Posted on 06/28/2021 5:30:46 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Believe it or not, Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) currently employs more software engineers than mechanical engineers. How is this possible? The farming industry is experiencing significant disruption. Innovative technology is enabling what is called "precision agriculture" to come to fruition. Farmers are able to leverage technology to monitor their crops in ways that were once unfathomable. John Deere's next-generation machines use artificial intelligence (AI) to exponentially increase efficiencies, enabling farmers to reap increased crop yields with less work and lower costs.
Deere does not manufacture electric vehicles like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), but you may be surprised to hear it is working on autonomous electric tractors, semiautonomous tractors, autonomous drone sprayers, and much more. Is John Deere the Tesla of agriculture?
In July 2020 John Deere hired Jahmy Hindman as the company's first chief technology officer in its 184-year history. Did that number surprise you? That's right, John Deere was founded in 1837. Hindman leads Deere's Intelligent Solutions Group, and his role is responsible for building out the company's tech stack, which includes connectivity, embedded software, data platforms, and applications.
(Excerpt) Read more at fool.com ...
I am out on new JD products due to the proprietary software needed to troubleshoot them.
Not to mention the fact that they will spec a bearing or whatever part that is just a tiny bit different size than a common off the shelf bearing just so that you have no other choice than go to JD to get it.
[John Deere is no “marvel of modern technology.” The company has become a joke.]
I bought a Deere riding mower two years ago. Hasn’t worked reliably since day 1.
Autonomous electric tractors..maybe someday, but the production of food crops in the here and now is dependent on diesel fueled machinery. The green new dealers who think tofu grows on trees and is lovingly picked by happy natives on government collective farms and have declared jihad on fossil fuels need to actually come to farm country and see how food is produced. Practical battery powered tractors and combines maybe decades away. Tesla technology just won’t work down on the farm as where in the middle of a field miles from anyplace do you charge that electric combine? Those of us in farm country know that those huge tractors and combines on the roads and highways move at the speed of rigor mortis so driving them to the nearest charging station for a half a days charge would leave crops rotting in the field. Sure new technology could change things, but the green new dealers will have us not only shivering or sweltering in our darkened homes but starving as well.
Farmers have had to learn to code a long time ago - particularly those that wanted to use a green planter with their red tractor. Dealers typically are no help.
I like your disclaimer.
I resisted Tesla, I can resist Deere.
(altho I am partial to them, we used to have an ‘A’ and a ‘B’.)
Oh and could they pollute pulling a heavy load and snort out smoke and fumes. Let’s see a battery-driven vehicle do that .. Oh wait, Teslas do smoke when they crash. Never mind.
read later
subscription life now, you only buy the privilege to be a customer.
I think they put these thing together on a production line and then drop the cowling down around all else and don't care who needs to get at anything later on.
Be careful of poor qual rubber on the front end ball joints, mine dry-rotted in a year. They replace no charge but still didn't need road salt and dirt in there
Thanks for the advice. The BX series is the belly mower if I’m not mistaken. I just hope whatever I get is reliable and somewhat easy for me to work on. I have a lot of grass to mow. I will definitely be keeping the 8N as it still runs good but doesn’t really have the HP to push the 5ft finish mower I have on it. 4ft is normally the limit on the 8N so I’m pushing its boundaries. It’s just too cool and not worth selling imo.
Unless I’m mistaken, you can’t get a real John Deere at Lowe’s or Home Depot. If the model number starts with “D”, it is a cheaper mower with a bought and paid for JD badge. I think that was a mistake on their part, as it is damaging the brand.
I go to the local tractor dealership. Model starts with “X” or has an “X” in it. More expensive but worth it, IMO. I mowed with one for 19 years before I bought a new one about 4 or 5 years ago. (I’m hearing the dealerships may have to sell the “D” models, now, but the guys there are not happy about it.)
Most companies start with push mowers and design up to riding mowers. JD started with quality big tractors and just made them smaller. Many riding mowers used to be made by one company and sold under different brands. Now there are a lot of different manufacturers, but those cookie-cutters are still out there.
(I sharpen my own blades...)
As a quick FYI, I worked part time at a Deere dealership on weekends for a few years up until about 8 years ago.
I asked the owner about that and was told that the lower residential products that we were selling are exactly the same as the units sold by the box stores. He said it worked to his advantage that people thought that though.
However we also carried upgraded models that the box stores did not sell for those who wanted to spend up for quality.
They are also the poster child for being against right to repair..they want it to be illegal to work on their machines. They have added proprietary software to lock out repair efforts. This a company that doesn’t honor thief clientele.
25 has a rear PTO and 3 point.
I opted for the 60 something deck for small areas around the house and trees.
Would have had to back in with a ‘Tail Dragger”
I was alone ,took the deck off in winter for snow use with the bucket but in was heavy. Took me 45 to an hour
Thanks for that. Not so cut and dried as I thought, apparently. I have looked at the “D” models vs. the “X” model I have, and there is definitely a difference. I spent quite a bit more on mine, and I think it’s worth it... Like I said in the previous post, the “LX” model I had lasted me 19 years, while my next door neighbor went through three or four Sears models...
Still waiting for the Roomba equivalent lawnmower. No goats allowed here in town. Too much lawn to turn it all-concrete.
Chamois goats dressed up as poodles might work.
It's like buying a new car from a dealer and then not using the dealer for parts or servicing because after the warranty runs out they are more expensive.
I have two John Deere tractors, a utility Gator and a zero-turn finish lawn mower I use regularly on my cattle farm.
I get my parts from the NAPA auto parts store in the city and hire a private mechanic (former John Deere mechanic) for servicing and repair when needed.
It is cheaper than going to the dealer. They are slow to get parts because they don't inventory much and the labor costs to service are high.
I also have to load the machines on to trailers to haul them to the dealer for repair or servicing work. Hiring the private mechanic avoids that because he just comes to my farm with his tools.
But I like John Deere because they are good quality equipment.
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