What Ag Retailers Need to Know About Deere’s Latest Precision Ag Push

As precision agriculture technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, ag retailers and growers alike are looking for tools that can help improve efficiency, connectivity, and decision-making in the field. During a recent episode of CropLife Retail Week, Jenni Badding, Production & Precision Ag Public Relations Manager for John Deere, shared insights into the latest developments shaping the future of smart farming technology — and where the industry may be headed next.

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Badding, who has spent 20 years with John Deere, said the pace of innovation in precision ag has accelerated dramatically over the past decade. While many technologies are now considered standard on modern operations, their capabilities continue to expand.

“I don’t know that I can pinpoint just one advancement,” Badding said. “When you look at connectivity itself, the value that brings to customers is being connected to their fleet and agronomic data anytime, anywhere through the John Deere Operations Center.”

Connectivity remains foundational to nearly every new advancement entering the market. Badding pointed to JDLink and JDLink Boost — Deere’s satellite connectivity solution — as examples of how the company is working to ensure uninterrupted machine communication even in areas with limited cellular service.

“Whether you think about See & Spray, autonomy, or those types of technologies, keeping that constant connection is critical,” she said.

At the center of Deere’s digital ecosystem is the John Deere Operations Center, which Badding described as a central hub for machine and agronomic data, logistics, and operational insights. She noted that even technologies many growers now take for granted, such as AutoTrac guidance, have evolved significantly.

“AutoTrac was revolutionary when it first came out,” she said. “Now we’re building on that foundation with G5 Advanced, AutoPath, AutoTrac Turn Automation, implement guidance, and autonomy solutions.”

Helping Customers Navigate Rapid Technology Adoption

Still, as precision ag tools become more sophisticated, one of the biggest challenges facing growers is simply keeping up with the speed of change.

“Not everybody is on the same path or journey through adopting precision ag technology,” Badding said. “We’re always listening to customers and asking what challenges or pain points they’re experiencing and how we can develop technology to help solve those challenges.”

To address varying levels of adoption, Deere continues offering a range of solutions, from entry-level Precision Essentials packages to more advanced data management and automation tools. According to Badding, technologies that simplify workflows and save time are becoming increasingly important as labor pressures and narrow weather windows continue to impact operations.

“Time is money, and Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate with us,” she said. “How can technology help customers get in the field faster, do more with less, and automate repetitive tasks?”

New See & Spray Advancements for 2027

One of Deere’s newest innovations for the 2027 season centers on advancements to its See & Spray platform. The company recently introduced its Gen 2 See & Spray system, which consolidates previous product offerings into one unified system while expanding crop compatibility and application flexibility.

“We’ve expanded crop compatibility and made it one unified system,” Badding explained. “Customers can choose single tank, dual tank, ExactApply, or Inc Pro configurations depending on their operation.”

Additional enhancements include boom lighting for nighttime spraying and the expansion of crab steer functionality into Deere-branded sprayers after previously being exclusive to Hagie equipment.

Perhaps one of the most notable introductions is See & Scout, a new feature designed to generate additional field insights through onboard camera technology. Historically, the cameras used for See & Spray only operated while spraying. Beginning with the 2027 spray season, those cameras will remain active throughout field operations.

“It will generate a weed pressure map as well as a stand count map, starting with corn,” Badding said. “That data seamlessly flows into Operations Center so customers can glean insights all season long.”

The system also leverages artificial intelligence to continuously capture and process field data as the sprayer moves across the field.

The Road From Automation to Autonomy

Looking ahead, Badding believes the industry will continue progressing along the path from automation toward autonomy.

“We are seeing more and more automation of tasks,” she said. “I think we’ll continue to see more of that automation on the road to autonomy.”

At the same time, she emphasized that future innovation will remain closely tied to customer feedback and operational needs.

“When we launched See & Spray, we only supported a couple of crops. Now we’ve expanded because that’s what customers asked for,” Badding said. “We’ve increased operating speeds and added See & Scout because customers are looking for those insights.”

As the ag retail industry continues navigating rapid technological advancement, Badding said Deere’s long-term focus remains unchanged: helping growers improve productivity, efficiency, and decision-making through practical innovation.

Watch the full CropLife Retail Week interview featuring Jenni Badding and hear more about John Deere’s latest precision ag developments.