The American company Sabanto is pioneering a dramatic shift in agricultural labor by seeking operators for one of the world’s first positions dedicated to remotely managing a fleet of autonomous tractors. This novel role, akin to the experience of playing an online game, marks a significant departure from traditional tractor driving to virtual tractor operation, where new skills—such as proficiency in Farming Simulator—are becoming increasingly critical.
Sabanto, a leader in autonomous farming technology, is currently hiring an Autonomy System Operator in Ames, Iowa. This entry-level position, offered on an hourly contract basis, involves the remote operation, monitoring, and provision of light technical support for Sabanto’s fleet of autonomous tractors. “At Sabanto, we’re delivering agricultural services that will transform the farming world. Our team is building a fleet of autonomous farming machines to enable faster, cheaper, and more efficient farming—24/7 and worldwide,” stated Craig Rupp, CEO of Sabanto. “That’s why we’re looking for new team members to help realize the future of agriculture.”
In this evolving landscape, traditional tractor-driving experience is no longer relevant. The new generation of tractor operators will no longer spend their days in a remote field, sitting in the luxury cab of a tractor, guiding it with attached implements. Instead, they will use computer applications to configure, deploy, and monitor autonomous missions for Sabanto’s clients. This role emphasizes remote management from a computer screen, allowing operators to manage multiple tractors from a central location.
In 2020, Kubota tractors equipped with Sabanto’s autonomy kit were already planting their way across the American Midwest. According to Rupp, key qualifications Sabanto is seeking include a high school diploma, GED, or associate degree, and experience with Farm Simulator 19 or 22. When asked whether traditional tractor-driving skills are still relevant for this role, Rupp firmly stated, “I’ve never flown a plane, but I’ve piloted a drone.”
Agricultural education programs are adapting well to these changes. “We’re working with local ag-tech community colleges. They have a group of students who understand farming and are obsessed with Farming Simulator. We’re adapting them and taking their skills to the next level as quickly as we can,” Rupp noted.
Describing a typical workday for a virtual tractor operator, Craig Rupp explained: “At the break of dawn, our so-called virtual Field Operator (vFO) receives instructions from the farm manager on the day’s required field operations. Local personnel place the autonomous system in the first field. The vFO then deploys a mission and remotely monitors it. The vFO is responsible for notifying the local farm manager when refueling is needed.”
Rupp emphasized that a virtual field operator need not worry about taking a break during the workday: “We have redundancy in place to monitor the system even when the operator is on a break. For example, if a tractor gets stuck in a wet spot, our system is designed to pause automatically as soon as it detects wheel slip. Moreover, our operators monitor local weather conditions and maintain direct communication with the farm manager. We can dynamically enable or disable non-navigable obstacles, such as wet spots.”
The position requires working from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with occasional weekend shifts. Operators will divide their time between Sabanto’s office in Ames, Iowa, and working from home, offering flexibility in their work environment. When asked whether a virtual tractor operator earns more than a traditional tractor driver, Rupp indirectly confirmed: “The vFO monitors more systems and covers more acres than today’s traditional tractor driver.”
As for the future of tractor drivers, Rupp was clear: “I see a future where all fieldwork is outsourced and carried out autonomously. Farming will eventually require low capital investment from landowners. You better start preparing.”
This shift towards autonomous farming represents a significant leap forward in agricultural technology, promising to revolutionize the industry by making it more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable.