John Deere announces partnership with SpaceX

Deere & Co. has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to provide cutting-edge satellite communications (SATCOM) service to farmers. Using the SpaceXg Starlink network, this will allow farmers facing rural connectivity challenges to fully leverage precision agriculture technologies. 

“The value of connectivity to farmers is broader than any single task or action. Connectivity unlocks vast opportunities that were previously limited or unavailable,” says Aaron Wetzel, vice president of Production and Precision Ag Production Systems at John Deere. “For example, throughout the year, farmers must complete tasks within extremely short windows of time. This requires executing incredibly precise production steps while coordinating between machines and managing machine performance. Each of these areas are enhanced through connectivity, making the entire operation more efficient, effective, and profitable.”

John Deere’s SATCOM solution will leverage SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet constellation. To activate this solution, John Deere dealers will install a ruggedized Starlink terminal on compatible machines, along with a 4G LTE JDLink modem to connect the machine to the John Deere Operations Center. This will fully enable technologies such as autonomy, real-time data sharing, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair solutions, and machine-to-machine communication.

“We estimate 25% of crop land in the U.S. has varying levels of poor connectivity, and up to 70% in Brazil is not connected,” says Mike Kool, John Deere senior product manager for Connected Fleet. “The importance of these rural areas and what they’re doing to feed and clothe and provide infrastructure for the globe is ultra-imperative for humankind, and that’s where we found this solution is needed and necessary.

“We all know the challenges our farmers are up against, and ultimately this solution is going to help them do more with less,” Kool says. “It will allow them to unlock technology offerings they have on their machines today but can’t utilize because they don’t have the connectivity, and it will allow them to venture into the next iteration of technology to become even better.”

The SATCOM solution will initially be available through a limited release in the United States and Brazil starting in the second half of 2024. Pricing information is forthcoming.