In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, the demand for innovation and automation has never been greater. With its Autonomous Diesel Orchard Tractor, John Deere is bringing a game-changing solution to high-value crop farming at CES 2025. Alongside this, the agricultural giant introduced three other autonomous machines – the Autonomous 9RX Tractor for large-scale agriculture, an Autonomous Battery Electric Mower for commercial landscaping, and the 460 P-Tier Autonomous Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) for quarry operations.
John Deere Autonomous Diesel Orchard Tractor is poised to address some of the most pressing issues in farming, particularly in California’s lucrative orchard and specialty crop sectors.
California plays a pivotal role in producing high-value crops such as fruits, nuts, and vegetables. A striking fact highlights this reality – 90% of the tree nuts grown in the United States come from within 300 miles of California’s agricultural heartland. Even more astounding, California produces 77% of the world’s almonds. Yet, the sector faces significant hurdles, primarily driven by labor shortages and the grueling nature of orchard work. With nearly half of all machine operating positions unfilled in California’s agriculture industry, autonomy has emerged as a viable and necessary solution.
High-value crops differ significantly from the vast corn and soybean fields of the Midwest. Orchards require specialized care and consistent attention, particularly for air blast spraying, which is essential for protecting trees from pests and diseases. Orchard tractors must navigate endless rows of trees, spraying for up to 10 hours daily at just 2.5 miles per hour. This process is repeated six to eight times per growing season, often starting as early as February and lasting through the summer’s sweltering heat. Operators frequently begin work at 2 AM, clad in hazmat suits, to ensure trees are appropriately coated with chemicals. This demanding job becomes increasingly difficult for growers facing labor shortages.
Autonomous Navigation Technology With Lidars and Cameras To Address Labor Shortage
John Deere’s Autonomous Diesel Orchard Tractor is a response to this challenge. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the tractor utilizes nine cameras, three Lidar, and sensors to navigate orchard environments. Traditional GPS systems often struggle under the dense canopies of orchards, leading to inaccuracies in navigation. However, the new autonomous tractor integrates Lidar at ground level to detect obstacles such as irrigation piping, human workers, or even bee boxes, ensuring seamless and efficient operation. This novel solution allows the tractor to drive directly down the orchard rows, recognizing tree positions and dynamically adjusting its path in real time.
A critical component of this system is John Deere’s second-generation autonomous kit, which shares the same technology platform as the company’s autonomous tillage tractors. Despite similarities in computing power and user interfaces, the orchard environment demands unique adaptations. Orchard tractors operate in densely packed environments with 30-foot-tall trees, unlike tillage tractors in open fields. As such, John Deere’s engineers have developed advanced path-planning algorithms that enable the tractor to make micro-adjustments as it navigates complex terrain, allowing for autonomous operation even in challenging conditions.
A John Deere representative shows how the Lidar-driven autonomous navigation system “sees” the trees and obstacles in the orchard
I saw a demo at the John Deere test farm in Gilroy, where a John Deere representative remotely started the Autonomous Diesel Orchard Tractor using a mobile device. The tractor autonomously sprayed a small orchard, moving up and down tree rows without manual input. The demonstration illustrated the tractor’s ability to handle orchard environments independently.
Smart Apply Technology
In addition to autonomous driving for the tractor, the sprayer implement is equipped with Smart Apply Spray Technology, a product acquired by John Deere in 2023.
This technology uses Lidar to create a digital profile of the orchard and adjusts the spray volume based on canopy density. As the sprayer moves, the system detects gaps in the trees and toggles nozzles on and off, significantly reducing chemical use. In trials, growers have reported up to 70% savings on chemical products, not only cutting costs but also minimizing environmental impact. This precision spraying approach decreases the need for frequent refills, reducing downtime and enhancing overall productivity.
The labor savings offered by the Autonomous Diesel Orchard Tractor are substantial. A 6,500-acre corn or soybean farm typically requires just one to four operators managing a few tractors, planters, and combines. In contrast, an orchard of the same size demands 32 tractors and operators. With California facing a 50% labor shortage in high-value crop farming, autonomous solutions will prove crucial in bridging this gap. Additionally, orchard tractors accumulate 900 hours of annual usage, double that of equipment used in traditional row crop farming, further emphasizing the need for autonomy to alleviate worker fatigue and increase operational efficiency.
A Complete Technology Stack For Enhanced Productivity
The backbone of this technological marvel lies in Deere’s JD Link modem for tractor-to-cloud data communication and Starfire receivers, which provide centimeter-precise positioning. This ensures the sprayer applies the right amount of product even if the tractor’s speed changes. Data collected during operation is uploaded in real-time to the John Deere Operations Center, enabling farm managers to monitor performance and productivity. The seamless data integration ensures accurate documentation, helping farmers make informed decisions and optimize their spraying patterns and schedules.
Filed in . Read more about AI (Artificial Intelligence), Autonomous Driving, CES, CES 2025 and Computer Vision.