Agriculture Technology Podcast

Get an inside look at the brand-new John Deere F8 and F9 self-propelled forage harvesters. In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Jason Artz, Product Manager for Forage Harvesters at RDO Equipment Co., to discuss the updates operators can expect in the 2026 self-propelled forage harvester lineup. John Deere forage harvester updates covered: • Updated naming system based on horsepower ranges • New engine platforms, including option with over 1,000 horsepower • Technology upgrades like HarvestMotion Plus, Active Fill Control and HarvestLab 3000 • Redesigned kernel processors (KPs) with improved throughput and monitoring • Drivetrain and steering improvements, including central tire inflation • Operator station upgrades with new cab layout, hydro handle and GreenStar G5 display Whether you’re chopping corn or hay, this episode gives you insight into the performance and efficiency gains of the new John Deere forage harvesters.

In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Katy Derheim, Product Manager for Application Technology at RDO Equipment Co., to break down the three John Deere See & Spray™ solutions: Select, Premium and Ultimate. Katy shares insights on how See & Spray systems allow growers to reduce herbicide use, lower input costs and increase operational efficiency, without sacrificing results. Whether you’re new to See & Spray or looking to upgrade your system, this episode explains what each solution does, who it’s best for and how you can see ROI as early as your first season. Topics we cover: • The key differences between Select, Premium and Ultimate • How See & Spray saves growers time and money • What’s new for 2026 with precision upgrade kits • Real-world success stories from growers using See & Spray • How John Deere’s licensing model works 

The newest John Deere combine updates for 2026 are here, bringing even more precision and automation to the field. In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Bergen Nelson, Go-to-Market Manager at John Deere, to break down the most exciting updates coming to model year 2026 combines. They also revisit key changes introduced in 2025 and explain how farmers can access these technologies through upgrades. In this episode: • Recap of model year 2025 combine upgrades • 2026 John Deere combine updates & new features • Predictive Ground Speed Automation: terrain sensing, weed detection & crop compatibility • New harvesting logistics tech: Auto Unload & Grain Harvest Weight Sharing • How to upgrade your current combine • Digital tools to prep for Harvest 2025

Tractor technology has come a long way in the past 20 years — and it’s evolving faster than ever. In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer is joined by Brian Verkuehlen of RDO Equipment Co. to discuss how John Deere tractors are becoming more versatile to meet autonomy and precision agriculture. Once used solely for tillage and planting, John Deere tractors have transformed into advanced, multi-purpose machines. Tony and Brian dive into the impact of emerging technologies, the shift toward electrification and how farmers can strategically plan for the future of their operations. This episode covers: • How tractor roles have evolved from specialized to multi-functional • The impact of AutoTrac, AutoPath and autonomy • Why horsepower needs are increasing and what that means for your fleet • The shift from hydraulics to electric power in implements • Flexible technology integration with G5 displays, EVT transmissions and off-board power • Choosing between wheels, two-track and four-track configurations • Why long-term planning is essential for equipment investments

Want to cut fertilizer costs without sacrificing yield? In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer unpacks John Deere’s ExactRate and ExactShot fertilizer systems to help you decide which makes sense for your operation. He breaks down how each system works, the types of fertilizer applications they support and how to choose between the two. Whether you’re upgrading your current planter or buying new, understanding the differences between ExactRate and ExactShot can help you make a more informed investment. Topics We Cover: Key differences between ExactRate and ExactShot Fertilizer use and potential input savings Application types each system supports (in-furrow, 2x2 and high-rate) Planter compatibility and upgrade options

From full planter rebuilds to simple meter swaps, John Deere’s 2026 Precision Upgrades offer more ways than ever for farmers to bring the latest technology to the equipment they already own. In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Taryn Fischels, Product Marketing Manager at John Deere, to explore the new Model Year 2026 Precision Upgrade Kits for planters and air seeders.These upgrades are designed with flexibility in mind — whether you’re running a newer machine that just needs a meter update or an older unit ready for a complete overhaul. Taryn shares how each kit is built to meet farmers where they’re at, helping them stay current with evolving planting and seeding technology to improve performance and profitability. Topics We Cover: - What Precision Upgrade Kits are - Newly rebranded Ultimate Planter Upgrade for full planter transformations- Meter-Only Upgrades for MaxEmerge 5e and ExactEmerge - The 1910 Accurate Meter Upgrade for air seedersWhether you’re ready to refresh your planter or fine-tune your air seeder, this conversation covers everything you need to know about John Deere’s 2026 precision upgrades.

The new John Deere HSD series is built for speed, reliability and the future of farming — allowing growers to prep their farms for autonomous tillage and cover 400 acres a day. In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Kory Ross, Group Product Marketing Manager at John Deere, to discuss upgrades to the 2680H tillage tool. From stronger frames and improved residue flow to plug-and-play autonomy features, the HSD lineup delivers major advancements for large-scale operations. Learn about size options, horsepower requirements and what makes these tools a smart investment for 2026 and beyond. What’s covered in this episode: How the HSD builds on the 2680H’s field performance Structural upgrades for durability and easy maintenance Crop flow improvements and size flexibility Autonomy-ready features designed for John Deere’s future equipment Tool and tractor pairing guidance For more information, visit JohnDeere.com or reach out to your local RDO Equipment Co. store

From spot spraying to navigating tough terrain, UAVs are proving to be extremely beneficial to the ag industry. Join host Tony Kramer in this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast as he sits down with Ross Florhaug, a UAV applicator from North Dakota. Ross shares his journey with UAVs, insights on the best UAVs for agriculture and the challenges and successes of using UAVs in farming. Curious about why customers would prefer UAV aerial applications over traditional methods? Ross discusses the benefits, including greater availability when crop dusters are busy, safer navigation around obstacles like highline wires and trees and chemical savings through efficient mapping. Whether you're passionate about agriculture or just appreciate the newest technology, don't miss this insightful episode on how UAVs are making a difference in precision agriculture. 

Join Tony Kramer, host of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, as he sits down with Jake L. and Derrick R. from RDO Equipment Co. to discuss the transformative power of John Deere Connected Support at RDO Equipment Co. Learn how telematics and proactive solutions are revolutionizing machine health and maintenance for operators and owners, reducing downtime and enhancing productivity for their farming and construction businesses. Hear first-hand about success stories, expert insights and the future of connected machines in agriculture and beyond. Listen now to learn more about RDO Connected Support and how it can benefit your operation.

In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, John Deere's Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Jahmy Hindman, speaks live from the Grand Farm Innovation Campus. Jahmy shares his vision for the future of farming, discussing groundbreaking technologies like See & Spray and autonomous tractors. He dives into the challenges of feeding a growing global population, the evolution of agricultural technology, the role of connectivity and AI in modern farming and more! Join us for an engaging discussion with John Deere’s CTO on how technology is shaping the future of farming.

Join host Tony Kramer in this special episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, recorded live at the Future of Farming event at the Grand Farm Innovation Campus. Dive deep into See & Spray technology with industry experts from John Deere, Blue River Technology, Mid-Kansas Co-op and RDO Equipment Co.Our panel of guests includes:Lee Johnson: See & Spray Architecture and Integration Lead at John DeereEmily Paris: Product Manager at Blue River TechnologyNick Mazouch: Agronomy Manager at Mid-Kansas Co-opJared Billadeau: Grower from North DakotaMark Dorn: Corporate Business Sales Manager at RDO Equipment CompanyKaty Hill: Product Manager for Application Technologies at RDO Equipment CompanyDiscover the evolution of See & Spray technology from its early prototypes to its current state. Gain insights on software and camera detection technology, results from 2024 trials and perspectives from growers. Hear expert perspectives on the significant chemical savings, yield increases and future potential that See & Spray offers. Don't miss this informative discussion on the advancements and impact of See & Spray technology in modern agriculture!

Join host Tony Kramer on the Agriculture Technology Podcast as he sits down with Michael Porter, Go-to-Market Manager for Large Tractors and Tillage at John Deere, to explore John Deere's revolutionary autonomous tillage solution. In this episode, they discuss how this cutting-edge technology can enhance farming operations by increasing efficiency and productivity. Michael explains the benefits for farmers, from small operations to large-scale farms, including reallocating labor, optimizing time management and reducing operational costs. He details how the autonomous tractor technology works, including the necessary equipment and preparation steps. They also cover the compatibility of existing John Deere tractors and tillage tools with the autonomous solution and highlight future developments and new autonomy-ready tools. Ready to hear about the future of farming? Stay tuned to learn all about John Deere's new autonomous tractor technology.

Join Agriculture Technology Podcast host Tony Kramer as he sits down with Andrew S. from RDO Australia to explore cutting-edge digital solutions transforming the agriculture industry.  In this episode, Andrew shares his journey from farming to working with John Deere's Precision Ag team. He discusses advancements in cotton tracking technology, best management practices in cotton and sugarcane farming and collaboration with ag retailers to support growers and enhance data utilization.  Learn about the Grain Research Development Corporation's Grain Automate project and how it aims to prepare growers for future autonomy in farming. 

In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Joel Kaczynski, a Technology Solutions Manager at RDO Equipment Co., to dive into John Deere's new license model for technology. With over 20 years of experience at RDO, Joel explains John Deere’s transition from traditional activations and subscriptions to the new license model, which includes permanent, time-based and use-based licenses. This new model aims to provide more flexibility and better align costs with actual usage, making it easier for farmers to adopt advanced technologies. Tony and Joel cover the differences between permanent, time-based and use-based licenses, practical advice for farmers on choosing the right license model and more. John Deere also provides a sneak-peak at the Licenses Tool at the end of the episode. Whether you're a long-time John Deere user or new to their technology, this episode provides valuable insights to help you make informed decisions for your farming operation.

Join host Tony Kramer in this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast as he sits down with Stephen Frahm, Business Development Manager Crop Care at RDO Equipment Australia. They dive into the unique planting and seeding solutions in Australian agriculture, discussing everything from moisture conservation techniques to the importance of controlled traffic farming.  Stephen shares insights on custom equipment builds, the integration of Monosem solutions, and the latest John Deere technologies, including SurePoint Ag's bidirectional downforce and liquid row monitoring. Discover how Australian growers are leveraging these solutions to enhance their operations and achieve better crop yields. 

In this episode of the Agriculture Technology Podcast, host Tony Kramer sits down with Scott Schumacher, General Manager of Construction Technology at RDO Equipment Co. in Grand Forks, ND, to discuss the groundbreaking John Deere Path technology, Deere’s newest precision mapping solution for snow removal operators.

Join RDO Equipment Co.’s Agronomist and Podcast Host, Tony Kramer, as he reviews the top 5 episodes of the Ag Tech Podcast from 2024. In this episode, Tony recaps expert insights from the Millennial Farmer and RDO’s founder Ron Offutt, along with the latest John Deere product launches and technologies, including Precision Upgrade Kits and the John Deere Operations Center. Watch to see how these insights, product launches and new technologies have shaped the ag tech landscape this year.

This year, the Ag Tech Podcast has covered John Deere precision upgrade kits (PUKs) for planters, sprayers and combines. To round out our year on precision upgrades, Tony sits down with Clint Chaffer, Product Marketing Lead for Precision Upgrades at John Deere, to talk about the origin of PUKs. Starting with planters, the technology footprint of precision upgrades broadened across each season. Chaffer gives us insight into how growers can retrofit older equipment with PUKs, allowing farmers to save money and learn at their own pace. The approach is simple: meet customers where they are on their technology journey and do what makes sense for their operation. Listen to what sparked the ideas, how they evolved from machine to machine and what Chaffer sees for the future of PUKs.

Tony Kramer is joined by Bill Edmondson, RDO’s UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Product Manager to discuss drone solutions. He shares how early on, the team worked diligently to understand the capabilities of UAV products, ensuring that whether you’re working with crops in the field or on a construction job site, there are a variety of solutions these products can provide. But that’s not all — RDOai offers a variety of additional advantages to help customers achieve the best results, which are highlighted throughout this episode.

Getting more done in less time — it's something we all dream of, especially in the field. Lucky for us, John Deere had the same goal in mind when creating and redesigning some of their latest tillage tools. In this episode of the Agriculture Technology podcast, Tyler Z., tillage technology product manager at RDO, joins Tony to introduce Deere's first coulter chisel tillage implement, the CC Series, as well as the redesigned Minimum Tillage (MT) series. Tyler walks us through the highlights, differences, benefits and more of both the CC Series and the MT Series.