Equipment

UC7 Plus helps farmers and crop service providers lower inputs. (Image Credit:

Topcon Agriculture has launched the UC7 Plus, the next generation of its boom height control technology for agricultural spraying applications

Built on the solid foundation of Topcon’s Norac boom height control systems, the UC7 Plus helps farmers and crop service providers lower inputs, improve crop performance, and reduce equipment maintenance costs with enhanced spray control and height management capabilities.

The new technology is compatible with most self-propelled and pull-type sprayers, and features advanced sensor technology designed to boost performance and reliability. The UC7 Plus includes the dynamic chassis sensor (DCS-1) to improve the stability and responsiveness of the boom control system. Additionally, the latest MS-1 sensors with MAX Sense ultrasonic technology enhance performance even in challenging terrains. These sensors are built to endure tough field conditions with features such as corrosion-resistant GF nylon housing, a protective transducer screen, and multi-axis vents.

Nick Townsend, Vice President of Topcon Agriculture, highlighted the benefits of the technology. “The combination of proven legacy solutions with the latest in precision technology serves up an extreme opportunity for lower operating and input costs, and lower equipment repair costs,” he said. “Spraying system advances increasingly provide farmers and service providers with an opportunity to achieve a greater return on investment on their equipment, either through upgrades or new investments. The UC7 Plus directly drives those savings.”

The UC7 Plus technology also supports sustainability efforts by ensuring that only the necessary amount of spray is applied where needed, helping farmers achieve optimal crop performance while meeting compliance standards and saving on costs. Furthermore, the technology significantly reduces operator stress and fatigue by automating boom height adjustments to match land contours, removing the need for constant monitoring of field terrain.

With improved spraying performance by up to 30%, according to Topcon’s testing data, the UC7 Plus provides a practical and efficient solution for farmers, offering incremental upgrades to existing systems and further cost-saving potential.

This collaboration integrates their platforms, offering users the ability to monitor and track their assets. (Image credit: Razor Tracking)

 CLAAS and Razor Tracking have formed a strategic partnership to enhance farm equipment management and support vehicle tracking

This collaboration integrates their platforms, offering users the ability to monitor and track their assets across both Razor Tracking and CLAAS Connect platforms.

The integration allows farmers to view their equipment, service vehicles, and non-powered assets in real-time. Razor Tracking devices not only provide GPS location but also offer valuable insights such as vehicle VIN, fuel levels, operating hours, engine status, location history, heading, weather overlays, and speed. This comprehensive data ensures better visibility, helping farmers ensure crew members are working in the correct fields and making deliveries to the right locations, ultimately improving operational transparency.

Eric Raby, Senior Vice President of CLAAS Americas, highlighted the importance of smart logistics in modern agriculture. “Knowledge is power. Nowhere is that more evident than on a modern farm where smart logistics and equipment tracking are crucial for saving both time and money,” he said. This partnership seeks to streamline fleet management, extending its capabilities beyond CLAAS equipment, offering a robust solution to optimise farming operations.

Eric Mauch, Managing Partner of Razor Tracking, also emphasised the value of the partnership. “We’re proud to be a GPS Telematics integration partner with CLAAS in North America,” he stated. “This partnership combines our advanced GPS tracking technology with our deep roots in agriculture, allowing customers to seamlessly monitor and manage all of their equipment across multiple farm locations from one powerful platform.”

By merging the strengths of both companies, this integration aims to provide farmers with a more efficient and transparent way to manage their fleets, improving decision-making and overall farm productivity. With the combined power of Razor Tracking's telematics technology and CLAAS' expertise, the partnership offers a holistic solution for equipment tracking and fleet management in the agricultural sector.

The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and grower support. (Image credit: Biobest)

Biobest and Bogaerts Greenhouse Logistics have teamed up to launch the Plug In—a new innovation that connects Biobest’s Entomatic dispenser with Bogaerts’ Qii-Jet TAV spraying robot, enabling growers to streamline their operations and enhance pest control efficiency

The Plug In consists of both electrical and mechanical upgrades, designed to allow seamless integration between the two systems. This development brings together cutting-edge biological pest control and automated greenhouse logistics, giving growers a single, unified solution for efficient and sustainable crop protection.

Entomatic, Biobest’s automated insect dispenser, is known for its precise and even release of beneficial insects throughout greenhouse crops. It is a modular system made up of a dosing unit, control panel, and blowers, typically mounted on pipe rail trolleys used in greenhouses.

Thanks to this new partnership, growers can now mount the Plug In on existing Qii-Jet systems, or order new ones that come with it pre-installed. The innovation includes hardware changes to support better cabling, along with software updates that allow users to control both the spraying trolley and the insect dosing unit from a single interface.

Sam Gui, Biobest’s Development Manager for High-Tech Integrated Pest Management (IPM), emphasised the significance of the collaboration and said,"The two companies will continue to collaborate. Our customers often face the same challenges. By combining expertise, we will develop practical solutions that simplify operational management for growers - the Plug In is just a taste of what's to come."

This integration does more than simplify operations—it saves time, improves precision, and enhances sustainable practices in crop protection.

"With the new Plug In, using Entomatic is now as simple as other spraying systems," said Gui. "Improving the compatibility of the two systems saves time, improves application and enhances sustainable crop protection for growers. This collaboration allows us to effectively support growers to invest in a sustainable future for horticulture," he added.

The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and grower support, with both companies aiming to reduce complexity in greenhouse operations while promoting environmentally conscious pest control methods.

With the Plug In, Biobest and Bogaerts are setting the stage for more integrated and efficient greenhouse automation solutions—reflecting a forward-thinking approach to agriculture and crop management.

A new generation of farmers is transforming agriculture through technology.

In Vietnam’s rural heartlands, a new generation of farmers is transforming agriculture through technology.

At the centre of this shift is the use of agricultural drones from XAG, helping farmers save time, reduce labour, and improve crop yields—while offering young people a meaningful reason to return to their hometowns.

One such farmer is 30-year-old Lưu Văn Đoàn. After years of working far from home in a factory, Đoàn returned to Tiền Giang province and discovered drone technology through his brother. "I used to work at a factory far from home, barely earning enough and missing my family," he recalls. "I found my passion for technology. Soon I was piloting drones every day." Today, Đoàn earns his living offering drone-based crop protection services to fellow farmers—covering his own rice paddies and those in nearby communities.

His journey reflects a growing solution to Vietnam’s agricultural labour crisis. As rural areas age—home to nearly eight million elderly people—and younger generations migrate to urban jobs, many farms are left without support. Đoàn understands why. Traditional farming is physically demanding, especially when spraying crops manually. “Carrying heavy equipment under the hot sun, chemicals burning your skin—sometimes the fields were almost impossible to cross,” he remembers. Now, with a smartphone and the XAG P150 drone, he completes work faster and more safely. “It’s much easier,” he adds.

The XAG P150 has revolutionised Đoàn’s work. With a 70kg payload, precise RTK route planning, and consistent spraying capability, the drone ensures full coverage across different field shapes. "When spraying herbicides by hand, weeds sometimes persist," Đoàn says. "With drones, fields are often completely weed-free."

At first, farmers were sceptical. "The spray uses too little water—how will the rice grow?" they asked. But as they saw the results—healthier crops and fewer weeds—their views changed. The drone's powerful downdraft ensures pesticides reach both sides of the leaves, delivering better results. “You can clearly see that drone spraying makes the rice look healthier,” says Đoàn.

The benefits aren’t just visual. Farmers using Đoàn’s drone services cut pesticide use by 30%, making the service cost-effective. "The savings on pesticides cover what farmers pay for the drone service!" he explains. This aligns with findings from Vietnam’s Institute of Agricultural Economics, which report drones can reduce pesticide use by 30% and increase yields by 15%.

Precision is especially vital in Vietnam’s fruit export market, where residue limits are strict. Drones allow for careful mapping, accurate dosing, and even application, helping farmers meet global standards for crops like durian and jackfruit.

For Đoàn, drone farming has brought both a career and a sense of purpose. "Drones have made a huge difference for us," he says. "As things develop, I hope to expand, add more drones, and help more farmers succeed."

Vietnam’s next generation of farmers isn’t just returning to their roots—they’re reimagining them, one drone flight at a time.

Trelleborg Tires brought its cutting-edge VF tire technology to life.(Image Credit: Trelleborg)

At the BASF Demo Day held at Hurcott Farm, Trelleborg Tires brought its cutting-edge VF (Very High Flexion) tire technology to life in a dynamic field demonstration that showcased the real-world benefits of smarter pressure management.

Hosted by the Doble family, the event allowed farmers and contractors to witness firsthand how adjusting tyre pressure between field and road can significantly improve performance, productivity, and long-term soil health.

Leading the demonstration, Craig Churstain, Trelleborg’s sales manager highlighted the often-overlooked power of proper pressure adjustment. Lower pressures in the field reduce soil compaction, while higher pressures on the road improve fuel economy and tyre longevity — offering a simple but powerful route to efficiency.

At the heart of this innovation is Trelleborg’s VF technology, which allows tyres to carry the same load at lower pressures, spreading weight more evenly and protecting soil structure. This, in turn, supports better root development, healthier crops, and improved yields over time.

Enhancing this further is Trelleborg’s ProgressiveTraction tread design, engineered to increase grip, reduce slippage, and ensure better self-cleaning in muddy or mixed terrain. This dual-anchor lug system ensures optimal performance both in the field and on the move, helping farmers save on fuel and extend tyre life.

Backed by a 5,000-hour performance warranty through its Premium Care Program, Trelleborg’s technology isn’t just about tyres — it's about delivering confidence and reliability for farmers under increasing economic and environmental pressures. As Churstain said, “Farmers today are under constant pressure to do more with less. Our mission is to provide tyre solutions that not only perform in the toughest conditions but also support a more sustainable and profitable farming model.”

The demo, supported by C&O Tractors and their Massey Ferguson fleet, reinforced how pairing advanced tyre solutions with high-performance machinery can create meaningful gains in both efficiency and sustainability.

With a strong focus on innovation, practical performance, and long-term value, Trelleborg Tires is proving that tyre technology can play a crucial role in the future of agriculture — turning every revolution into a smarter one.

The new Agras drones are designed to handle bigger jobs and suit a range of farming tasks.(Image Credit: DJI)

DJI, the global leader in drone and camera technology, has officially launched its latest agricultural drones - the Agras T100, T70P, and T25P — for worldwide use.

These new models represent the next step in DJI agriculture’s development, offering more power, smarter features, and greater efficiency for farming operations of all sizes.

With over 12 years of research and development behind them, the new Agras drones are designed to handle bigger jobs and suit a range of farming tasks, from spraying and spreading to lifting. Each drone is built with advanced safety features and automated systems to support smarter, safer, and more efficient farming.

Agras T100: for large-scale farming

The Agras T100 is built for commercial farming, with a maximum payload of 100 litres for spraying, 150 litres for spreading, or 100 kilograms for lifting. It has a top operating speed of 20 m/s, making it twice as efficient as the previous model. Its powerful safety system includes LiDAR, millimetre-wave radar, and a Penta-Vision system, helping it navigate safely and operate with high accuracy.

Agras T70P: balanced power and efficiency

Designed for a wide range of uses, the Agras T70P can spray with 70 litres, spread with 100 litres, or lift up to 65 kilograms. Like the T100, it reaches speeds of up to 20 m/s and includes a fine mist spraying system. It features the Safety System 3.0 with improved obstacle detection using radar and a Tri-Vision system.

Agras T25P: compact and ideal for solo use

The T25P keeps its compact, foldable frame, making it ideal for single-person use. It includes the new 25 kg high-precision screw feeder system for spreading and the Safety System 3.0. It is well-suited for smaller farms or precision tasks, with full automation for mapping and plant protection.

New training for drone pilots

DJI is also rolling out new pilot training courses under the DJI Academy, starting in 15 countries across the Americas and Asia. These courses will teach safe flying, efficient spraying and spreading, and how to get the most out of DJI’s agricultural drones.The new Agras drones will first be available in Southeast Asia.

Yuan Zhang, head of global sales at DJI Agriculture, said, “We are proud to launch these advanced drones to support global farming. They help growers feed communities while reducing the environmental impact on our planet.”