Expert opinions have been instrumental in shaping the discourse and trajectory of the agricultural sector throughout 2025. Future Farming, a leading platform in the industry, has been at the forefront of this dialogue, publishing insightful commentary from specialists on a wide range of topics. From the rising costs of machinery to the advent of autonomous farming, artificial intelligence, and precision agriculture, these perspectives have ignited discussions and provided critical reflections on the pace and implications of technological change.
As we approach the end of 2025 and look ahead to the first days of 2026, it is essential to reflect on the content shared over the past year. In the coming days, Future Farming will publish a series of top 5 overviews, featuring the best-read articles of 2025. This edition highlights expert opinions, showcasing the analyses and viewpoints that resonated most strongly with the readership.
The first article in the series is ‘The idle capital paradox’ by Craig Rupp, CEO of Sabanto and a pioneer in autonomous farming. Rupp shares his perspective on the practical realities of autonomy in agriculture, drawing from his experience of operating a fleet of autonomous tractors. He argues that a standard autonomous tractor may often be more effective than a dedicated field robot. Rupp’s insights were sparked by a farmer’s remark during a wheat-seeding field demonstration in Kansas. The farmer noted that his high-horsepower tractor, which only performs two field operations a year, collects dust for the remainder of the year. This observation underscores the potential of autonomous farming to address the issue of idle capital in agriculture.
The second article, ‘Autonomous tractors on public roads: common sense or public hazard?’ delves into the U.S.’s bold step of running farm tractors autonomously on public roads. The Rural Autonomous Mobility Program (RAMP) in Kansas, developed with Sabanto, aims for a technical and legal breakthrough. The article explores the implications of this initiative, which could pave the way for the wider adoption of autonomous farming technologies.
The third and fourth articles in the series focus on capital expenses in agriculture. In ‘Capital expenses – part 1: ‘Rethinking Big Iron”, Rupp argues that autonomy is not just a solution to the labor shortage but also a way to address the increasingly high capital expenses in the industry. He introduces Justin Yirsa, a farmer who decided to go smaller and smarter, stretching every dollar further. In ‘Capital expenses – Part 2: ‘How one farmer saved $1.7M by thinking smaller, not bigger”, Rupp delves into Yirsa’s story, highlighting the real breakthrough of rethinking the whole system: smaller tractors, smaller seeders, and running them longer, harder, and cheaper.
The final article in the series, ‘If we trust robotaxis in cities, why not tractors on gravel roads?’ challenges the perception of autonomous tractors on rural roads. The article argues that if we can trust autonomous cars in crowded city streets, we should be able to trust tractors on gravel roads.
These expert opinions have not only sparked discussion but also offered critical reflection on the pace and consequences of technological change in the agricultural sector. As we look ahead to 2026, these insights will continue to shape the debate and direction of the industry.