Ag Tech Steps Into Production: Deere, CNH, and Starlink Pilot New Smart Farming Use Cases

Executive Summary

• Field-scale pilots in December show AI vision, autonomy, and satellite-to-cell connectivity advancing from trials to production, with early adopters reporting 15–35% input savings in targeted spraying and weeding, according to industry sources (Reuters technology coverage).
• Connectivity emerged as a bottleneck and opportunity: Direct-to-cell satellite links began limited service, enabling sensor backhaul without towers, per Starlink.
• Specialty crops are seeing rapid robotization with laser weeding and automated harvest support, as noted by recent company updates from Carbon Robotics and orchard pilots covered by TechCrunch.
• Regenerative agriculture MRV (measurement, reporting, verification) software is being embedded into input platforms to qualify carbon and sustainability premiums, with new integrations announced by Bayer Crop Science and agronomic data providers Arable.

AI Vision and Autonomy Shift From Demo to Daily Use In the last 45 days, equipment makers and precision-ag startups reported expanded deployments of AI-driven variable-rate application and autonomy kits that cut herbicide use and reduce labor in row crops. Field teams testing upgraded computer vision sprayers in December cited double-digit reductions in herbicide volumes versus broadcast applications, with ranges of 20–40% depending on weed pressure and crop stage, consistent with prior outcomes from systems like John Deere See & Spray. Deere’s recent updates on autonomy and precision features underscore OEM momentum in integrating perception and actuation at scale (Deere newsroom). Specialty crop operations are leaning on robotics for labor-intensive tasks. Laser weeding platforms continued to expand footprints in December orchard and vegetable pilots, with growers citing fewer mechanical passes and lower hand-weeding hours, per company updates from Carbon Robotics. CNH Industrial, through its precision brand Raven, has been promoting autonomous cart and field workflows that sync machine guidance, vision, and implement control; its latest communications highlight increased automation across planting and harvest (CNH Industrial media). Satellites Meet Sensors: Direct-To-Cell Connectivity Hits the Field Connectivity is pivotal for smart farming beyond the farm gate. In December, satellite-to-cell backhaul began limited service, allowing text and data links from remote fields without terrestrial coverage. Starlink’s Direct to Cell outlines an initial messaging service and a roadmap for IoT data, which growers and agritech integrators are targeting for sensor telemetry, livestock monitoring, and small data packets from edge devices. This addresses one of the largest operational blockers—spotty rural coverage—for soil moisture probes, weather stations, and machine diagnostics. Telematics providers and cloud platforms are aligning to standardize data ingestion from mixed fleets. Trimble’s agriculture division and OEM partners have emphasized API-driven data exchange and implement-agnostic control in recent updates, aimed at lowering integration costs and enabling machine-level analytics for uptime and fuel savings (Trimble Agriculture). These connectivity and data standard moves dovetail with broader initiatives to improve interoperability across equipment, sensors, and agronomic decision tools (Reuters technology coverage). This builds on broader Smart Farming trends seen across connectivity, autonomy, and AI agronomy. Input Platforms Add MRV and Traceability—A New Premium Path Carbon and sustainability premiums are increasingly tied to verifiable farm practice data. Crop science firms and agronomic platforms have introduced MRV integrations in December to streamline reporting for regenerative practices—cover crops, reduced tillage, and targeted inputs—that can command premiums or qualify for program payments. Bayer Crop Science has highlighted digital tools to help growers document practices and outcomes alongside input recommendations. Weather, imagery, and sensor platforms like Arable are adding analytics workflows to estimate yield impacts and practice-driven performance. Supply chain partners in retail and export markets are pushing for data-rich traceability from field to shipment, particularly in specialty crops. Enterprise pilots noted in December emphasize QR-coded batch provenance, residue and emissions scoring, and standardized data sharing for audits. These features are designed to reduce compliance overhead and open differentiated pricing channels, according to industry sources (Bloomberg Technology). For more on related Smart Farming developments, traceability integrations are emerging as a near-term commercial use case as buyers seek proof of sustainable production. Company and Use Case Snapshot: December Pilots and Announcements

Company	Emerging Use Case	Status (Nov–Dec 2025)	Source
John Deere	AI vision variable-rate spraying	Field-scale deployments, expanded features	Deere Newsroom
CNH Industrial (Raven)	Autonomous harvest cart workflows	Active pilots and seasonal rollouts	CNH Industrial Media
Starlink	Direct-to-cell satellite connectivity for farm sensors	Limited service starts, IoT roadmap	Starlink Direct to Cell
Carbon Robotics	Laser weeding in specialty crops	Expanded orchard/vegetable pilots	Company Press Updates
Trimble Agriculture	Telematics and data interoperability	API and mixed-fleet data initiatives	Product Pages
Arable	Field sensing and agronomic analytics	MRV-aligned insights workflows	Company Website

What’s Next: From Pilots to Procurement Procurement teams are beginning to benchmark cost-per-acre and ROI across autonomy, vision, and connectivity bundles rather than single-point tools. Industry analysts note that the most immediate payoffs are coming from targeted spraying and weeding, optimized irrigation from sensor-plus-weather feeds, and connectivity that enables machine uptime analytics. Early adopters citing 15–35% input savings in December pilots align with past precision-ag performance ranges, though outcomes vary by geography and crop (Reuters technology coverage). Two practical hurdles will shape adoption through the winter order cycle: integration complexity across mixed fleets and the reliability of rural connectivity. Vendors are responding with implement-agnostic control, standardized data pipelines, and satellite-to-cell stopgaps. With regulators and buyers demanding auditable sustainability data, MRV and traceability layers are becoming standard attachments to agronomy and equipment software stacks, as highlighted in recent updates from Bayer Crop Science and sensor analytics firms like Arable. These insights align with latest Smart Farming innovations pushing the sector from experimentation to execution. FAQs { "question": "What new smart farming use cases emerged in the last 45 days?", "answer": "Field-scale pilots in December showcased AI vision for variable-rate spraying, autonomous harvest workflows, and direct-to-cell satellite connectivity for remote sensors. John Deere’s See & Spray features advanced targeting, CNH Industrial’s Raven platform expanded autonomous cart operations, and Starlink began limited direct-to-cell service for messaging and IoT data. Specialty crops also saw laser weeding deployments from Carbon Robotics, and MRV integrations for regenerative practice verification from Bayer and Arable." } { "question": "Where are growers seeing measurable ROI from these deployments?", "answer": "Growers reported 15–35% reductions in herbicide use with AI-driven spraying compared to broadcast applications, consistent with precision-ag outcomes cited by industry coverage from Reuters. Autonomy reduces operator hours during harvest, while satellite-to-cell links enable sensor backhaul where coverage is poor. MRV and traceability features are unlocking sustainability premiums and reducing audit time, with vendors like Bayer Crop Science and Arable adding integrated reporting workflows." } { "question": "How does satellite-to-cell improve smart farming connectivity?", "answer": "Direct-to-cell services, such as Starlink’s offering, connect devices to satellites using standard LTE modems, enabling messaging and IoT data without terrestrial towers. This is critical for distributed sensors, livestock tags, and machine diagnostics across large or remote fields. The December limited service start provides a practical pathway to synchronize telemetry and alerts, filling gaps where rural connectivity has constrained deployments and data-driven decision making." } { "question": "What challenges remain for scaling these use cases?", "answer": "Integration across mixed fleets and proprietary data ecosystems remains complex and costly. For more on [related genomics developments](/sequencing-leaders-push-into-mena-and-india-as-new-genomics-hubs-emerge-21-12-2025). Vendors like Trimble are addressing this with API-driven interoperability and telematics that centralize data from varied OEMs. Reliability of connectivity—especially during peak seasons—also matters; direct-to-cell can complement terrestrial networks, but bandwidth and device management will need careful planning. Finally, robust MRV requires consistent data capture and standards to satisfy buyers and regulators." } { "question": "What is the near-term outlook for procurement and deployment?", "answer": "Procurement cycles over winter are expected to prioritize bundles that pair AI vision sprayers or weeding robots with connectivity and analytics for machine uptime and agronomy. Analysts suggest the fastest near-term wins will be in targeted input reduction, irrigation optimization, and traceability reporting. As pilots convert to production, expect more implement-agnostic control, standardized data pipelines, and satellite-to-cell integrations supporting sensor networks and mixed-fleet operations by the 2026 growing season." } References

• John Deere See & Spray Technology Overview - John Deere, December 2025
• Recent News and Updates - John Deere Newsroom, December 2025
• Precision and Autonomy Communications - CNH Industrial Media Center, November–December 2025
• Direct to Cell Service Details - Starlink, December 2025
• Laser Weeding Expansion Updates - Carbon Robotics Press, November–December 2025
• Telematics and Interoperability Solutions - Trimble Agriculture, December 2025
• Field Sensing and Analytics - Arable, December 2025
• Coverage of Precision Agriculture and Connectivity - Reuters Technology, November–December 2025
• Industry Technology Developments - Bloomberg Technology, November–December 2025
• Digital Tools and MRV News - Bayer Crop Science, November–December 2025