John Deere Buys Automated Ag Machinery Builder GUSS

The ag machinery leader is betting that, by throwing the weight of their established brand behind this cutting-edge technology, more producers will be motivated to adopt it sooner rather than later.

John Deere has been a leader in row crop machinery for decades. Now, the company is focusing on higher-value crops, such as trees, vines, and vegetables.

To achieve this, they recently acquired GUSS, a company founded in 2017 and already recognized as one of the premier builders of automated agricultural machinery, with a focus on autonomous spray technology in particular.

Speaking to some of the motivations behind the acquisition, John Deere representative Sean Sundberg explained that the reputation and staying power of the John Deere brand is expected to lead to greater producer confidence and increased willingness to adopt such cutting-edge technology sooner rather than later:

“The high value crop grower, has a lot of hesitance to adopt it because they don’t know if that startup’s going to be there nine months from now, and it leads to saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to do what I know is going to work to protect my profits, and that may or may not be adopting technology immediately.’”

Related Stories
Kubota President Alex Woods discusses the “Geared to Give” program, the company’s commitment to those who served, and how the initiative continues to grow and impact veterans.
Experts highlight the importance of monitoring insecticide resistance in crops and improving disease traceability at livestock shows through RFID technology.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.
Arizona producers are proving that desert farming and water conservation can coexist through technology, reuse, and efficiency — reinforcing both food security and environmental stewardship.
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his perspective on the U.S.-China trade developments and their potential impact on American producers, farmers, and ranchers.
Tune in on Wednesday, November 5, 2025
7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
The U.S.-Japan tech pact signals long-term investment in bio-innovation, connectivity, and secure supply chains — all of which can strengthen rural manufacturing, ag exports, and digital infrastructure critical to the next generation of farm productivity.

Agriculture Shows
Crop yield champions David Hula from Virginia and Randy Dowdy from Georgia are back for another season with the aim of schooling more growers across the country in their winning ways.
“Texas Agriculture Matters” is a fun, informative look at the role of agriculture in our daily lives. The show utilizes the trademark wit and wisdom of its host Commissioner Sid Miller — an 8th-generation farmer-rancher and 12-time World Champion rodeo cowboy — to explore a new Texas ag-related topic each week.
From barnyards and back roads to metros and highways, Simply Southern TV on RFD-TV explores all of Alabama to bring you the best stories on farming, gardening, forestry, rural living, and youth in agriculture.
In the first week of each month, “Down Home Virginia,” produced by the Virginia Farm Bureau, airs its half-hour program. Other states’ Farm Bureaus featured on different weeks include Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Idaho, and New York, and news from the American Farm Bureau from Washington, D.C.
Created by former Louisiana Farm Bureau PR Director and former host Regnal Wallace, “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture,” is one of the state’s longest-running TV programs.