Connectivity is already developing at a rapid pace

That’s why John Deere’s recent announcement that it has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to provide a SATCOM service to farmers, is considered by some analysts to be the biggest news in digital agriculture we have seen over the last number of years.

Deere has said that it has a target of having 1.5 million connected machines worldwide in 2026. Starlink can help the company reach that goal. The John Deere Starlink satellite communications (SATCOM) service will fully enable technologies such as autonomy, real-time data sharing, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair solutions, and machine-to-machine communication.

Installing a Starlink terminal

John Deere dealers will install a ruggedised Starlink terminal on compatible machines, along with a 4G LTE JDLink modem to connect the machine to the John Deere Operations Center. This solution will connect both new and existing machines through satellite internet service and ruggedized satellite terminals.

The SATCOM service will initially be available through a limited release in the United States and Brazil, starting in the second half of this year. In both countries, a large percentage of farmers lack connectivity. Analysts expect John Deere will offer the service at near cost price. The company sees it as an opportunity to increase its share in precision agriculture, they say.

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Starlink is already a popular option

In a lot of cases, farmers do have access to some form of internet for their house, but the technology often is not suitable for the for the necessary connectivity on-farm. In Australia, the percentage of farmers without proper connectivity is also high, but John Deere has not said when it will introduce the Starlink SATCOM service there.

Analysts emphasise the Starlink service is reliable, and the new partnership is going to push scale, where it is available. However, farmers do not have to wait for the products of this specific collaboration. Starlink is already a popular option for internet on the farm in rural Australia. And Australian company Connected Farms – also active in New Zealand and the UK – is already using the Starlink Satellite Network.

Intensive precision farming functions

This allows farmers to connect anywhere, anytime, across their entire farm by using satellite equipment mounted on their vehicle, tractor, or machinery. This solution enables voice, mobile, and data connectivity, data-intensive robotics, automation, and intensive precision farming functions, while the machine is operational and moving.

Connected Farms also provides tailored coverage, capacity, and 4G/5G services to farms. It comprises of a tower, radio unit that connects devices on farm to network over the air. They are deployed strategically to ensure comprehensive coverage over a farm or orchard.

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Bringing connectivity to Brazilian farmers

The company also has a portable Wi-Fi hotspot solution (CommsXtend), designed for farmers and agribusinesses. When paired with a Connected Farms Dynamic SiM, it can efficiently capture 4G signals from multiple mobile operators, and has the ability to dynamically select the strongest signal available and convert it into robust Wi-Fi coverage.

In Brazil, 93% of Brazilian farmers have currently no wireless access to broadband services on their farms. A number of big companies have now joined forces to provide farmers in that country with opportunities to embrace precision farming.

The ConectarAGRO initiative will promote innovative connectivity solutions to the Brazilian agribusiness sector, and was created by CNH, AGCO, Bayer, Jacto, Solinftec and Trimble, and telecom companies Nokia and TIM.

ConectarAGRO is already bringing connectivity to Brazilian farmers. Nokia is contributing the technology to enable 4G coverage and support IoT and other precision agricultural technologies. It is now clear that the initiative will have fierce competition from the SATCOM service of John Deere and Starlink, that initially will be available in the US and Brazil.

Connecting every piece of equipment on the farm

But it is not just a matter of internet capacity. It is also important how the data is processed and used. A company such as Ag Leader focuses on products and solutions that help and connect the farm equipment and tasks, so that operations on the farm run more efficiently.

One of these products is Ag Leader’s recently released TurnPath autopilot. This product uses the field boundary recorded in the control screen, when turning on the headland. As a result, the tractor continues driving at the end of the work pass and automatically turns a corner on the headland.

“While there is a trend on the horizon toward full autonomy, we recognise the immense value a grower brings to the cab”, Ag Leader says. “By automating the end-of-row turn, TurnPath gives a grower the ability to pay better attention to other tasks.”

Numerous other solutions

Ag Leader has numerous other solutions that help make work on the farm run a little more smoothly. InCommand connects every piece of equipment on the farm throughout every season, from planting through to harvest.

And Agfiniti analyses yield factors by querying and layering areas of the field to generate simple yield comparison reports. It also generates prescriptions and creates and edits boundaries. Information can be shared live across machines with AgFiniti and InCommand.

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Improving the reliability, consistency, and quality of data

TerraFlex (Trimble) focuses on collecting accurate field data. Accurate data leads to better decisions and outcomes, the company says. TerraFlex is designed with several features to improve the reliability, consistency, and quality of data that is collected.

Farmers can use digital forms help to ensure consistency of data between users, by standardising the data that is captured, and simple rule-based logic helps to prevent invalid or inconsistent data entry. Position accuracy thresholds can be used to ensure that all position data meets requirements before it can be stored, preventing ‘fake’ data from being captured.

Once data has been collected, farmers can review the data quality and completeness through a map back in the office. Any data that doesn’t meet quality standards can be sent back to the field for updating or can be discarded.

In conditions where real-time GNSS corrections are unavailable, TerraFlex also allows position data to be (re-)corrected shortly after it is collected and has been uploaded to the cloud – with an automated post-processing feature called Trimble Offline Corrections.

Auto steering and implement control systems

Topcon is committed to expanding precision technology for a growing range of market segments and applications. According to Antonio Marzia, senior vice president and general manager, EMEA and APAC, Topcon Agriculture, the company is dedicated to develop technologies to operate in mixed fleet environments.

Topcon aims to provide technology that works with a wide range of machinery and brands. It has recently presented its latest auto steering and implement control systems, designed for all sizes of equipment, including a range of next-generation GNSS receivers and ISOBUS ECUs, all fully connected to the Topcon Agriculture Platform (TAP).

Australia-based Myriota delivers direct-to-satellite IoT connectivity to help the agriculture industry with efficient sensing solutions. Farmers can utilise Myriota connectivity through its partner products to help them improve operations on their farm and enhance their asset management and monitoring.

Those partners have products which help farmers with monitoring of water and other on-farm liquid tanks, pumps and bores, gas tanks, water troughs, water meters and asset tracking. These connectivity services are worldwide available. Myriota connectivity does not require any infrastructure to provide connectivity, as its modules communicate direct-to-satellite.