A new era of farming
Starting a farm from scratch is no small feat. The steep costs of land, equipment, and inputs make it nearly impossible to finance or build a profitable operation. But Brian Dunaway defied the odds. While attending the University of Georgia, Brian launched a first-generation turfgrass farm. And nearly 30 years later, Dunaway Farms is thriving.
Today, Dunaway Farms’ turfgrass division spans 500 acres in central Georgia. Brian oversees all aspects of the business, including sales and scheduling to daily operations. One of his greatest strengths as a farmer is his willingness to embrace change and adopt new technologies that drive productivity and efficiency.
I knew we had to do something to fight the labor problem, Brian says.
Labor shortages were a persistent challenge, particularly with Dunaway Farms’ consistent mowing schedule 2x per week. In March 2024, Brian made a game-changing move and purchased two Sabanto Autonomy Systems. Without them, he would have needed to hire two additional full-time employees to keep up with mowing twice a week. Instead, he chose autonomy.
A Sabanto Autonomy System mowing at Dunaway Farms in Hawkinsville, Georgia.
Before Sabanto, Brian’s team struggled to keep up with five manually operated mowers. But in the 2024 season, thanks to the autonomous systems, the farm covered over 6,000 acres and still managed to take every Wednesday and weekends off.
We’re a better farm because of Sabanto’s autonomy,” Brian says.
The results speak for themselves. Brian not only solved his labor dilemma, but he also found that the autonomous systems were easier on his equipment, extending its lifespan and cutting down on maintenance. Fuel consumption dropped by 25–30% – a welcome bonus.
“It’s amazing how rough a human can be on a piece of equipment,” Brian notes. “There’s going to be some intrinsic trade-in value that equates as a result of autonomy.”
Brian splits his time between Georgia and a second farm in South America. While traveling, he continues to manage field operations remotely. His team sets up the retrofit tractors in the field, and Brian deploys and monitors them from the other side of the equator. Sometimes, he even controls them from the air using his phone and a Starlink Mini while en route between continents.
That level of flexibility is unheard of in traditional farming.
Recently, Dunaway Farms added a third Sabanto Autonomy System, with plans to expand its applications beyond mowing. Brian is preparing for additional fieldwork autonomously, including operations like agri-vating and subsoiling – tasks well-suited for autonomy.
Dunaway Farms demonstrates how autonomy isn’t just a luxury but a lifeline for modern farms facing labor shortages and rising costs. With the freedom and flexibility that Sabanto’s technology brings, Brian is redefining what’s possible for farmers like himself and paving the way for the next generation to do the same.
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