CNH, a global leader in agricultural machinery, has recently inked a deal with Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, to bring satellite connectivity to farmers worldwide. This collaboration is set to revolutionize the agricultural industry by providing customers of CNH brands, including Case IH, New Holland, and Steyr, with high-speed internet connectivity, even in the most remote rural locations.
The implications of this partnership are vast. With Starlink’s advanced satellite network, CNH’s machines can now communicate and coordinate more efficiently, thanks to reliable, low-latency internet. This technology seamlessly integrates with CNH’s FieldOps digital platform, giving farmers unprecedented visibility of their machines and providing real-time data from anywhere, at any time.
Stefano Pampalone, agriculture chief commercial officer at CNH, expressed enthusiasm about the new offering: “We’re thrilled to offer our customers access to industry-leading satellite connectivity, enabling them to maximise the potential of our full suite of precision technology in even the most challenging rural environments.”
One of the most significant benefits of this collaboration is the enhanced data streaming capabilities it provides. Farmers can now keep their farm management devices consistently connected, regardless of location. This is particularly crucial for tasks such as prescription spraying, where fast and reliable data transmission can make a substantial difference.
For instance, in markets like Brazil, where connectivity issues can make farm logistics challenging, CNH’s FieldXplorer platform uses AI to transform drone images into a field map that distinguishes between weeds and crops. With Starlink’s technology, this data can now be exported near instantaneously to create a prescription spraying map for the machine. This enables farmers to apply crop protection products sooner, controlling weeds earlier, which ultimately helps improve crop yields.
The partnership between CNH and Starlink marks a significant step forward in the integration of advanced technology into agriculture. By bridging the connectivity gap in rural areas, this collaboration promises to enhance the efficiency and productivity of farming operations worldwide.