Autonomous tractors are finally hitting the fields.

After years of research and development, autonomous technology has arrived.

- By Alex Gray New Products Editor

"It's not getting cheaper to farm, so we're trying to find alternatives, like autonomy, to help us mitigate future expenses." Brandon Munn

Carbon Robotics ATK system pairs with the company's Laser Weeder tool for autonomous, chemical-free weeding.

A fter years of research and development, autonomous technology has arrived. With labor shortages and changing weather conditions creating smaller productivity windows, autonomy may be the key farmers are looking for.

Autonomous solutions have finally moved past the trial stage, with limited commercial availability in 2025. Previously, manufacturers had provided farmers with autonomous technology to test - but 2025 marks the first growing season in which farmers bought and used this technology for themselves.

Autonomous equipment is now out in the fields seeding, spreading fertilizer, weeding, tilling, and hauling grain carts.

Heavy Machinery

AGCO has adjusted its strategies to ensure its technology is compatible with all tractor makes and models. The PTx OutRun autonomous system, which initially launched only for John Deere tractors, added Fendt compatibility later in the technology's development.

John Deere completely refreshed its autonomous system at the beginning of the year, in January announcing Autonomy 2.0, which is the commercially available product farmers can purchase now.

Both companies’ autonomous systems are focused on performing tasks that are easier to automate compared to more complex field jobs like planting. More functions are to be added as the technology develops.

Gleaning Efficiency

Brandon Munn farms around 5,000 acres of onions, bluegrass, sweet corn, and industrial hemp in north-central Oregon. Munn said he started his autonomous journey using the Carbon Autonomous Tractor Kit (ATK) system by Carbon Robotics for the 2025 growing season.