Robots are ready to farm
An immediate hit at the U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, D.C., were robot dogs marching on four mechanical legs without human help. Yet as a commentator noted, this technology doesn’t eliminate humans from certain military tasks. It just allows them to control the robot from a safer location.
University of Illinois researchers debuted a similar robot dog at a field day in Champaign in 2024. However, it was programmed to perform tasks related to cattle and pasture management on the farm. Likewise, the Amiga modular robot from Farm-ng, based in California, is ready to perform basic production tasks in the field on small and medium-size farms.
As with military versions, people must still provide input for autonomous agricultural robots. Farm-ng just made that easier by introducing significant updates to its on-robot software stack. Enhancements focus on streamlining the grower interface with the robot, automated implement control within farming zones and improved accuracy in the hands-free navigation mode.
Farm-ng also added a new Job Manager feature to simplify operation and increase efficiency in the field. Reportedly, someone with minimal technical experience can farm with Amiga. Visit farm-ng.com.
RinoTec recognized as environmentally friendly
A biocontrol agent, RinoTec, produced by a novel bacterial organism found in nature, has insecticidal and nematicidal properties and a unique mode of action. That’s why U.S. EPA awarded Pro Farm Group, maker of RinoTec, with its Green Chemistry Challenge Award. This award is reserved for achievements in design of safer and more degradable chemicals.
Spokespersons for Pro Farm Group say RinoTec has strong activity against plant-parasitic nematodes, corn rootworms, wireworms, whiteflies, thrips, mites and certain lepidoptera pests. EPA requires minimal personal protective equipment for applying RinoTec, and the label carries a zero-day preharvest interval after application.
Pending some state registrations, products with RinoTec technology available for 2026 will include Arino and Bronte for specialty crops and fruits, and Neovo to control nematodes and belowground pests in corn and sorghum. Visit profarmgroup.com.
John Deere acquires Sentera
Sentera is making noise this year with its SmartScript program. It turns aerial scouting with drones into prescription weed maps that allow you to target spray applications to areas with weeds.
Sentera’s latest move is also reverberating throughout the industry. The St. Paul, Minn., company recently was acquired by John Deere. Brian Wenngatz, CEO of Sentera, says, “John Deere provides us a great outcome and is exactly the right home for Sentera.”
Customers see the synergy in the field. Once a prescription is generated through SmartScript, it can be sent wirelessly to compatible equipment through John Deere Operations Center. Sentera will continue to work independently with customers, and JD Ops continues to be open to other drone imagery providers. Visit sentera.com.
Look for Forcivo fungicide in 2026
Add the name Forcivo to your list of potential fungicides for disease control in corn, soybeans and wheat. Pending U.S. EPA approval, Corteva Agriscience’s goal is to make Forcivo available for the 2026 growing season.
Spokespersons tout it as a triple-action fungicide for foliar disease control. The three active ingredients include flutriafol, azoxystrobin and fluindapyr. Forcivo will deliver overlapping preventive and curative activity for tar spot and southern rust in corn, and frogeye leaf spot in soybeans, plus other diseases in both crops. Visit corteva.com.