Integrating Practical Autonomy
Ag Technologies has built its reputation on understanding precision ag technologies and the farming operations it serves. Under the leadership of President Brian Kelley, the company has built a team of experts transforming sophisticated precision ag tools into practical, powerful solutions for modern farmers.
Kelley has been involved in the precision ag space since it emerged in the late 1990s, helping customers implement technologies like yield monitoring, variable rate application, and auto steer. “Over time, each invention became more mechanized and automated,” Kelley explains. “Although gradual, each of these innovations have been building blocks for the path to autonomy.”
Brian Kelley works with growers to understand the challenges and needs of their farms, bringing them practical technology solutions to integrate into their farms.
Ag Technologies is a trusted Sabanto dealer, offering retrofit autonomy to growers in the Southeastern portion of the United States. Sabanto’s presence in the turf industry is largely due to Kelley’s foresight and his understanding of the challenges that turf growers experience.
Sabanto’s autonomous technology was originally developed for use in row crops, but Kelley saw the opportunity to solve a volume and acre problem in turf farming. He knew field operations were highly repetitive, taking place throughout the year in a controlled crop environment. “Those were necessary components for autonomy to be successful,” Kelley notes. “Turf was a natural fit for autonomy.”
Labor constraints are also a limiting factor for growers across the turf industry. The ongoing challenge of finding and retaining skilled workers is becoming increasingly difficult because of other industries competing for workers with indoor working conditions and competitive wages. This reality is forcing many farmers to consider autonomy to supplement labor.
“Autonomy is a force multiplier,” Kelley explains. “One person can monitor and manage several autonomous machines simultaneously, focusing on higher-level decision making rather than the single repetitive task of driving a tractor while mowing.”
The partnership between Ag Technologies and Sabanto is rooted in a shared vision: making autonomy accessible and practical for today’s farmers. “Our vision runs in parallel with each other on where the industry can and should be. Each group brings their skills and talents to the table to accomplish our unified goal of bringing autonomy into the ag space,” Kelley shares.
What sets Sabanto apart, according to Kelley, is their bold approach. “We see that Sabanto is genuinely pursuing the autonomy space. They truly have a vision they’re working to execute. Sabanto has been willing to challenge the norms and narratives of today’s large OEMs. That’s something commendable while also solving a complex problem farmers are facing.”
The results speak for themselves. Farmers who’ve adopted Sabanto’s autonomous systems are reporting more than just labor savings. They’re seeing less equipment wear and tear, better maintenance routines, and in many cases, a major jump in productivity.
“One of our customers told us they’re covering 35% more acres in a single day because of autonomy,” Kelley says. Some customers are reporting even more.
At the heart of Ag Technologies’ success is their commitment to staying hands-on before, during, and after the sale. Their team works closely with each farm to tailor the technology to its unique operation, ensuring it’s integrated smoothly and supported every step of the way.
In Kelley’s words: “We understand technology. We understand farmers. Our job is to connect the two, and that’s exactly what we do.”
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