Smart Tractors Mark New Phase in Agricultural Automation

Kubota and Agtonomy deploy autonomous tractors in key U.S. crop regions, tackling labor shortages and boosting farming efficiency

10 Jun 2025

Kubota and California-based start-up Agtonomy have begun rolling out autonomous tractors to early-adopter growers across the US West Coast, marking a significant step in the shift toward automated field operations.

The initiative combines Kubota's existing tractor platforms with Agtonomy's software for autonomy and remote control. The machines are now in use at selected orchards and vineyards in California, Oregon and Washington, regions facing higher labour costs and persistent shortages of seasonal workers.

The system enables tractors to spray and mow without a driver, including in narrow rows and uneven terrain. Instead of requiring new equipment, growers retrofit automation kits to their current Kubota models, aiming to reduce capital spending and limit downtime during the transition.

"We're not asking farmers to start from scratch," said Tim Bucher, Agtonomy's chief executive. "We're enhancing the tools they already know and trust." He added that familiarity with the underlying machinery remained important for adoption.

US Department of Agriculture data point to a declining supply of farm labour, particularly for specialty crops such as grapes, berries and tree fruit, which rely on precise and repetitive handling. Developers say these conditions make autonomous systems suitable for routine tasks that demand consistency rather than judgement.

Farmers can assign work remotely, track activity in real time and adjust routes through a tablet interface. Kubota is expanding training programmes for dealer networks so that support for the digital systems aligns with established service operations.

Regulation remains uneven. State-level rules on autonomous vehicles differ, and some growers have raised concerns about data use and the reliability of autonomous functions in varying field conditions. Industry analysts note, however, that early results from trial deployments have encouraged further evaluation by large growers and cooperatives.

The companies expect policy discussions to broaden as more farms adopt partial or full automation. For now, the focus is on integrating the technology into routine work and addressing the operational and regulatory issues that could influence wider uptake.