Prime Sod Embraces Autonomy for Efficiency and Excellence
Deeply rooted in the sod industry, Ryan Thomas of Prime Sod has been part of the sod farming world his entire life. With a family legacy spanning over 50 years in the sod business, Ryan, along with his dad and brother, co-owns Prime Sod. While overseeing daily operations, Ryan is dedicated to enhancing the farm’s overall efficiency, which led to their partnership with Sabanto.
Ryan Thomas is a co-owner of family-owned and operated Prime Sod in North Central Texas.
Being an early adopter of Sabanto’s autonomy, Prime Sod operates two Sabanto Steward™ systems, running each system 18-20 hours per day. This move has not only boosted efficiency but also allowed more focus on maintenance, ultimately freeing up employees to assist with sod installations and other tasks around the farm.
“Sabanto has taken my tractor and made it autonomous. When my tractor wears out, we’ll take it and put it on another tractor, which is a big deal,” Ryan explained.
With Sabanto’s data collection, the farm is now equipped to manage operations at peak efficiency. They now have a map that calculates the time needed to mow each field, providing invaluable insights for better planning and resource management.
“We now have a map that tells us how many hours it takes to mow each field, which we had no idea about before. Now we know that information before we even start,” stated Ryan.
As a result of embracing autonomy, Ryan has introduced new practices on the farm to maximize their investment. These changes have significantly impacted efficiency, such as being able to harvest straight through pivot tracks instead of mowing around them. Ryan reported saving two to three hours of tractor time per field based on the system’s efficiency.
Prime Sod prepared their fields for autonomy, making their fields better, yields better, and resulting in a premium product.
Not only is the company saving time, they’re also saving on equipment costs.
“I’m taking a base-level tractor and making it autonomous instead of having one of my previous 130 horsepower John Deere R series tractors. That’s like getting the Denali or Escalade version. Now I’m getting the work edition pickup instead of the fancy thing. My tractor costs have gone way down,” stated Ryan.
With a commitment to evolving technology, Prime Sod’s reputation for excellence in sod is well-deserved. Their forward-thinking approach is shaping the future of the sod industry, and we’re honored to be part of their journey.
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