John Deere ends JD Link subscription fee Agco launches Precision Ag Line pilot

JDLink for John Deere machinery owners will now be a free data upload service

DATA

John Deere ends subscription fees for JDLink data transfer

Subscription

free

John Deere’s data collection technology, JDLink, will now be available for users at no ongoing cost, the machinery manufacturer has announced.

First introduced in Australia in 2011, JDLink facilitates automatic data transfer from a machine to the John Deere Operations Center – which company precision agriculture manager for Australia and New Zealand Benji Blevin says will give farmers several automotive benefits, especially with regard to precision agriculture.

“When machinery is connected to JDLink it automates the flow of on-farm and machinery data. This means farmers can focus on what is most important, and that’s managing their farm,” he says.

“By automatically transferring machine and in-field data to the Operation Center, farmers can have almost immediate access to the key data they need on their machines and their people in the palm of their hand.

“At harvest, for example, they can see their work totals coming through from the paddock, review the progress being made and even adjust machine settings in near real-time. So, with this technology, not only are they are ensuring a job is being done, they have ultimate quality control, to ensure the job is being done properly.”

Up until now Deere dealers had managed their customers’ connections to the subscription service, but under the new system customers will be able to control individual machines or their entire fleet through the John Deere Operations Center.

JDLink also gives users access to John Deere Connected Support and remote display access, enabling dealers to access the in-cab display of a Deere machine to help them troubleshoot and solve potential issues from afar.

Blevin says the announcement will put JDLink into the hands of more customers to give them greater insight into their machinery and their business.

“At the end of the season, if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” he says.

“Having all machines connected through JDLink allows equipment to capture information at every opportunity, and every piece of data collected can be used for analysis to make sure better decisions are made going forward.

To access JDLink’s full range of functionalities, farmers will require a 3G or 4G JDLink MTG (modem). For farmers with older John Deere equipment, a system upgrade can be purchased and installed.

PRECISION AG

Agco has launched a pilot of a new streamlined precision agriculture support system in North America, with a broader rollout planned for next year

Pilot season

Agco has launched a pilot of its Precision Ag Line (PAL) package in North America, trialling a system it says will help its farming customers with mixedflet operations.

PAL will be available for farmers operating with any Agco-branded equipment and machinery, including Fendt and Massey Ferguson, offering access to precision agriculture expertise so they can achieve more efficient solutions and improved outcomes in the field.

PAL is also compatible with Agco equipment when used in conjunction with machinery and equipment from other manufacturers.

The program uses Agco’s AgriSync platform, which aligns farmers with the dealer’s current support system; usually an existing customer service number, to streamline access to the service and achieve a coherent experience for farmers.

PAL technology is currently in its pilot stages in several locations in North America, where trials have heralded promising results.

Following completion of the pilot program, Agco plans to expand the program into new areas in 2022.

Agco spokesperson Cody Light says the

Agco’s Precision Ag Line technology is currently being trialled

complicated nature of precision ag can be alleviated through the use of PAL.

“Precision farming techniques can become complicated, especially when products from multiple manufacturers are used to accomplish them,” says Light.

“PAL puts farmers in direct touch with our technical experts who are very experienced at aligning disparate systems into effective processes.

“This program is directly aimed at ensuring our customers have the best farming outcomes and exceptional customer experiences with our products along the way.”