Robotics

Monarch's MK-V Dairy Tractor Rolls Out Autonomous Feed Pushing

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:28:36 GMT

Monarch Tractor announces its first-in-class, fully-autonomous Autodrive feature is now commercially available on its MK-V driver-optional dairy tractor (EV or diesel) , according to a press release from the startup.

“Autonomous feed pushing offers value to dairy farmers by improving efficiency and increasing milk production,” says Praveen Penmetsa, CEO and co-founder of Monarch Tractor. “It allows the dairy farmers to focus on what matters most – the health and well-being of their animals.”

Autonomous feed pushing helps dairy farmers manage through labor shortages, and the ability to monitor feed pushing remotely while tending to other critical tasks ensures cows can be consistently fed every hour.

Additionally, the “smart tractor” is armed with Monarch’s Wingspan Ag Intelligence and WingspanAI technology stack , which tracks performance data while 360-degree cameras record video footage for real-time and historical insights. The MK-V Dairy is also a mobile power bank with 12v, 110v, and 220v plugs.

Monarch is hosting an in-person Autodrive demonstration at a working dairy on February 12, at 3 p.m. in Tulare, California, during World Ag Expo. Monarch reps and engineers will be on hand to talk to attendees and give them the opportunity to engage with the tractor. Reservations for the demonstration can be made here.

If you can’t make it to California next week, Monarch says dairy farmers can reach out and set up a demonstration at their farm.

What Ranchers Need to Know About Automation in Packing Plants

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:14:25 GMT

Ranchers put countless hours and immense effort into raising a high-quality protein source for consumers. Yet, they are only the beginning of the supply chain and what happens during the final stages of production and processing can impact the quality and quantity of beef available to consumers. This makes it important for cattlemen and women to know what challenges the end of the supply chain faces and how the product is processed before reaching the end consumer.

Brianna Buseman is a meat scientist working for Marble Technologies – a company that specializes in helping packing plants improve their processes through automation.

“Most people’s interactions with the agriculture industry are the cheeseburgers they buy or steak they grill at home,” Buseman says. “Meat science serves as an awesome way to connect more people with the agriculture industry.”

On the flip side, meat science also connects ranchers to consumer demands and perspectives which can impact future production practices as well as how meat is processed. Growing up on a family operation, Brianna sees both perspectives and is passionate about bridging the gaps between ranchers, meat science and consumers.

Automation in packing plants is most frequently trying to solve challenges related to manual labor, process efficiency, product quality and food safety. Marble Technologies mainly focuses on automating the packoff line in beef plants to reduce the need for manual labor.

“In an average plant there are around 15 to 20 people whose only job for the shift is to search for and move vacuum-sealed sub-primals from the conveyor to the box and then push that box down the line,” says Buseman.

To put this into perspective, employees who box clods in a 2,500-head-per-day facility handle 5,000 pieces per day at 18 to 25 pounds each. Over the course of a year, that is over 18 million pounds of beef. Implementing technology in this area of the plant reduces manual labor for employees and allows for more data collection on the product. Marble paired a hardware and software system to sort cuts and bring them directly to employees for boxing eliminating the need for employees to spend time searching for their cut. This is just one example of how automation is revolutionizing the meat industry, Buseman explains.

Automation in packing plants is a long game despite the rapid changes in technology we see across all industries.

“We didn’t go straight from listening to music on the radio to listening on Spotify,” Buseman says. “We had to go through every version of the mp3 player and iPod to get there. Likewise, we can’t go straight from manual labor to 100% automation and robotics in packing plants.”

The main challenge with automation in established packing plants is the variance in carcass size and shape. There could easily be a 400-pound difference between carcasses which changes the processing procedure.

It’s important to note these automations aren’t implemented to eliminate employees. They allow employees to move into less physically demanding roles and create a better work environment. Packing plants aren’t overstaffed during shifts, they are usually running short handed.

Outside of automation, the meat industry is researching how different packaging and processing impacts the end quality of a product as well as different methods of extending shelf life. It’s exciting to know that the final segments of the supply chain are putting in the effort just like ranchers to ensure product quality for consumers.

Learn more about Marble Technologies on their website. https://www.seemarble.com/

Link to Podcast: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/casual-cattle-conversations-podcast-shownotes/marble-technologies

A Farmer Can Dream, Right? Tesla Robots As the Farm Labor Force of the Future?

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:24:44 GMT

With a visual form ripped straight from a skin-crawl inducing robot thriller, Tesla’s new AI-bot, Optimus, is eliciting strong reactions from tech advocates and flip-phone touting technophobes.

Let’s indulge our imaginations for just a second and imagine how a farmer could put one of Musk’s $20,000 helper robots to work around the family farm in, say, the year 2040. I use 2040 because, even though the prototypes in the video below look awesome, it turns out the AI behind it needs more work before any farmer would feel safe setting a squad of them loose on the farm.

Our own Clinton Griffiths was also inspired by Optimus’ unveiling. In his upcoming column in the November issue of Farm Journal, Clinton gets right to the heart of the issue, and that’s whether the bots will pan out on the farm?

The real test, he writes, “will be whether it can keep its glossy finish motoring along regardless of whether or not the field is mud-free.”

I couldn’t agree more, Clinton. Serving up fancy drinks during an unveiling party on a glitzy Hollywood film studio lot is one thing. Standing up to all the dust and heat and tough conditions of your average farm or ranch is a different beast altogether.

In that vein, we offer up the following farm chore list Optimus can take over from here on out.

No, seriously Opti, you don’t need our permission. Just go ahead and take care of these few little things every single day for the rest of time, and we’ll be off, I don’t know, fishing at the lake with the kids, rocking on the front porch, or something.

Farm equipment maintenance tech
Director of crop protection jug disposal
Backpack spraying around-the-clock weed warrior
Chief grain bin inspector
Head ladder climber
Irrigation pivot inspector general
Head high in July crop scout
Pig loader and unloader extraordinaire
Master bottle mixer and calf feeder

Now that you’ve read my list, I’m curious how you would use a robot that walks, talks and moves like a real human (and never gets tired, bored or spends 20 minutes staring at its phone) on your farm? or click

Share your robot wish list by clicking the green “Respond Here” button or click here .

Your Next Read: As the Wizard of Yield, Ken Ferrie Reveals His Secrets on Unscripted

Cows Have Personalities, Too

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:31:55 GMT

Remember the class bully whom everybody feared and disliked, and didn’t do well in school? Or the sweet cheerleader who got along with everyone, and sailed through one achievement after the next?

Research is proving that, just like your high-school classmates, cows have distinct personalities. Anyone who works with cows regularly is bound to have “favorite” and “least favorite” animals based on their dispositions. Those personality traits appear to influence behaviors that can affect their health, well-being, and productivity.

On a recent episode of the “Dairy at Guelph” podcast, Professor of Animal Biosciences Dr. Trevor DeVries described the work he and his team at the University of Guelph have been doing to tease out the intricacies between cattle personality, behavior, and adaptation to automated milking systems (AMS).

With approximately 20% of all Canadian dairy farms now milking with robots, DeVries said cows’ ability to adapt to and embrace those systems is becoming increasingly important.

When it comes to human personalities, DeVries said, “you and I might think, ‘we’re just like our parents.’ There are things that are impressed upon you when you are young that are going to carry through.” He noted there might also be genetics that are driving behavior differences.

Through their research, DeVries and his team sought to classify cows according to their behavior by measuring their individual responses to novel objects and people. They then observed how cows with different personality classifications behaved using the AMS.

One interesting finding was that timid and fearful cows tended to not use their entire feed allowance in the robot – either because they didn’t visit as frequently, did not put their heads down to trigger feed allocation, or both.

That finding alone is a critical element, because DeVries said a unique benefit of robotic milking systems is the ability to precisely deliver customized rations to individual cows, based on factors such as parity, production level, and stage of lactation.

Feeding more accurately can lead to environmental impacts due to less waste, nutrient excretion, and gas expulsion. Delivering more energy to early lactation cows could potentially prevent metabolic problems and boost lactation performance. And strategically dialing rations down at dry-off could protect udder health and improve cow welfare.

Those nutritional benefits could be optimized by cows who readily embrace the robot.

DeVries acknowledged that assessing individual personalities is not practical on-farm, but his team is using the personality information to drive both “nurture and nature” decision-making, with the goal of creating a larger population of cows whose personalities correspond positively to robot use.

“We may be able to set up management systems early in life that might shape cows’ personality or behavior,” said DeVries. He noted other researchers are exploring whether early life exposure to technologies like automated milk feeders influence calves to use AMS systems more readily when they become adults.

In terms of heritability of behavior traits, DeVries cited recently published data from his team that examined the behavior profiles of cows and their female offspring. “It’s very preliminary work, but we did detect some positive associations between the behavior profiles of those two groups of cows,” shared DeVries.

He noted that, just as temperament in the milking parlor has been used as a selection tool for years, other behaviors may be prioritized to create the cows with personalities that are best suited to robotic milking.

For more on herd health, read:

New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:35:53 GMT

New Holland is steering toward autonomous baling with the introduction of IntelliSense Bale Automation.

A novel technology, IntelliSense Bale Automation reportedly transforms the way customers and operators approach large square baling by delivering an automated solution for farmers.

The new system is compatible with Class 3 ISOBUS tractors — specifically, the T7 LWB, T7 HD and T8 from New Holland — and model year 2022 and model year 2023 New Holland BigBaler Large Square Balers.

Immediate integration is available now as a New Holland dealer-installed service. Starting in 2025, customers will have the opportunity to place orders for it as a factory-fit option.

“For large square baling operations, it’s an indispensable asset for their future by improving bale harvesting while helping them meet operational demands,” says Brad Littlefield, precision marketing manager, dairy and livestock segment for New Holland.

Lasering in on Windrows With Precision

(Farm Journal)

IntelliSense Bale Automation is an automated baling system that focuses on feedrate and swath guidance by combining two operator-assisted baling modes:

SmartSteer swath guidance acts as autosteering for automated navigation of the tractor and baler along the windrow.
IntelliCruise II controls tractor speed, responding to variation in material feedrate into the baler. The operator sets the number of slices per bale target and the maximum speed limit.

The cornerstone of IntelliSense Bale Automation is integrated LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensing technology, believed by New Holland to be the first application of its kind in ag. Installed on the front end of a tractor cab roof, it emits laser pulses to calculate distance based on reflections from the windrow.

The new system aims to increase four elements critical to operations and operators:

Increased baling productivity.
Improved bale quality.
Reduced fuel consumption.
Enhanced operator comfort.

“At the heart of our design is a commitment to putting operators first and creating technology that addresses their most important needs,” Littlefield says.

Rolling Through Time: 50 Years of New Holland Round Balers, Plus A New Mobile App

Beginning in 2024, New Holland is steering toward a unified brand image and global identity with the transition of its haytool styling to a striking yellow. The yellow transition begins with commercial haytools for late model year 2024, then unfolds in model year 2025 to include Pro-Belt round balers.

“This shift marks our dedication to pushing boundaries and providing farmers with tools to not only stand out in the field but also improve their efficiency and experience,” states Carlo Lambro, brand president of New Holland.

New Holland has also unveiled its latest innovation, the Bale Manager mobile app. This technology allows operators and customers to control and visualize baling data from their smart devices, including:

Store data.
Monitor baling activity.
Simplify accounts receivable.
Export data.
Search through completed jobs.

The app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play platforms (with the necessary components readily accessible from a local New Holland dealer).

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its round balers, a year-long celebration is in store. To participate, New Holland round baler owners can submit their story and a photo of their baler online or by scanning a QR code at their local New Holland dealership for a chance to win a commemorative prize pack.

Please visit your local New Holland dealer to learn more about the Round Baler 50th Anniversary contests, prizes, and enhanced warranty offers for owners.

Robotics

Monarch's MK-V Dairy Tractor Rolls Out Autonomous Feed Pushing

What Ranchers Need to Know About Automation in Packing Plants

A Farmer Can Dream, Right? Tesla Robots As the Farm Labor Force of the Future?

Cows Have Personalities, Too

For more on herd health, read:

He Started Out as a Milker Nearly 30 Years Ago. Now, He’s the Manager and a Leader in Technology at Wisconsin’s Largest Family-Owned Dairy

BVDV-Resistant Calf Created Through Gene Editing

The Microbiome: The Next Big Frontier in Cattle Improvement

Liver Biopsies Can Reveal Nutrition-Health Links

6 On-Farm Priorities to Help Drive Success This Year

Are You What’s Standing in the Way of Pain Mitigation?

New Holland Launches Autonomous Baling Technology And Mobile App, Marks 50 Years Of Baler Innovation With Brand Refresh

Lasering in on Windrows With Precision