A silent revolution is sweeping across America’s farms. It’s so quiet that you might not hear it unless you listen carefully.
Diesel tractors are virtually synonymous with farming, but green technology is reshaping the relationship between farmers and these hard workers, and perhaps the whole nature of farming.
An emerging fleet of quiet, emission-free tractors promises to free farmers from the burden of traditional agriculture, far beyond reliance on fossil fuels. By doing so, electric tractors with driver options can help increase efficiency in all aspects of field work, from seeding and weeding to harvesting and equipment repair, paving the way for better labor, field and sustainability practices. may open. .
“People don’t make so many things in factories anymore. Machines do it and people are there to oversee them,” said the San Francisco Bay Area-based co-founder and president says Mark Schwager. monarch tractor, recently debuted its first autonomous electric tractor. “This is how agriculture should be”
Electric tractors have their roots in Northern California, a region thriving in agriculture and technology.Sonoma County Base solek truck launched its first model in 2017, and after a slow start selling about 20 vehicles in its first four years, sales finally picked up last year, aided by state subsidies and increased manufacturing capacity. I gained momentum.
Electric tractor development has lagged behind the EV industry, which has commoditized the production of lithium-ion batteries, motors and power components, Schwager said. Monarch was founded a few miles from Tesla’s Fremont factory in 2018, giving it access to an established manufacturing base.
Monarch’s Mark-V models incorporate automatic EV technology. (Photo courtesy of Monarch Tractor)
Zero emissions is a key selling point for any plug-in vehicle. But diesel tractors emit as much carbon and particles as 14 cars, so replacing one with an electric version could significantly increase the impact without changing productivity. he says Schwager.
The auto-sized battery lasts up to 14 hours on a single 5.5-hour charge (Schwager says cowsheds are commonly equipped with 220-volt plugs), and depending on how often it’s used, it can last up to 14 hours. 15 to 25 years. An optional cart for carrying spare batteries allows for quick on-site replacement during power-intensive operations.
Eliminating emissions is only part of the package. Monarch’s debut model, the compact Mark-V, is equipped with a sensor camera and a fully digital interface, incorporating autonomous EV technology. Driver-option tractors programmed for autonomous driving and guided remotely through fields and orchards to move along spray, disc, harrow or crop rows, haul supplies or haul crops. track down workers.
In an industry plagued by labor shortages and a rapidly aging workforce, “it’s going to fill jobs that can’t be filled,” says Schwager. For example, with autonomy, one person can control a fleet of tractors from a screen and oversee multiple tasks spread across a farm.
He adds that automation can also help free workers from working in harsh environments and encourage producers to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. “If you don’t have to pay to mow the lawn, you need to spray the weeds much less.”
Photo courtesy of the Monarch Tractor.
Domenick Buck, Director of Coastal Services Coastal Vineyard Care Associates Santa Barbara recently added 18 electric tractors to his vineyard management company’s 40 diesel engines. He found EVs to have limited weight capacity, towing wider and heavier implements, but fuel savings and automated features (such as allowing fieldwork to continue after dark) night vision) all contribute to the bottom line, he says. And while the technology has raised workers’ concerns about job security, he adds, “at the moment, it’s not an alternative.” He “assigns specific tasks to complement what you already have.” It helps ease anxiety about labor shortages and rising costs.
As an organic and biodynamic business, [impacts] Mr Buck said: “I’m thrilled to be able to reduce our carbon footprint.” Plus, the reduced noise pollution is a bonus, and instead of the engine roaring and rumbling, he adds, “It just hums.” increase.
With a base price of $89,000 (more than double the cost of a traditional compact), you’ll save money.However, Schwager has generous rebate We can bring the price down to the same or less than a diesel tractor. Monarch is working on similar programs with other states and the federal government, but the timeline is still unknown.
Still, the switch to electric still works for those on a tight budget. With a base price of $12,990, the Amiga, a robotic micro tractor, offers a great labor solution for small producers. This is something that can be extended and adjusted to meet different needs.
Developed by farmingAmiga, a robotics technology company based in Watsonville, just south of Silicon Valley, looks more like a moon rover than a clover weeder as it zips along a rural landscape. The 4-wheel platform comes with an extendable dashboard and is powered by replaceable e-bike batteries that last up to 8 hours on a single charge. Despite its size, the 1-horsepower drivetrain allows him to tow or carry a 1,000-pound payload, and it also has numerous autonomous and remote functions.
Amiga with basket weeder and driver attachment. (Photo courtesy of farm-ng)
“We are reluctant to call it a tractor because we are not trying to replace it,” says Nathan Dorn, Director of Business Development. “We are replacing more precise and difficult tasks,” and even venture into new areas such as greenhouses and barns.
Scalable from 3 to 7.5 feet in width, the Amiga was designed with modularity in mind. The weldable steel frame allows multiple configurations and user customization to accommodate add-ons such as precision seeders, 3-point powerlifters and even cabs. “It’s a building block for farmers,” he says Dorn.
Autonomous features include self-guided and remote navigation. farm-ng is also developing similar technology to guide you. blue ghost lunar lander Not only does it take you to exact locations on the moon, but it also has a “follow me” feature.
Combined with Amiga’s open-source platform, Dorn says, it’s a blank canvas for endless hacking. For example, cameras can be used to check the stock of trees in orchards and cows in pastures, or use visual cues to measure crop maturity. He envisions users developing, sharing and even monetizing creative software via the company’s online app store, much like smartphones.
Jason Mellow of Axis Ag uses visual data capture for lettuce harvesting in Yuma, Arizona. (Photo courtesy of farm-ng)
His crew was initially skeptical about adding robots, but “at this point, I think they’re totally on board,” says vegetable production manager Ricardo López. Rancho SoquelOur 17-acre organic regenerative ranch in Santa Cruz County grows a wide variety of crops, including tomatoes, salad greens and snap peas.
The farm, which includes pastures and orchards, uses small tractor-like rough terrain vehicles (RTVs) to transport supplies. However, RTVs weigh heavily on the fields, requiring workers to hand-carry tools, equipment and crops.
On the other hand, the compact and lightweight Amiga walks lightly and is “flexible for specific needs such as seeding or in-bed cultivation,” says Lopez. “And people are excited that they don’t have to carry boxes anymore.”
The California rebate also applies to the Amiga, which can cut costs by as much as 90%, Dorn said. Still, just switching from a diesel tractor is an intrinsic savings. A full charge is cheaper than a gas tank, and the lack of an engine eliminates maintenance he costs such as replacing a particulate filter. (However, all tractors require hydraulic maintenance.)
Both Monarch and farm-ng openly support the right to restore. rare position Provides free over-the-air support and updates for software and operating systems. Remote monitoring also alerts owners to problems and service needs. Together with walkthrough support, this makes the technology less burdensome, more accessible, and more affordable.
“I’ve used robots in factories my entire career, and I think it’s unfair that farmers aren’t using the same robots,” says Schwager. “So we see great potential in technologies that bring agriculture into the 21st century.”