Labor and time constraints are some of the biggest challenges faced by organic farmers. But several entrepreneur-minded businesses are now offering autonomous farm equipment that just might be the answer organic farmers are looking for.
One of these companies is Sabanto Ag. Founded by Craig Rupp, Sabanto provides supervised autonomous farm equipment for a range of tasks including fieldwork, planting, cultivating, rotary hoeing, vertical tillage, tine weeding and more.
Rupp says many of the farmers they work with feel like they have to push themselves and their work force too hard during the busiest times on the season.
“Time and time again, farmers would tell me labor is a problem in agriculture. I wanted to fix that problem, and I’m convinced autonomy is going to fix that problem.”
- Craig Rupp, CEO Sabanto Ag
And now autonomous farm equipment provides a never-before-available solution. When Craig deploys machinery to a farm, it can run all-day, every day and all-night for as long as it takes to get the job done.
The owner of the operation doesn’t even have to be on-site to monitor it because the Sabanto Ag team can supervise the equipment remotely.
Utilizing equipment like autonomous tine weeders gives organic farmers more time to focus their energy and time on essential work that has a big impact on farm profitability.
Sometimes it creates space for equipment repairs and other times it provides the opportunity to step back and make well-considered agronomic decisions.
For example, Sabanto Ag recently handled the tillage work for one of its clients. While the equipment ran in the field, the farmer was able to focus on harvesting while other members of the farm team completed work that required specialized experience and knowledge.
Rupp says the equipment made it possible for the farmer to keep his personnel focused on more important tasks.
In addition, innovative autonomous farm equipment will soon be able to capture data with imagery, sensors, and other devices. And organic farmers will be able to analyze that information and use it in their decision-making process.
Autonomous farm equipment is constantly being improved. Rupp says Sabanto Ag has already made great strides forward with navigation systems, monitoring, path planting, and supervision.
As the equipment gets better, it’ll provide even more benefits to those leading-edge famers who take advantage of it.
Sabanto Ag currently runs autonomous farm equipment units in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Learn more at www.sabantoag.com.
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"The views expressed in this article are the author's alone and not those of Farmer's Business Network, Inc., its affiliates or members."
Photo credit: Sabanto Ag