John Deere has taken a significant step in the realm of high-value crop agriculture with the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC. This move, which builds upon a joint venture established in 2022, underscores John Deere’s commitment to addressing critical challenges faced by growers, such as labor shortages, input costs, and crop protection.
GUSS, a pioneer in supervised high-value crop autonomy, brings to the table a proven solution that has already made a substantial impact. Founded in 2018 by Dave Crinklaw, the company manufactures autonomous sprayers that can be remotely supervised by a single operator, managing up to eight machines simultaneously. These sprayers, equipped with GPS, LiDAR, and proprietary software, navigate vineyards and orchards with remarkable precision, reducing operator error, labor costs, and material waste. To date, over 250 GUSS machines have been deployed globally, covering 2.6 million acres and accumulating 500,000 autonomous hours.
The acquisition allows John Deere to integrate GUSS’s innovative technology into its existing portfolio, enhancing its ability to serve high-value crop customers. Julien Le Vely, director of Production Systems for High Value & Small Acre Crops at John Deere, emphasized the strategic importance of this move, stating that it continues their dedication to providing advanced, scalable technologies to help growers “do more with less.”
GUSS’s operations will continue to function under its current name and brand, with its manufacturing facility remaining in Kingsburg, California. John Deere will support GUSS in expanding its global reach and accelerating innovation, including further integration with other John Deere precision agriculture technologies. One notable example is Smart Apply®, a system that enables targeted spraying and offers the potential for up to 50% savings on chemical and water use.
Gary Thompson, chief operations officer at GUSS, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, highlighting the opportunity to leverage John Deere’s innovative capabilities to bring solutions to more growers worldwide. The acquisition also expands John Deere’s U.S. manufacturing footprint to a key region for high-value crop production, further solidifying its position in the agricultural technology sector.
As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, the integration of autonomous technologies like those offered by GUSS represents a significant advancement. This acquisition not only enhances John Deere’s technological offerings but also underscores its commitment to supporting growers in overcoming their most pressing challenges. The collaboration between John Deere and GUSS is poised to drive innovation and efficiency in high-value crop agriculture, benefiting growers and the industry as a whole.