John Deere expands options for adding precision technology

John Deere has unveiled a precision ag hardware kit — Precision Essentials — that is says will reduce upfront costs, making advanced precision agriculture technologies accessible to farmers, growers and ranchers, regardless of the farm size, crop or livestock focus.

The new kit includes the following hardware:

• G5 or G5Plus universal display.

• StarFire 7500 receiver.

• JDLink M or R modem.

The Precision Essentials kit not only allows for machine automation to be executed with the latest John Deere hardware and software but also provides customers the opportunity to manage their entire farm in one place with the John Deere Operations Center, according to a news release. Farmers can now retrofit legacy John Deere equipment and mixed fleets with the necessary technology to accomplish gains in productivity from insights into their operation, making it easier to manage their farms, the company says.

The Precision Essentials kit is a good solution for farmers, growers and ranchers who have multiple brands of equipment, according to John Deere.(Photo courtesy of John Deere)

″Today’s agricultural landscape is rapidly evolving with increasing pressures to boost yields, reduce input costs and adopt sustainable farming practices,″ said Christopher Murray, John Deere go-to-market manager for embedded technology. ″The Precision Essentials kit is designed to help all types of farmers, growers and ranchers address these challenges head-on with a low upfront cost that provides financial flexibility and the opportunity to recognize the benefits immediately from enhanced operational efficiency.″

The Precision Essentials kit requires an annual license with four different licensing options available:

• AutoTrac license — 2 years.

• Precision Essentials license — 1 year.

• Precision Essentials license + SF-RTK — 1 year.

• Advanced license — 1 year.

After one year, customers have the flexibility to renew one of the four options above by adding the latest version(s) of the available annual license option for the Precision Essentials kit, the release said.

″The licensing options provide customers the choice to use the technology most applicable to the work they do on their farm or ranch,″ Murray said. ″The options also provide customers newer to precision ag technology the opportunity to try a technology and then expand as it fits their farm.″

Benefits span operation types

John Deere says the benefits of the new Precision Essentials kit depend on the type of operation being managed. For example, row crop farmers will benefit by using the G5 family of displays and StarFire 7500 receiver to help boost in-field productivity by maximizing every pass and allowing them to make data-driven decisions within the John Deere Operations Center, the release said. The company says the precise guidance and variable rate technology helps farmers apply inputs more accurately, helping prevent overapplication and reducing the risk of nutrient runoff, thereby protecting their investment and the environment.

High-value or specialty crop growers, managers and operators will find value in the precise guidance and data accuracy provided by the G5 family of displays and StarFire 7500 receiver, according to John Deere. These tools help specialty crop farmers achieve optimal plant spacing, uniform growth and timely harvesting, everything that’s critical for maximizing crop quality and market value, the release said. The displays and receiver also enable accurate application of inputs such as fertilizers, water and pesticides, reducing input waste and ensuring crops receive the exact nutrients they need while minimizing environmental impact, the company says.

″Customers of all sectors can start with this Precision Essentials kit and, as their needs expand or diversify, they seamlessly integrate with more advanced precision ag technologies,″ Murray said. ″This scalability ensures the initial investment continues to provide value, supporting long-term goals such as expanding acreage, enhancing crop diversity or integrating advanced systems.″

The Precision Essentials kit is an ideal solution for farmers, growers and ranchers who have multiple brands of equipment, the release said.