For over three and a half decades, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has been at the forefront of recognizing and celebrating the most groundbreaking advancements in engineering within the realms of agriculture, food, and biological systems. The AE50 Award, a prestigious honor in the industry, has consistently highlighted innovations that save producers time, reduce costs and labor, and enhance safety. The award’s eligibility criteria are stringent, requiring that each development must embody the application of new technology or the innovative use of an older technology, and must be new to the entire industry, not just an individual company.
The selection process for the AE50 Award is rigorous, involving an international panel of industry experts in technology, design, and product development. These experts evaluate the entries and select up to 50 products for recognition each year. The 2025 winners of the AE50 Award have been announced, showcasing a range of innovative products that are set to revolutionize the agricultural industry.
One of the standout winners is the Unverferth Air Command Section Control for Pro-Force Dry Fertilizer Spreaders. This system uses pneumatics to redirect fertilizer from the belt-over-chain conveyor for precise 4-section control, saving users money by preventing over-application of valuable dry fertilizer. The system’s simplistic design ensures a faster return on investment for purchasers. The Air Command can shut off any of the four sections at any time, independent from one another, and communicates with the standard ISOBUS rate controller to follow a customer’s programmed coverage map.
Another notable winner is the Bourgault Intelligent Control – BiC, which sets a new standard in seeding technology. Its intuitive user interface allows operators to learn the system quickly, reducing training time and improving ease of use across the farm. The wireless monitor control system eliminates the complexity of traditional wired installations, making setup and replacement faster and more efficient. BiC’s seamless integration with leading OEM platforms gives farm managers real-time visibility and control in the field.
The MacDon Industries FD2 PLUS FlexDraper is another innovation that has been recognized by the AE50 Award. MacDon didn’t set out to build just another flexing cutterbar draper; instead, they pushed the ground-following performance of their legendary FlexDraper platform to the next level. With over 2 inches of extra flex at the cutterbar, it hugs the ground tighter, reaching deeper into low spots and scooping up every last bit of available crop. The FD2 PLUS flexes without compromise, maintaining MacDon’s close reel-to-cutterbar relationship for smooth, consistent feeding.
The Great Plains Manufacturing BD7410 is another winner that offers unmatched versatility when seeding specialty crops. Its patent-pending transport system ensures ideal weight distribution between the hitch and transport axle, keeping the transport tires out of the way during planting. The BD7410 is the only minimum-till drill that can rotate from up to 20-foot working width to less than 10-foot transport width, offering customers a range of row spacing options.
The Salford Group AB230CD Chassis Mounted Air Boom is purpose-built for the Case IH Trident 5550 Dry Hi-Flow, leveraging its unmatched hydraulic capacity for faster speeds, higher product rates, and wider coverage with reduced compaction. Equipped with an 80-foot boom and 225 cubic feet triple-bin hopper, the AB230CD maximizes daily productivity while delivering precise, variable-rate application of dry fertilizers and micronutrients.
Sentinel Ag’s Sentinel Application Advisor combines two established technologies in a way that hasn’t been done before for nitrogen management. It uses a model–sensor fusion strategy, bringing together crop growth models and image-based sensing so they work together rather than separately. The platform generates recommendations that are both forward-looking and grounded in current conditions, giving farmers a practical, reliable guide for managing nitrogen.
Lastly, the Agrifac AiCPlus 3S is an OEM-integrated, camera-AI spot-spraying system that delivers reliable, plant-level application at commercial field speeds. Its defining advantage is triple-layer precision with confidence-gated detections and physics-aware nozzle control that slashes chemical use while protecting yield and the environment.
The implications of these innovations are vast. They promise to enhance the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of agricultural practices. By reducing the need for over-application of fertilizers and chemicals, these technologies can help minimize environmental impact. Moreover, the integration of advanced technologies like AI and real-time sensing can provide farmers with valuable insights and control, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their operations.
The AE50 Award winners for 2025 are a testament to the power of innovation in driving progress in the agricultural industry. As these technologies become