‘Revolutionary’ all-in-one farming machine debuts at Farm Progress – The Pantagraph

DECATUR A prototype of a revolutionary new, all-in-one, autonomous farming machine made its North American debut at the Farm Progress Show this week.

The NEXAT machine is the worlds first and only holistic plant production system, according to its North American marketer Terrakamp.

So the NEXAT is the name of the main machine, and it's multiple machines in one, said Samantha Jandrisch, director of communications and marketing with Terrakamp. The idea is it's a wide-span carrier unit that's 50 feet wide that attaches to multiple implements that will complete all phases of farming, from ground preparation to planting to spraying to tillage. Any application you use can be modularly attached and interchangeably used with this carrier unit.

Jandrisch and other Terrakamp officials say their machine could one day change what farming looks like.

It's revolutionary in the fact that we're kind of rethinking the way that we farm, Jandrisch said. The modular interchangeable application is in itself such a value, you know, not having to have more than one tractor unit for all those different implements is just in itself revolutionary. But really, what's behind it is what we call wideband controlled traffic farming.

The 45-foot distance in between the tracks implements are attached to is never compacted, Jandrisch said, since the same tracks are being used on each side for every phase a farmer goes through their field.

Minimizing soil compaction can help revitalize the soil and lead to better harvests, she said.

Jandrisch said that although the NEXAT is still being tested and is not yet on the market, it received lots of positive feedback at this weeks show.

Matt Ochsner, one of the farmers helping to test and give feedback on the prototypes, said the NEXAT might also help farmers address labor shortages.

We're trying to not necessarily get rid of labor but find a better way to utilize our labor, Ochsner said. We don't have it, so we can't really get rid of it. On a farm, that's the biggest struggle right now is finding help. There just aren't very many of us left.

Outfitted with autonomous technology, the NEXAT could shake up the ag industry, Ochsner said.

From an economic point of view, it's nice to have a different competitor other than Deere or Case, he said. It's nice to see something that could change the industry like Precision Planting did. I dont know if were quite there yet, but it's a different concept. It's a little bit futuresque.

Vince Herman, a farmer from Edgerton, Ohio, said the technology was way ahead of my time.

It's remarkable, the engineering into something like this, Herman said.

What might be even more remarkable, he said, is how much farming has changed during his lifetime.

Alongside the line fence, they got really nice old tractors, just for instance, Herman said. Its not like Im picking on todays tractors. Im just saying, from all that stuff out there, I grew up with all of those tractors. Ill tell you, it's a lifetime of changing. Coming to this thing? This blows my mind.

1990: Farm Progress Show host family Lisa, Ida Kay, Richard and Craig Boggs size up this year's show in Amana, Iowa.

1978: An FS Services representative explained to viewers just how these micromini tractors were modified to compete in pulls at the Farm Progress Show.

JIM BOWLING, HERALD & REVIEW Central Progress Avenue is pictured from a helicopter tour vantage point during the second day of the Farm Progress Show Wednesday.

JIM BOWLING, HERALD & REVIEW Progress City is pictured from a helicopter tour vantage point during the second day of the Farm Progress Show Wednesday.

Taron Freeman wears promotional bags around his neck while visiting the Farm Progress Show with fellow Stevenson School sixth graders during a field trip in August. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation provided funds to allow all Decatur Public School sixth-grade classes to experience the event. On Monday, Decatur school officials announced that Buffett would provide $1.6 million to fund a new agriculture academy.

Brandt Group of Companies shows off its agricultural augers at the 2017 Farm Progress Show in Decatur.

JIM BOWLING, HERALD & REVIEW Ray Ainsworth conducts a horse training session.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, middle right, chats with attendees in the Archer Daniels Midland Co. tent.

CLAY JACKSON, HERALD & REVIEW Larry Ring checks out a 1932 Ford that was on display at the O'Reilly Booth Wednesday during the 2017 Farm Progress Show site at Progress City USA in Decatur. Ring is from Effingham.

CLAY JACKSON, HERALD & REVIEW The crowd listens to country singer Easton Corbin Wednesday during the 2017 Farm Progress Show site at Progress City USA in Decatur. The concert is sponsored by Ram Trucks and was free to the public.

Exhibitors and attendees talk in the DuPont Pioneer tent during the second day of the Farm Progress Show Aug. 30 in Decatur.

Attendees walk on West Progress Avenue at Progress City, as viewed from the top of the grain bin at the Chief Agri Industrial Division exhibit, during the 2013 Farm Progress Show in Decatur.

Contact Taylor Vidmar at (217) 421-6949. Follow her on Twitter: @taylorvidmar11.

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'Revolutionary' all-in-one farming machine debuts at Farm Progress - The Pantagraph