

Nothing says used quite like finding an old dozer abandoned in the woods. That’s right, a group of friends found a 1957 Caterpillar D9 dozer in western New York that had sat for 24 years. Milton CAT got to work and the team was able to get it up and running again.

Now Could Be A ‘Powerful Time’ to Buy Late-Model Used Machinery

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:03:32 GMT

For many farmers, the current machinery market feels anything but stable. Yet according to Cory Nordhausen, vice president of sales for the western U.S. with AgDirect, this moment could actually provide a good opportunity for thoughtful buyers.

“I kind of feel like maybe we’ve reached a reset or a moment of stability in the equipment market,” he says.

Nordhausen isn’t suggesting that prices are low or that buying decisions are easy. Instead, he believes that the relationship between new and used equipment values, combined with evolving inventory levels, has created a window where strategic, well‑planned purchases could make sense.

From Shortage to the “Great Reset”

To understand where we are, Nordhausen says you have to look back at the challenges that started in 2020. It was an era defined by choked supply chains and empty dealer lots.

“Equipment was flying off the shelves. Dealership inventories became depleted, and just the lack of supply was there… you were still waiting on farm equipment for six, 12, 18 months in 2022,” he recalls.

As demand began to cool through 2023 and 2024, inventory began to build. However, Nordhausen believes the market has hit an equilibrium, particularly in the used segment. While it might feel like there is a surplus, the data tells a more nuanced story about high-quality, late-model iron.

“Stability is probably looking at just the value of used farm equipment in relationship to the price of new farm equipment,” Nordhausen explains. “What’s happened is a lot of that good one-to-three-year-old equipment that’s been in the auction space for the last couple of years, that’s come down significantly. I suppose you can look at planters, combines, tractors, and sprayers and say that there’s probably 40% less of that stuff in the auction space today.”

Are Prices Reaching A Bottom?

If the auction blocks are seeing 40% less late-model inventory, it suggests the “oversupply” phase is tightening. For farmers who have been waiting for used prices to bottom out, Nordhausen suggests that is in the process of happening now.

“We probably won’t see, unless something crazy happens, the price of used equipment going down much more,” he says. “Some of that good late-model, one-to-three-year-old equipment is starting to bring a little bit more money than it has. That’s simply due to supply and demand.”

Looking further down the road, the lack of new equipment sales in 2024 and 2025 has potentially created a “pipeline problem” for the future. If fewer new machines are sold today, he believes there could be a shortage of high-quality used machines two or three years from now.

Consider Labor Needs And Repair Costs

In this tight-margin environment, Nordhausen’s advice to farmers is to be thoughtful and strategic, as they focus on the big four items: tractors, combines, planters and sprayers. In the process of weighing whether now is the time to upgrade, he also encourages farmers to evaluate their labor needs and the cost of repairs.

“You have to look at, what piece of equipment are you going to buy that is going to bring the most efficiency to your farm? What’s going to save you the most time? What’s going to help you when you can’t get as much labor on your farm to run that equipment?” he asks.

Furthermore, he believes the “run it until it breaks” philosophy has some downsides.

“Repair bills are not going down. The price of parts is up. Shop rates in dealerships continue to increase year over year,” Nordhausen says. “One really has to find that balance of ‘how much money am I going to stick into that used piece of equipment on my farm’ versus when’s the time right to trade it.”

Financing as a Strategic Purchasing Lever

When margins are compressed, liquidity is king. It’s why Nordhausen says he views financing not just as a way to pay for a machine, but as a way to protect a farm’s balance sheet.

“You can amortize those payments out… and save some of that liquidity off your balance sheet so you can go use that in other places,” he says.

While the standard industry structure remains a five-year term with 20% down, Nordhausen would also encourage farmers to evaluate leasing.

“On the lease you have a large balloon on the end—we refer to it as a residual—and that lowers each annual payment... really allowing you to get that cost per hour, cost per acre down,” he says.

He acknowledges there is a trade-off, however: “There is a little bit of a penalty to pay, because you pay a little more interest because you’re carrying more principal. But if you’re purely looking at cash flow, that’s a very strategic way to get the payments lower.”

Weigh The Various Options With A Sharp Pencil

Nordhausen encourages farmers evaluate buying opportunities carefully, specifically when it comes to low-interest or 0% incentives.

“I think you’ve got to do the math, right? Just because you see 0% interest, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the best deal,” he cautions. “There’s probably a cost to you on the other side of it baked into the price.”

To counter this, he suggests farmers use tools like the AgDirect mobile app to calculate the “true cost” of buying down a rate. Armed with the math, he believes a farmer can have more negotiating power at the dealership.

“If you’re more interested in just a low cash price, you can offset that, saying, ‘I don’t need 0% interest. What’s your best cash money deal?’”

Another consideration – as dealerships become more cautious about taking in trades to manage their own inventories, more of the action is moving to auction platforms and private-party sales. Nordhausen notes that AgDirect has seen “huge momentum” in these channels over the last decade.

Looking Ahead: Plan Now for Tomorrow’s Needs

Nordhausen believes farmers should be thinking two to three years out about their equipment needs.

With fewer new units being sold now and late‑model used inventories tightening, he sees a real possibility of higher used prices if commodity markets would strengthen. “With the lack of used inventory that we built in ‘23, ‘24 and ‘25, there might be a higher demand. And what happens with demand—prices go up.”

His central message to farmers: use this “reset” period to upgrade strategically, align purchases with both efficiency gains and cash‑flow realities, and above all, he adds, do the math before you sign.

John Deere Unveils New High-HP 8-Series Tractors Alongside Key Planter and Combine Updates

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:36:15 GMT

John Deere is pushing its flagship 8 Series tractor into new territory, launching a ground‑up redesign that aims to give farmers 9 Series power in an 8 Series body — without sacrificing the maneuverability growers rely on for planting and row-crop work.

“We’re really excited to introduce this new line of 8R and 8RX tractors,” said Michael Porter, marketing manager during a media event at the company’s Austin, Texas, facility. “Our customers have been asking for a tractor that really fits this gap where we need the power of our 9 Series but still delivering the maneuverability and comfort of a row crop tractor.”

Bridging the Gap Between 8R and 9R
Until now, Deere’s 8R lineup topped out at 410 hp, with the 9 Series picking up from there. The new high‑horsepower 8R and 8RX models (444, 490 and 540, wheels and four‑track machines) slide in squarely between those platforms.

The goal: pull ever‑larger planters, high‑speed tillage tools and big manure tankers while still feeling like a row‑crop tractor.

“This needs to feel like an 8 Series,” Porter said. “It needs to turn super tight, feel nimble and not feel like a bigger tractor.”

JD14 Engine and ‘Punching Above Its Weight’
At the heart of the new tractors is the JD14 engine, borrowed from the 9 Series and dropped into an all-new 8-Series frame. Deere pairs that with an updated power strategy Porter says fundamentally changes how these tractors perform under load.

“We’re introducing what we call peak power IPM (Intelligent Power Management),” he said. “We’re taking our max engine horsepower and adding IPM to it to get an additional 40 horsepower on top of that which allows the 8R and 8RX 540 to max out at 634 hp under some conditions.”

Porter says the result is a machine that “punches outside of its weight class when it comes to power and performance, able to pull massive implements like DB90 planters, high-speed tillage tools
and large grain carts.

“This tractor has no problem pulling a 90‑foot high speed planter at 10‑plus mile an hour speeds,” Porter said, adding it can cover 1,200 acres a day under favorable conditions.

Off‑Board Electric Power at 56 Volts
Beyond raw horsepower, Deere is baking in electrical capability that ties tractor and planter more tightly together.

“This is also going to unlock our new [56V power] offboarding option,” Porter said of the Electronic Variable Transmission (EVT). “You’ll have one plug… that’ll power our electric row units straight from the tractor, really showcasing that ultimate planting solution.”

Instead of separate PTO or hydraulic power generators for modern electric planters, Deere’s vision is simple: plug the Deere planter into the Deere tractor and go.

Although the new 8R machines are visibly larger, Deere redesigned the frame, steering and ballast system around one non‑negotiable: “One thing we were not willing to sacrifice is the nimbleness and the feel of our row crop tractors,” Porter said. “We wanted it to turn like an 8 with the power of a 9.”

New John Deere Operator Experience
The new tractors are the first to receive Deere’s completely redesigned cab, CommandARMand drive controls, which will roll out across the 8 Series.

Highlights include:
· Push‑button start and a standardized left‑hand reverser
· A new seat with expanded adjustments, optional heating and massage, and ventilation
· Integrated wireless phone charger
· A new convenience display
· Simplified, highly configurable paddle switches and buttons on the CommandARM

Deere is also unifying drive controls into three new drive strategies (CommandX, CommandX Plus, and CommandX Pro). This suite allows operators to tailor their driving experience. Each level builds on the previous one unlocking additional features and customization to help meet each farmer’s needs.

To determine which new 8-Series tractor model will best fit your farming operation, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit deere.com.

New Planter Enhancements

John Deere is introducing several new planter enhancements – all designed to help farmers meet key agronomic success factors, including uniform emergence, uniform spacing, correct seed population and nutrient availability. Advancements in planter technology have been made in furrow application, furrow depth and residue management, uptime and logistics.

“Farmers look for agronomic success at planting as their entire season depends on it,” said Anthony Styczinski, marketing manager, planters and air seeders. “Increased input and seed costs demand we do everything we can to give the seed the best chance.”

Correct fertilizer application at the time the seed hits the ground is a part of the equation to give the seed the best possible start. Model year 2027 John Deere planters will have an option for a dual-product fertilizer system that allows operators to carry and apply product in-furrow and/or off to the side.

(John Deere)

Fertilizer Application Enhancements
Correct fertilizer application at the time the seed hits the ground is a part of the equation to give the seed the best possible start. Model year 2027 John Deere planters will have an option for a dual-product fertilizer system that allows operators to carry and apply product in-furrow and/or off to the side to give the corn plant the right nutrients at the right time of the growth stage, leading to higher corn yields.

The dual-product system includes both ExactShot and ExactRate. ExactShot is John Deere’s in-furrow application that delivers nutrients directly to the seed where they are used most efficiently. ExactShot saves up to 66% of in-furrow nutrient input. The second part of the dual system is ExactRate, which applies high-value fertilizer off to the side.

The combined system includes dual liquid tanks, and a dual set of stainless-steel fertilizer lines with pumps relocated under the tanks. Both liquid tanks have fertilizer-level sensing, making it easy for the operator to know how much product is available in each tank.

Another update is a new agitation system that keeps certain chemicals suspended and separated in the tank to ensure even product coverage. An auxiliary tank option enables the use of high-value micronutrients, biologicals, fungicides, and insecticides.

The dual fertilizer system is available from the factory on model year 2027 1775NT – 16/24R, and DB60 – 24R planters.

Furrow Optimization
“The importance of consistent seed depth and a clean furrow are critical to getting that seed off to the right start,” Styczinki said. “Studies show that uniform emergence can improve yield up to 20 bushels per acre, emphasizing the need to optimize the furrow as much as possible.”

New this year to John Deere planters is ExactDepth, an electric depth control that supports an in-cab on-the-go range of depth adjustments and individual row unit depth calibrations. ExactDepth also allows operators to optimize depth with prescriptions for each field and/or subfield zones.

Furrow residue has shown that one day of delayed corn emergence can reduce plant yield by 6%, on average. John Deere’s FurrowVision solution helps operators identify when residue is impacting the furrow, allowing them to manually optimize row cleaner settings. This system features three in-furrow cameras mounted on the planter that provide real-time sectional views of the furrow, as well as depth measurement readings, residue detection filter and additional quality map layers in the John Deere Operations Center.

Another new feature to improve furrow quality is Downforce Automation powered by FurrowVision, optimizing downforce settings and making it easier to create the best furrow in every field. Downforce Automation optimizes the amount of applied downforce by taking into consideration ground contact, soil resistance and furrow health as measured by FurrowVision.

Planting Logistics
Tight planting windows demand keeping the planter rolling as much as possible. Logistics is a new feature available through the John Deere Operations Center for those with the G5 Advanced license. Logistics provides real-time monitoring of equipment location, work status and product levels, keeping everyone on the farm informed and updated.

Combine and Front-End Equipment Updates

John Deere is making a wide range of updates and enhancements to its model year 2027 X9 and S7 combines and front-end equipment. Utilizing the latest in predictive and automated technologies, these new features promise to help farmers harvest under more diverse and dynamic crop conditions, utilize the automation across more crop types, and minimize the level of intervention required by the operator.

For model year 2027, Predictive Ground Speed Automation features Green Crop Detection. This new feature uses enhanced processing power and a highly trained algorithm to accurately detect green crops within an otherwise-mature stand. The result: The combine can adjusts its ground speed in response to a wider range of crop conditions, improving overall harvest efficiency.

(John Deere)

“These updates will enable our customers to achieve three critical goals: getting their crops out during tight harvest windows; helping less experienced operators perform better in the field; and achieving an efficient, high-quality harvest,” said Nathan Kramer, John Deere harvesting marketing manager.

The new model year 2027 combine features include:

Harvest Settings Automation updates
Harvest Settings Automation helps operators get into the field faster by automatically setting concave clearance, fan speed, rotor speed, sieve clearance and chaffer clearance, all based on the combine model, crop type and geolocation. After the operator inputs limits for grain loss, foreign material and broken grain, the system automatically adjusts the five combine settings to stay within the selected limits.

Harvest Settings Automation is currently available for corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, canola and rice. For model year 2027, Harvest Settings Automation will add lentils, peas, rye, triticale, oats and sunflowers to the list of crops from which producers can choose.

Predictive Ground Speed Automation updates
First offered for model year 2025, Predictive Ground Speed Automation controls the combine’s ground speed based on crop height and biomass measurements taken pre-harvest from satellite scans and from on-the-go measurements made by cab-mounted cameras.

Predictive Ground Speed Automation uses terrain maps to automatically adjust combine speed for sensitive areas like waterways, ditches, and terraces. Cab-mounted cameras add real-time detection of conditions such as down crops or dense weed patches, allowing precise ground speed regulation through these areas for optimal performance.

For model year 2027, Predictive Ground Speed Automation features Green Crop Detection, a new feature that uses enhanced processing power and a highly trained algorithm to accurately detect green crops within an otherwise-mature stand. Green Crop Detection allows Predictive Ground Speed Automation to adjust the combine’s ground speed in response to a wider range of crop conditions, improving overall harvest efficiency.

John Deere is also launching Precision Upgrade Combine Automation Packages allowing customers that purchased the Select Technology Package with a MY25 or newer S7 or X9 from the factory to upgrade to Premium or Ultimate Technology Packages. Farmers who purchased the Premium Technology Package from the factory now have the option to upgrade to the Ultimate Technology Package.

Other MY27 features include:
Tru-Threshconcaves with remote concave and separator grate adjustment. New half-length concaves allow modular installation, improved durability and are compatible with new model year 2027 X9 combines.

HarvestLab Install Ready. All model year 2027 X9 combines will feature factory pre-cut openings in the clean grain elevator suitable for HarvestLab mounting making installation easier.

JDLink Boost. Both X9 and S7 combines can come equipped with a JDLink Boost receiver from the factory providing satellite connectivity in areas with limited or no mobile connectivity.

Power folding ladder. All model year 2027 John Deere X9 and S7 combines will feature a new power folding ladder option similar to those available on select John Deere sprayers.

New 35’ (10.7m) unloading auger. The new unloading auger on the X9 offers an additional 4ft (1.22m) of clearance between the header and unloading auger, enabling the use of wider headers.

New 550-bushel grain tank capacity. The optional 550-bushel grain tank on the X9 allows for longer time between unloads, more capacity when opening fields, and includes heavy-duty final drives.

To learn more about the new John Deere planter options, combine enhancements and front-end equipment updates contact your local John Deere dealer or visit deere.com.

Could Your Future Tractor Run on Corn? John Deere Thinks So

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:38:14 GMT

As the ag economy searches for the next evolution of demand, Deanna Kovar says the future tractor might not just sip diesel, it could run on E98 ethanol grown by farmers themselves. In an exclusive interview with Farm Journal , Kovar said the tractor is still in trials and testing, but John Deere is debuting the E98 tractor, and engine, during Commodity Classic next week.

Kovar, president of the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, Production & Precision Ag for John Deere, says the company is actively testing an ethanol-powered tractor in Iowa and other locations. While diesel remains the dominant fuel across production agriculture, Deere engineers are exploring whether high-ethanol blends could offer a cleaner, farmer-driven alternative.

“We’re not just thinking about diesel,” Kovar says. “We’re also considering how might we fix this problem another way. And that’s an ethanol tractor.”

A Tractor Fueled by the Farm

With so much talk about E15 and what that would mean for added domestic corn demand, Deere is taking it a step further for farm equipment. The concept centers on E98, a fuel blend made up of roughly 98% ethanol (the remaining 2% is denaturant). Unlike traditional diesel engines, an E98-powered tractor would burn clean enough that it would not require diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to meet emissions standards.

That’s a notable shift in an era where emissions systems add cost, maintenance and complexity to modern equipment. But for Kovar, the opportunity goes well beyond simplifying aftertreatment systems.

“The idea that we could use E98 to run a tractor, it’s so clean you don’t need diesel exhaust fluid to run it,” she says. “It would allow a farmer to grow the fuel that they put in their tractor to grow next year’s crop.”

That means corn grown in the field could be processed into ethanol, then returned to the farm as fuel — creating a tighter, more circular production system while generating more demand for the crops farmers already grow.

From Concept to Cornfield

One of the farmers helping test that concept is Tim Burrack of Arlington, Iowa, who recently shared his experience on “AgriTalk”.

Burrack first heard about the ethanol tractor while traveling and speaking with Deere representatives.

“They were talking about this tractor they had built that ran on 100% ethanol — or actually 98%, because ethanol is denatured,” Burrack says. “And I said, ‘Well, I’d sure like to have that tractor on my farm.’”

Before fall harvest ended, Deere delivered.

For five days, Burrack put the prototype to work, four days on a grain cart and one on tillage. The tractor, which Burrack says looks like a traditional John Deere 8R, is rated at 350 HP. Burrack says Deere has built only a handful of the prototypes, with one reportedly operating in Brazil and another in Iowa this past fall.

“I’m really thankful I got to run it, and I’m extremely impressed by it,” he says.

Unlike today’s high-horsepower diesel machines, the E98 tractor uses a spark ignition engine, a major departure from the compression ignition systems farmers are accustomed to.

“If you can imagine this, though, having 350 horse using electronic ignition, we’re not used to that in agriculture anymore at that large scale,” Burrack says.

In the field, however, he says performance spoke for itself. Hooked to an 1,100-bushel grain cart, the tractor handled full loads during harvest without issue. On tillage, Burrack says it performed “really well.”

Fuel consumption, he notes, ran about 1.65 gallons of ethanol to equal the energy performance of one gallon of diesel, which is consistent with the lower energy density of ethanol compared to diesel fuel.

The prototype isn’t perfect. Burrack says cold-weather starting remains a challenge, and Deere engineers are still refining the system.

“They know the problems they’ve got to resolve,” he says. “But I think John Deere is committed to making this work.”

The Infrastructure Hurdle

Kovar emphasizes the biggest barrier to adoption isn’t necessarily the engine itself.

“I don’t think it’s the engine technology that limits how long,” she says. “I really think it is the infrastructure.”

For E98 to become viable at scale, the industry would need:

Reliable production and distribution channels
Fuel retailers equipped to handle high-ethanol blends
On-farm storage and dispensing systems
A coordinated effort from fuel companies and equipment manufacturers

“There is a ton of infrastructure that would need to follow to allow an E98-type fuel to flow and be on [the] farm,” Kovar says. “Are the fuel companies ready to deliver it to the farm? Do we have the on-farm ability?”

If that system were in place, she suggests, the technology could move more quickly. Without it, adoption becomes a longer-term play. Kovar wouldn’t give an exact timeline on how long it could be before it’s commercially available to farmers, but she says the technology in the equipment will more than likely be ready before the infrastructure to support it.

A Local Fuel Loop

Burrack emphasizes the close, convenient loop the idea creates.

“Just imagine, within 20 miles of my farm, I can grow the corn, take it to the ethanol plant, they’ll make the fuel and all the liquid fuels that I need will be made right here,” he says. “I think it’s a transformation of equipment. And John Deere needs some encouragement to keep moving, but it actually works.”

Diesel isn’t going away anytime soon. But as Deere continues testing, and farmers like Burrack put E98 prototypes through real-world paces, the idea of tractors powered by the very crops they harvest is moving from thought experiment to field trial, and possibly, one day, to a field near you.

Watch the complete interview with Kovak on YouTube.

Life After DEF: What Rolling Back The Endangerment Finding Means for Farmers

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:33:25 GMT

EPA’s repeal of the endangerment finding could be the largest deregulation in history, and it will have a huge impact on agriculture and the biofuels industry.

If the agency no longer determines greenhouse gases a danger to human health and welfare, it will relax federal emissions standards for cars and trucks. However, it also changes emissions regulations on farm equipment and could get rid of the requirement to use diesel exhaust fluid.

So what will life be like after DEF?

Farmers Happy to See DEF Die

Dalton Kenning, a farmer in Shelton, Neb., says: “Taking DEF off the table, it would kind of just simplify things a little bit more.”

He explains it doesn’t help the engines in tractors, combines or semitrucks run any better.

“I think that’s why you’ve seen a lot of producers go away from it, whether that’s deleting something or, you know, because that machine’s built to run more efficient than without it,” Kenning says.

What Does it Mean for Equipment Manufacturers?

For equipment manufacturers, it will require a change in engineering and design on engines — but it’s easier than meeting the stricter Tier 5 requirements.

Brandon Montgomery, senior brand marketing manager at Fendt North America, says they will be ready.

“We had Tier 3 engines with DEF and without DEF for countries that don’t have that as a requirement,” Montgomery says. “So, we have the knowledge base how to do it.”

However, he says, they and all OEM manufacturers must comply with current and future EPA emissions standards. His company released this statement:

Fendt and AGCO are closely monitoring ongoing regulatory discussions related to emissions requirements. While Fendt has experience designing engines to meet a wide range of global regulations, the company has made no decisions regarding changes to North American products or retrofit offerings. AGCO and its brands, including Fendt, will continue to build machines that comply with all appropriate regulations in the markets they serve.

The company has produced engines in the past that were compliant without DEF, but doing it for the U.S. market again would require:

Various engine and vehicle architecture changes
Revalidation of hardware, software, and emissions systems
Full regulatory approval

He says it’s not possible to simply remove DEF components and expect the machine to operate properly or remain compliant with whatever EPA sets as the latest standard.

Retrofit for Older Machines?

Some farmers avoided DEF by buying older, used equipment. There may be some now who try to convert newer machines back so they don’t have to use DEF. It takes more than just changing the software, as most modern emissions systems are considered integrated ecosystems built around software, hardware, sensors and aftertreatment components. Then there’s the added costs of reegineering, testing and getting new regulatory approvals.

Overall, Montgomery says it’s possible but there are a lot of factors to consider. Can the industry go back to equipment without DEF? Yes, but it’s not simple.

Will it Lower Fertilizer Prices?

The other possible upside is the impact it could have on nitrogen fertilizer prices, according to Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX.

“Obviously, a lot of nitrogen fertilizer is used to make this DEF product. The very, very long story short is, you do away with DEF, and that puts a lot of fertilizer back in the hands of the farmer who can go use that to grow our food,” he says.

He cautions that won’t happen overnight, but it could start to ease some of the supply and price pressure on nitrogen fertilizer products.

Linville says: “It’s not going to solve nitrogen. It’s very important to note that we will still ebb and flow with global pricing, but having more of that product not being put into this DEF marketplace means it’s more tons at home. It means we can disconnect longer. It means we don’t have to move to a premium quite as hard as what we normally would as we start moving in the spring.”

And more supply is a good thing.

Exclusive: In the Eye of the Cycle, John Deere Charts a Path Through Ag’s Slump

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:36:50 GMT

After months of workforce reductions and sliding equipment sales, John Deere is reversing course, announcing it will bring 140 employees back to its Waterloo, Iowa, operations as demand ticks higher for its 8R and 9R tractors.

The recall comes even as Deere forecasts the North American ag equipment market will decline another 15% to 20% in 2026, underscoring the push-and-pull shaping today’s farm economy. Large equipment sales remain under pressure from lower commodity prices and tighter margins, yet pockets of global demand are forcing Deere to recalibrate production in real time.

In an exclusive interview with Farm Journal this week, Deere & Company President Deanna Kovar laid out how the company is navigating that tension: tightening its long-standing build-for-retail manufacturing model, adjusting output month to month and working to protect farmers’ equipment equity during a downturn.

At the same time, Deere is attacking costs where it can, reducing prices on 187,000 parts over the past two years and preparing to roll out a new lower-priced tier of replacement parts later this summer. The company is also testing a tractor powered by E-98 ethanol, technology that could eventually eliminate the need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) altogether while driving even more demand for the crops farmers already grow.

For Kovar, who grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm before spending 26 years rising through Deere’s ranks, the stakes are personal. Now, just months into her role leading Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, she is steering the company through one of the sharpest equipment pullbacks in recent memory, while positioning it for what comes next.

A Cyclical Business in a Prolonged Downturn

The ag equipment cycle has clearly turned. Industry data show steep drops in large equipment sales, and Deere’s internal outlook aligns with the broader trend.

“Deere is 188 years old, so we know we’re part of a cyclical business of ag equipment, but definitely we’re seeing similar numbers. Our expectations that we shared in our last quarterly earnings was that the North American equipment market would be down 15% to 20% again in 2026. We recognize the ag economy is in a tough spot at the moment, and we’re working hard to make sure we can help farmers become more productive and more profitable through using our equipment and technology solutions, but it’s tough out there.”

She says the Association of Equipment Manufacturers figures for 2025, which show sales of 4WD tractors fell nearly 42% and combine sales are down 36%, align with what Deere is seeing.

The significant slump in sales doesn’t come as a surprise to row crop farmers who’ve seen several consecutive years of declining net farm income following a record high in 2022. USDA’s first official forecast for 2026 suggests continued pressure and another year of declining net farm income, with not much relief on input prices and stagnant commodity prices. Kovar says Deere understands the financial strains producers are seeing.

“Overall, the outlook for 2026 is that farmers are going to continue to be under pressure from a commodity price standpoint,” she says. “We’re certainly seeing input costs somewhat flatten for producers, and, of course, many producers are grateful for the government payments that will help them start 2026 maybe in a better place than they would have without it. Certainly great yields last fall were a good positive thing for producers, but it’s still putting a lot of pressure on commodity prices today.”

For Deere, that pressure translates directly into lower equipment demand and tough decisions inside its factories.

Manufacturing Adjustments: Building for Retail in Real Time

Over the past year, Deere announced workforce reductions across multiple Midwestern facilities. Since 2024, it’s reported John Deere laid off over 2,000 employees in the U.S., with those jobs primarily located in Iowa and Illinois. Recently, it reversed course in a couple locations, announcing it would bring some of those employees back.

Back in January, Deere also announced it was returning 99 workers to the job in Iowa, impacting both its Davenport Works and Dubuque facilities. But Deere said this week it’s also bringing back jobs at its Waterloo facility.

“We’re constantly evaluating what we think the market will be. And it’s not an annual thing. It’s a month to month, a quarter-to-quarter opportunity. And yes, we just announced 140 workers to come back to our Waterloo operations. This is the operations where we make the drive trains for 8R tractors, where we pour the castings for the new high horsepower 9R tractors, where engines are made, and where we put tractors final assembly together. So we’re always happy when we can bring workers back into our factory. And it’s because we’re starting to see a little tick up in demand for those tractors,” she says.

Kovar says it’s not necessarily just a North American phenomenon. The uptick in demand is coming globally.

“We are seeing some signs that there could be some opportunities, but much of this is going to be iterative over time. It won’t be from a very low point to a very high point. We expect over time that we can start to see things normal,” she adds.

Kovar emphasizes Deere’s long-standing “build-for-retail” philosophy, avoiding overproduction that would flood dealer lots and depress used values.

“We’ve been in business for 188 years, so we’re always making sure that we’re being as efficient and effective as we can at building the quality products that farmers come to rely on. So we’re all always adjusting how we manufacture, how we make sure we have the quality checks and the automation to make sure we’re making every tractor as good as we can,” says Kovar.

She says the company is also working to forecast demand expectations and where that additional demand could surface. But she says for the past 25 years, the company has been focused on a build-to-order mentality, especially in the larger ag equipment space.

“We are a build for retail mentality,” says Kovar. “We don’t want to build it unless somebody wants it. So this has been something we’ve been working on for 20 years, and we will continue to be focused on really understanding the demand in the market and making sure we’re setting up schedules and plans to build for that amount.”

Equipment Prices: It’s About the Trade Differential

Few issues generate more coffee-shop debate than equipment prices. Farmers have seen machinery values dramatically climb over the past five years. Kovar points out that looking at sticker price alone misses the bigger financial picture.

“We’re always looking at making sure we’re delivering value for farmers when they buy our equipment, when they buy our technology,” Kovar says. “When we think about the price of equipment it’s really important we understand that farmers, when they buy a new piece of equipment, it’s really about the trade differential from the product they’re trading in to the one they’re buying, and if we were to lower the price of equipment, it would lower the trade-in value of their used equipment as well. We’re always very mindful of the equity farmers have in their equipment fleet and the fact it’s a huge part of their balance sheet.”

Not only does Deere need to be careful that changes don’t impact the trade differential, but she says the company is also focused on making sure there’s a balance between products being affordable and creating the value farmers expect.

That balance, of affordability versus protecting used values, according to Kovar, shapes Deere’s pricing philosophy in a down cycle.

Lowering the Cost of Technology and Parts

While base machine pricing remains complex, Deere is targeting affordability in other ways. The first, she says, is on the technology side, and lowering the upfront cost.

“We’re lowering the barrier to entry to amazing technologies like ExactShot fertilizer systems, See & Spray sprayer systems and a combine automation system so that more farmers can afford to get into the technology. These technologies are saving inputs, ensuring we’re getting all of the grain out of the field and increasing yields. That strategy to lower the upfront cost of those technologies, and help the customer pay for it as they get the value from it, is a huge step forward in allowing affordability of the technology.”

On repairs and parts, she points to self-service tools and direct price reductions. She says the company is constantly looking at the cost of parts for their equipment.

“Over the last two years, we’ve reduced the price on over 187,000 part numbers in the John Deere system. Later this summer, we’re going to be announcing a new tier of parts from John Deare that will allow us to give customers choice when they buy parts from us as to whether they want the traditional OEM, that likely has a longer life, or if they want to look at a lower cost option,” Kovar says.

Deciding between the two parts tiers depends on:

How much a farmer uses the machine
Equipment age
How long a farmer intends to keep that piece of equipment

Retrofit Kits: Precision Without the New Iron Price Tag

As new equipment sales slow and more farmers turn to the used market, Deere sees retrofit technology as a critical bridge, allowing producers to upgrade performance without taking on the cost of a brand-new machine.

Kovar says retrofit kits are designed to separate technology adoption from iron replacement.

“I think the beauty of retrofit kits is you don’t have to buy a brand new piece of equipment to get brand new technologies. Just last year we launched what we call our precision ag essentials kit, which is the foundation of our technology stack. It’s where farmers start to go from no precision to a more precision mentality, and this ability allows them to put a John Deere GPS receiver, a display and a modem on any piece of equipment, Deere or non Deere,” Kovar says.

The strategy fits squarely into Deere’s broader push to lower the barrier to entry for precision ag. By allowing a GPS receiver, display and modem to be installed on any brand of older equipment, the company is effectively expanding the addressable market for advanced automation and data tools.

“We’re seeing people put these kits on 20-year-old tractors and then being able to do things like AutoTrac, AutoPath and turn automation, section control, the things that can save 10% of inputs and make sure your stand is better in the spring and your weeds are deader during the season,” Kovar says. “This is a huge opportunity for every farmer to get more into precision. Once you get into that base of the technology stack, the sky’s the limit to be able to go to other products like ExactEmerge or See and Spray — these technologies that really drive savings to the bottom line for farmers.”

In a downturn defined by lower commodity prices and cautious equipment purchases, Deere is betting the future of precision ag won’t be limited to the newest machines on the lot, but will increasingly ride on tractors that have already been in the field for decades.

Right to Repair, EPA and DEF: Seeking Clarity

Right-to-repair and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) rules have been flash points between manufacturers and producers with two major announcements from EPA.

In early February 2026, EPA made a right-to-repair guidance announcement guidance and actions supporting the right to repair for farmers and equipment owners, specifically addressing issues with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) systems and emission controls. The guidance clarifies the Clean Air Act allows for temporary overrides of emission systems during repairs, prohibits manufacturers from restricting access to tools or software, and enables repairs in the field.

The following day, EPA announced the agency is demanding detailed failure data from major diesel engine manufacturers as it considers additional rules aimed at reducing DEF-related shutdowns and derates that have plagued farmers, truckers and equipment operators for years.

“I think if you step back and think about what EPA’s done over about the last nine months, there’s been two important messages. One was last summer when they gave voluntary guidance that said we should extend the time from when a customer might have an issue with their DEF systems and not cause them to go into an inducement or a derate within two hours, which was the original rule. We’re very glad EPA has come out and said we can extend that time to give farmers more time to maybe finish the field, finish the day before they have to execute a derate or go through a regen on their DEF,” Kovar says.

She calls it a huge opportunity for Deere and one to which the company is already responding.

“We’re in the process of making sure we can extent that time on all the equipment we’re producing. We’ll do that over the coming months and years to help make sure we’re extending that time and not putting people in jeopardy of having a shutdown opportunity,” Kovar says.

On off-road right-to-repair clarity, Kovar says EPA’s right-to-repair guidance announced in February directly responds to a formal request the company made to the agency in June 2025 .

“[EPS] had already shared that on-road equipment didn’t have to go to the original equipment manufacturer or an authorized repair shop to turn your tractor or your truck back on after you had a deratement issue. We said, ‘Hey, we have tools that a farmer can do this on their own, but the way we read your rules, we believe we need you to tell us it’s OK.’ We’re grateful that last week EPA came out and said, yes, it is OK for off-road equipment for farmers to fix their own issues. We’re in the process of making sure John Deere Operations Center ProService, which is our self-repair tool any farmer can access, by early March, mid-March, we want to have the ability for a farmer to, if they run into a deratement issue on their tractor or combine or whatever, use Operation Center Pro Service to get their tractors back up.”

If DEF Goes Away, It’s Not a Quick Switch

With political discussions swirling around eliminating certain environmental regulations, and President Trump specifically stating he wants to see those regulations removed on equipment , some farmers wonder whether equipment could quickly be built without DEF systems.

When Trump was in a roundtable with farmers in December, he claimed removing those requirements on equipment would prevent breakdowns and make equipment cheaper. During the one-on-one interview with Kovar, Farm Journal asked if removing DEF on equipment would bring down prices.

“We have to really understand what they mean and how they want to go about it before we can really answer, does it make equipment cheaper? I think we’ve spent 15 years perfecting the system we have today, so we’ll have to continue to understand how far back do we think we’re going to go, how long would it take us, because we don’t have all of the technologies that don’t have DEF today,” Kovar explains. “If it were called tomorrow, we couldn’t start building tractors without it the next day.”

Removing DEF is not as simple as flipping a switch on the assembly line. Instead, she says Deere is focused on making sure farmers have the ability to repair their own equipment if it would go into derate. She thinks that’s a huge step forward in solving some of the issues that farmers have had with DEF.

Deere Tests an E-98 Ethanol Tractor

Even as debate continues in Washington over DEF requirements, Deere is exploring a future that could bypass the issue entirely.

While the company says it remains engaged with EPA on next steps surrounding DEF and emissions policy, Deere is also investing in an alternative fuel platform, an ethanol-powered tractor designed to run on E-98. The tractor will debut at Commodity Classic in two weeks.

“We’re not just thinking also about diesel, right, we also considering how might we fix this problem another way. And that’s an ethanol tractor we’ve been using across Iowa and other places. It’s early for us, but the idea that we could use E-98 to run a tractor, it’s so clean you don’t need diesel exhaust fluid to run it. We’re early in trying to pioneer what is an alternative to diesel that would allow a farmer to grow the fuel they put in their tractor to grow next year’s crop. It’s something we think we need to continue to talk about. There is a ton of infrastructure that would need to follow to allow an E-98-type fuel to flow and be on farm, but we think it’s an opportunity in the long run to help agriculture grow the fuel they use to grow the food we all eat.”

Deere confirms the early results are promising.

According to Deere, the limiting factor isn’t the engine technology itself, it’s the infrastructure needed to support it.

“Do we have the fuels available? Do we have the on-farm ability? Are the fuel companies ready to deliver it to the farm? At this point, there is a much bigger system challenge that will have to work,” Kovar says.

Advocating for Demand: Ethanol, Exports and E-15

Turning the ag economy around, in Kovar’s view, is about demand, both domestic and global. Not only is Deere working on equipment that could run with higher blends of ethanol, but Deere is also advocating for more demand.

“Certainly, we’re focused on helping farmers grow more with less. At the same time, we’re focused on helping to make sure there are markets for the crops our producers sell. We certainly spend a lot of time advocating for agriculture and for producers to have access to markets. We’re grateful for all of the trade deals that have happened here recently. We’re hopeful they start to materialize, and we see more and more grains flowing outside of the U.S. in exports. We also know we’ve got a huge opportunity here in the U.S. to drive ethanol and renewable fuels,” Kovar says. “We’re focused on making sure we’re using our voice at Deere to advocate for agriculture to not only feed the world, but fuel it. It starts with E-15, which we are hopeful we can get across the finish line at some point very soon. But it can’t end there. We have to continue to advocate for renewable diesels and an ethanol future, so we have to make sure farmers can sell their grains at a price that’s profitable, and it’s all about creating demand.”

The Next Five Years: From Data Collection to Real-Time Decisions

For Deere, which sees itself as a technology company, Kovar says she also sees Deere as a smart industrial company. With a focus on technology, she thinks the future isn’t about a single breakthrough machine, but rather about what happens behind the scenes in the data.

When asked what the biggest shift will be over the next five years, Kovar points to the evolution of information rooted in data.

“I think if you look back over those 25 years of technology, data has been such an important part of it. It started with yield maps, yield monitoring and binders on a shelf and has evolved over time to a cloud-based system. Everything’s connected. With Deere, it’s about John Deere Operation Center and how farmers can leverage that data, share it with partners, with their seed dealer, with their ag retailer, with the banker and with their landlords and have this really cohesive opportunity to bring all of the data they have in agriculture into one place,” Kovar says.

Personally, she sees the next step involving Deere helping farmers move beyond timely insights to timely decision-making.

“How do we help [farmers] get insights, timely information, that helps them make the best decision they can make in that moment on their unique piece of land in the middle of wherever they are farming and really give them confidence the data can help them drive to even better decisions,” she adds. “If we’re going to help them be more productive and be more profitable, it really starts with all the decisions they make. I think this next three to five years is a huge opportunity for us to make sure we are connecting all of their data in one place and helping them make really important decisions in real time that help them become more.”

Instead of one sweeping, industry-altering change, Kovar sees steady gains driven by machine learning, automation and in-the-moment decision-making, sometimes by the operator and sometimes by the equipment itself.

“I think that’s a huge part of the next three to five years, and those decisions happen because they’ve consciously made them or the machines are making them. If you think about See and Spray, it is deciding whether that’s a weed or a plant and only spraying the weed to save 50% to 60% of the herbicides,” Kovar says. “Those kind of in-the-moment decisions are a huge opportunity over the next 3 to 5 years as computer vision and machine learning compute and all of these things continue to accelerate at a pace that is very hard to keep up with.”

For Deere, the future isn’t just bigger iron or even more automation, it’s about connecting every data point on the farm and turning it into actionable insight, fast enough to matter in the field.

Watch the full interview here:

More DEF Relief? EPA Takes New Action for Farmers and Truckers

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:14:37 GMT

On the heels of clarifying farmers’ right to repair their own equipment, EPA is escalating pressure on diesel engine manufacturers over ongoing Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system failures the administration claims continue to sideline farm machinery and trucks.

On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is demanding detailed failure data from major diesel engine manufacturers as it considers additional rules aimed at reducing DEF-related shutdowns and derates that have plagued farmers, truckers and equipment operators for years.

The move builds directly on Monday’s EPA right-to-repair guidance announcement that clarified the Clean Air Act does not prohibit farmers from fixing their own non-road diesel equipment, which includes making temporary emissions overrides when necessary to complete repairs.

“As I traveled to all 50 states during my first year as EPA administrator, I heard from truck drivers, farmers and many others rightly complaining about DEF and pleading for a fix,” Zeldin said in a statement on Tuesday. “EPA understands this is a massive issue, which is why we have already established commonsense guidance for manufacturers to update DEF systems.

“Today, we are furthering that work and demanding detailed data to hold manufacturers accountable for the continued system failures,” he added.

While neither announcement fully rolls back DEF requirements on tractors, a step many farmers and truckers continue to push for, both signal movement in that direction.

With today’s news in the mix, here’s what farmers and truckers need to know:

1. Increased Operational Up-Time.

The most immediate benefit is the reduction of “forced downtime.” Under the clarified guidance announced on Feb. 2, farmers can now perform temporary emissions overrides to complete essential work, such as planting or harvesting, even if a DEF failure occurs. The extension of warning periods — specifically the 36-hour window for non-road equipment before a derate kicks in — provides a buffer to finish a job before seeking repairs.

2. Legal Empowerment for Repairs.

EPA has explicitly stated the Clean Air Act cannot be used by manufacturers as a shield to prevent farmers from fixing your own equipment. This clarification removes a major legal hurdle in the right-to-repair movement, potentially lowering repair costs by allowing farmers and independent mechanics to access the tools and software needed to address DEF-related faults.

3. Manufacturer Accountability.

Under Section 208(a) of the Clean Air Act, EPA is demanding warranty and failure data for Model Year 2016, 2019 and 2023 engines from 14 major on-road and non-road diesel manufacturers (covering 80% of the market). That shifts the burden of DEF reliability from the end-user to the manufacturer. EPA says the information will help determine whether persistent DEF problems are tied to specific product generations, system designs or materials, and will inform further regulatory steps in 2026. Manufacturers have 30 days to comply or face potential enforcement actions.

4. Impact on Machinery Values.

Auction data suggests farmers are already voting with their checkbooks. According to Machinery Pete , demand and values remain strongest for pre-DEF used equipment, while interest in DEF-equipped machinery has softened.

If these EPA actions lead to more reliable DEF systems or easier repairs, the high demand (and inflated prices) for older, less efficient equipment might eventually stabilize as newer models become less of a liability in the field.

5. More Changes are Coming.

When asked why EPA has not eliminated DEF requirements entirely,Zeldin said the agency said it is actively building on last summer’s guidance and actively moving toward “common-sense” adjustments that prioritize productivity alongside emissions standards.

EPA’s demand for warranty and failure data follows DEF guidance issued in August 2025 that significantly softened inducement rules. That guidance delayed severe derates, reduced sudden shutdowns and required manufacturers to update software so operators could continue safely working while addressing faults.

For heavy-duty trucks, warning periods were extended to up to 650 miles or 10 hours before derates begin, with weeks of normal operation allowed before speed is limited. Non-road equipment now sees no impact for the first 36 hours after a DEF fault.

EPA has also said that starting with Model Year 2027, new diesel trucks must be engineered to avoid sudden and severe power loss after running out of DEF.

New Holland Expands T7 Series With Three Redesigned Models

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:47:11 GMT

Multiple transmission options, technology solutions and comfort elements headline New Holland’s redesigned T7 Standard Wheelbase (SWB) tractor, which includes three model options (T7.190, T7.210 and T7.225). A new front axle design cuts the turning radius by 20% versus previous T7 Series models and contributes to a smoother ride.

While the new T7 SWB maintains the same wheelbase as other T7 Series models, the tractor weight has been increased to 16,000 lb. and the payload up to 11,000 lb. The added weight and payload capacity improves the tractor’s stability when handling heavy implements or full loader buckets.

Under the Redesigned Hood

The 6.7-liter engine features a 750-hour service interval tuned for maximum power at a low engine speed of 1,500 rpm to reduce fuel consumption and noise. The Engine Power Management-boosted horsepower delivers 22% to 25% extra power when used underload.

When it comes to transmission options, producers can choose a 24x24 Dynamic Command dual-clutch transmission or 3x1-range Auto Command CVT. The Dynamic Command’s break-to-clutch function simplifies frequent stop-and-go tasks such as loader work and baling.

Comfort Elements

A redesigned cab suspension system is available in mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic configurations. The tractor’s upgraded Horizon cab offers improved climate control, a quieter working environment and intuitive controls.

The cab size remains unchanged, but in-cab visibility has been improved in every direction thanks to slimmer corner cab posts, a redesigned hood that improves forward visibility by up to 4.5 feet and an optional panoramic high-visibility roof panel.

Including pressure release levers and an organized layout for hydraulic, electrical and pneumatic connections helps with implement hookup. Steps and handrails are fully integrated into the fuel tank to improve ease of entry.

Technology Solutions

The cab features the latest New Holland user interface and next-generation IntelliView 12 touchscreen display. A new operator interface on the SideWinder armrest allows farmers to specify the controls that suit their requirements.