Deere & Company and GUSS Automation, have formed a joint venture with an LLC in Kingsburg, Calif.
Global Unmanned Spray System (GUSS) is a pioneer in semi-autonomous sprayers for orchards and vineyards.
In today’s realities, and the prices of global food markets, the most profitable and profitable are considered to be the so-called “High Value Crops” (HVC) such as orchards and vineyards, they bring much higher added value per hectare than grains or oilseeds. Major high value crops include:
- Vegetables and gourds, which are grown in beds
- Berries and Grapes, (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, wine varieties of grapes)
- Garden crops ( walnuts, olives, almonds, apples, citrus, etc.)
“As demand for high-value crops grows, we see significant opportunities to help growers increase productivity while addressing rising labor costs and finding skilled labor to operate equipment,” said Chris Davison, director of small tractor and high-performance systems. at John Deere.
“The GUSS team has a deep understanding of high-value crop production systems, as well as strong customer relationships and a proven track record of implementing innovative technologies,” Chris Davison added.
With GUSS engineering, only one operator is needed to control several sprayers. This will enable growers to use resources more intelligently, thereby reducing costs through the use of smart technology. Minimize downtime and minimize driver error. The new development will enable faster and more stable spraying of orchards and vineyards, controlling the amount of fertilizer applied, with the help of artificial intelligence.
“Deere and GUSS are committed to investing in innovation and technology to help farmers be more productive and profitable by growing more food with fewer resources,” Davison said.
Through the joint venture, Deere will help GUSS further partner with the Deere sales channel, and GUSS will continue its innovation and product development to better serve customers, Davison said.
About GUSS:
Founded GUSS as a startup in 2018, GUSS currently has only 35 employees.
About Deere & Company:
World leader in agricultural, construction and forestry equipment. Constantly improving, introducing new technologies of smart farming. Known for its high-tech developments including: John Deere 8R autonomous tractor, See & Spray and E-Power excavator. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial.
Under the terms of the merger :
GUSS will retain its employees, Brand and trademark and will continue to operate in its current location. GUSS employees, customers and business partners will notice small changes in day-to-day operations as a result of the joint venture.