John Deere's Deanna Kovar and the Road From Precision Farming to Autonomous Industry
At CES 2026, John Deere delivered one of the strongest real-world technology showings on the floor. The company brought the largest autonomous heavy machinery at the event, drawing attention not through spectacle, but through systems that are already operating in fields and moving steadily into construction and industrial use.
At the center of this momentum is Deanna Kovar, President of Worldwide Agriculture and Turf for Production and Precision Agriculture. Her leadership reflects a long-term view where autonomy, policy, and infrastructure move together, grounded in the realities farmers and operators face every day. As Deanna wrote recently:
“Growing up on a dairy farm, I saw firsthand how policy decisions influence the day-to-day realities of running an operation.”
From Farming Roots to Scaled Autonomy
John Deere’s work in autonomy did not start on a show floor. It started in agriculture, where labor shortages, tight margins, and sustainability pressures demand tools that work every day, in all conditions.
At CES, John Deere showcased autonomous systems built for orchards, fields, and GPS-challenged environments, including a fully automated 5ML diesel orchard tractor. This machine uses 7 cameras, 3 LiDAR sensors, and real-time 3D perception to spray autonomously under tree canopies where satellite visibility is limited.
The system understands its surroundings. It distinguishes obstacles like fallen branches from objects it can safely pass. It operates at low speeds, often at night, and runs repeatable jobs that growers perform 3 to 8+ times per year. That consistency brings better measurement, better control, and better outcomes.
“When farmers have the certainty and support they need, they strengthen rural communities, our economy, and America’s energy future.”
- Deanna Kovar
Autonomy That Fits Real Operations
John Deere’s autonomy strategy focuses on repeatability, measurement, and availability. Farmers gain the ability to run equipment , schedule work when conditions are ideal, and redirect labor toward higher-value tasks.