(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
AI and other technology tools are quickly making their way into the agricultural industry, helping both farmers and the companies that support them increase productivity and quality. Below are some examples. If you’re running a smaller firm, just know this: you can also develop similar AI applications affordably. Of you can use these.
John Deere’s AI JD Assistant For Farmers
Introduced in September 2026, the artificial intelligence assistant is built into John Deere’s Operations Center, and allows farmers to have a conversation with the vast amount of machine and operational data they generate to improve yields and strengthen farm profitability through AI. Rather than combing through layers of reports, farmers can ask JD questions like, “Which sprayer is covering the most acreage per hour?” or “What is the best time to harvest based on historical trends?” Farmers enroll into John Deere’s Operations Center that collects their data, and can use the assistant at no cost.
“Farmers have more data available to them than ever before, but the value comes from their ability to use it in the moments that matter,” Jahmy Hindman, Chief Technology Officer at John Deere told the Wall Street Journal. “JD changes the experience from navigating through a sea of data to simply asking it a question. It puts advanced data analysis within reach by enabling farmers to receive answers tailored to their farm and their needs in a matter of seconds.”
visorPro’s Vi AI Assistant For Equipment Dealerships.
An AI-powered knowledge assistant, Vi is designed for agricultural and heavy-equipment dealerships. It pulls information from equipment manuals, precious work orders, technical documents and a dealership’s own internal knowledge into a searchable system, allowing technicians to ask questions and quickly access diagnostic and repair guidance. According to the company, their tech is being used at more than 125 dealerships globally. The company also launched their Dealer Knowledge Portal in September 2026, which is a new feature that allows dealers to upload their own internal resources into Vi. The feature helps teams diagnose equipment issues faster and identify the right parts, improving quoting accuracy while boosting aftermarket productivity and profitability.
One customer says that these tools give “fast access to accurate information which is critical to our dealership operation.” He also predicts that the application will help their team “spend less time hunting for information and more time on productive, billable work by putting trusted service knowledge in one place.”
United Ag & Turf’s MADE For Monitoring Equipment
MADE, an acronym for Monitor, Analyze, Decide, Execute, monitors data from more than 14,000 connected machines supported by its locations. According to the company, specialists can access information such as engine load, hydraulic pressure and diagnostic trouble codes. They can also remotely view an operator’s in-cab display and, in some circumstances, deliver software updates without sending a technician to the farm.
“Instead of waiting for a call that something broke, we’re watching the data in real time,” explains Andrew Sullivan, technical support manager for UAT. “That lets us step in before downtime happens, and that changes everything for the customer.”
Stotz Equipment’s Internal ChatGPT
Similar to ChatGPT, StotzGPT is connected to the company’s internal documents. Employees across their 24 locations use it as a conversational directory to quickly answer day-to-day operational questions, and is used for data analytics.
“We partnered with a company called Mainstreet AI, and they just helped guide us in our business and try to give us some safe AI tools,” said Layne Richins, the company’s CTO. “And it was our own ChatGPT that we allowed everyone access to, and we connected it to all of our internal documents. So, it had business knowledge about Stotz Equipment so people could then start chatting in there and asking questions.”
RDO Equipment’s Autonomous Tractors
RDO’s autonomous tractors — in partnership with John Deere — prepares soil while farmers remotely monitor the work through a phone or tablet. Farmers first develop a work plan then the tractor uses GPS, cameras, sensors and AI to navigate the field, make turns and pull the tillage implement along the prescribed route. If the system detects an obstacle or unsafe condition, it can stop and alert the farmer.
For Tyler Zima, RDO’s Tillage Technology Product Manager, the objective is the nbetter use of employee time.
“That’s the whole point of autonomy,” he said. “If I’m not in the cab, what else am I doing? Am I tendering the cedar in another field? Did I run back to the garage to help fix something? Was I able to unload a couple of trucks or move a guy to another field? Whatever it is, it’s adding value.”
AgZen RealCoverage Spray Technologies
Spraying company AgZen says that it has taken its products to a new level, thanks to AI.
“For eight decades, crop protection has run largely on guesswork, with no reliable way to measure how much of an application actually reached the plant,” said Vishnu Jayaprakash, the company’s CEO. “We are taking off that blindfold.”
The company’s AI-powered precision spray technology uses high-speed cameras that track droplets as small as 150 microns. The system provides real-time feedback for speed adjustments, droplet size and other data giving sprayers clear insights into their crop conditions and where and how much product should be sprayed. The company calls it “the first and only system that measures and controls droplet on every leaf.”
SmartScript Weeds Drone-Based Spraying
Called Sentera SmartScript, the company has developed a drone-based precision spraying service that flies over a field and captures high-resolution imagery. Sentera’s AI then analyzes those images to detect, classify and map weeds. It then produces a field-specific spray prescription that tells compatible precision sprayers where herbicide should and shouldn’t be applied. Sentera says prescriptions can be delivered within 24 hours of the drone flight.
Zielgler Ag Equipment’s AI-Powered Help Desk
The company uses an AI-powered help desk system built by Brilliant Harvest Inc. to connect information scattered across its dealership systems, such as equipment manuals, parts information, dealer-management systems and internal knowledge, and creates an AI layer employees can query to get answers quickly. The objective is to reduce time spent by employees looking for information and provide faster answers for the customer. So far, so good.
“We selected Brilliant Harvest because of their proven track record, uncompromising commitment to quality, and capability to execute at scale,” said William M. Hoeft, President of Ziegler Companies. “This partnership ensures we remain at the forefront of our market.”
GPS Support from PTx Trimble
Butler Ag Equipment, a subsidiary of equipment manufacturer Butler Machinery, uses PTx Trimble, which combines GPS positioning, sensors, displays and automated controls to help their customers operate their equipment more precisely. Its technology can automatically steer machinery along predetermined paths, control where seed, fertilizer or chemicals are applied and collect field and equipment data as work is performed. Because many of PTx Trimble systems can be installed on machinery from different manufacturers, farmers can use the technology across mixed fleets rather than being limited to a single equipment brand.
Eric Hansotia, AGCO Chairman, President and CEO says that PTx Trimble will provide farmers “greater access to next-generation precision ag tools, no matter what brands of tractors and implements they operate.”
