By Samantha Shackelford, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Intern
The autonomous tractor is a sight to see. Michael Brannon with Ag Technologies in Cordele, Georgia came to the Sunbelt Ag Expo to demonstrate the technology.
Today in the field they demonstrated the Sabanto Steward Autonomy System. There are several different retrofit kits for several different models of tractors. The recommended tractors are in a lower horsepower range, at 135 horsepower and below. If a customer does not have a tractor that fits the kit, they are encouraged to obtain an open cab tractor before using the kit.
Brannon said “Nobody’s going to be on it anyway. It’s going to be out there doing its job and really and truly we put cabs on tractors for personal comfort, not for anything else besides retail value.”
The reason farmers adopt this technology depends on how many times they go over the same acreage. For example, if you have a 1,000 acre sod farm, then you’re going to mow that grass at least 3 times per week. So, 1,000 acres turns into 3,000 acres in one week. When looking at it from that perspective, you can see the value of your investment.
This technology allows the farmer to create a boundary on the perimeter of the field. The machine will only operate inside of that boundary. The tractor is able to safely operate within the area. If the tractor tries to exit that boundary, then it will stop itself by applying the brake, and kill the engine. It is recommended to design a path plan for the field, for the fastest path to completion. Technology like this is the future of agriculture and may be seen more regularly on farms near you.
