As a precision specialist with Linco-Precision in Nokomis, Ill., Jake Warford has been a key figure in the Technology Corner’s focus on autonomy in agriculture. Currently, their main focus is on the sod market, which requires labor-intensive tasks such as frequent mowing over large areas. However, Warford sees great potential for autonomy in row crop applications such as fertilizer and lime spreading, as well as cover crop planting.
To illustrate the endless opportunities for automation in agriculture, Warford mentions using their autonomy kit to sow cover crops and wheat last year. He believes that the possibilities for autonomy in agriculture are vast and varied, and there is an application for it wherever it can be made to work.
Linco-Precision offers the Sabanto autonomy kit, which follows a philosophy of “crawl, walk, run.” They are currently in the walking phase, slowly implementing autonomy in various agricultural tasks. Warford is excited about the future of autonomous farming and looks forward to seeing how it continues to evolve.