{"id":13659,"date":"2021-11-22T14:03:31","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T20:03:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futurefarmer1.wpengine.com\/?p=13659"},"modified":"2021-11-29T13:38:44","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:38:44","slug":"your-drone-needs-a-heart-why-the-future-of-autonomy-is-all-about-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/futurefarmermag.com\/your-drone-needs-a-heart-why-the-future-of-autonomy-is-all-about-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Drone Needs a Heart: Why the Future of Autonomy is All About People"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
“What am I going to do in my tractor if I don\u2019t have to steer it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it was more than 20 years ago, Joel Kaczynski recalls the moment as if it were yesterday. It was early in his career and Joel was managing the fertilizer plant in the small farming community of Mantador, 40 miles south of Fargo. Joel worked with all kinds of growers but has a particular memory of one of his grower customers talking about \u201cthis thing called AutoTrac.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on what Joel knew about AutoTrac, it had the potential to drive great results for growers, but only if it didn’t drive them away first. This grower was like many others Joel worked with, one who genuinely enjoyed operating equipment. He was not resistant to the new technology opportunity because he didn’t believe Joel’s claims that it would increase efficiency. He was concerned the technology would take away this part of his job he enjoyed so much. The grower took a leap of faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fast-forward a few months, he was reporting happy employees who were less stressed, not to mention tillage passes that were straight as an arrow. Best of all, Joel was reassured in his prediction that the grower would still be spending his days in the tractor. While he was no longer steering, the grower was now able to focus on making sure implements were working properly and he had time to sit back and simply observe the crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AutoTrac was one of the earliest examples of precision agriculture and even a first taste of autonomy. Decades later, the latest in autonomous agriculture was abuzz at the Grand Farm’s final event of the year, Autonomous Nation, held in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a speaker at the event, Joel had the opportunity to reflect on his long career in ag as well as provide an overview of the more recent and upcoming autonomous advancements from John Deere. Today, Joel leads a team the specializes in precision ag for RDO Equipment Co., a dealership representing Deere alongside other leading manufacturers Joel and his team focus on helping growers understand how to harness technology to reduce waste and boost field productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Joel and his team are certainly well versed in the systems and technology that power new types of equipment, they also know just as much about the “X-Factor” embedded into any innovation people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s really the people behind this making it all work,” Joel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n