NEWS RELEASE September 12, 2024
John Deere Dealers From Across Australia and New Zealand Descend on Toowoomba for Bootcamp
Crestmead, Queensland (12 September, 2024) — More than 190 John Deere staff and dealer personnel from across Australia and New Zealand descended on a cropping operation just outside Toowoomba in Southern Queensland recently to experience, first hand, the company's latest offering of equipment and technology — including the all-new S7 Series Combine Harvester and C-Series Air Cart.
Run in rotations over a five-week period, the "Technology Bootcamp" was developed by the John Deere team to give dealer leadership and sales staff a "ride and drive" experience of the new machines, released earlier this year at Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas. The intensive program also honed-in on the John Deere technology, such as See & Spray™ Select, as well as new automation within the harvest line-up that will help transform the efficiency and productivity of customers' farming operations.
John Deere Director, Marketing, Ben Kelly, said the suite of new equipment and tech that had been announced in 2024 presented an ideal opportunity to bring together members of the John Deere team and network of dealers to drill down into how these can be used to support optimal economic and agronomic on-farm results.
"As a company, we are continually working on leading innovation that will deliver technologies that have real, tangible impacts on the success of farming operations," Mr Kelly said.
"One of our most important pieces of work is collaborating with our dealers to share knowledge and expertise that can be taken directly back and shared with customers for use on-farm.
"What we're particularly focused on is supporting farmers in not just adopting new tech, but also using that already in-built in their machinery which they may not be making the most of. These are tools which can genuinely have a transformative impact on operations and are already right there, ready to go."
Throughout "Bootcamp" attendees rotated between stations mirroring each element of the grains production system — Seeding, Application and Harvest — as well as sessions focusing on the pathway to autonomy and management of data to drive informed decision-making.
Almost 20 pieces of machinery were brought to Toowoomba for the interactive experience, including two S7 900 Combine Harvesters and one X9 1000 Combine Harvester, each with all-new harvest automation technology, a 616R Self-Propelled Sprayer with See & Spray, an 8R 370 Tractor and a C650 Air Cart.
Hutcheon and Pearce Sales and Marketing Manager, Andrew Watt, said supporting customers in using the tech on their machines was one of his greatest priorities.
"The big thing that has stood out is trying to make sure that the technology that is already integrated into our machines is being fully utilised by our customers," Mr Watt said.
"We spend a lot of time getting uptake of our new technology through our customers, but as that speed of new technology increases we've got to make sure the adoption of that technology is keeping up with that."
It was a sentiment echoed by Brandt Director of Sales — Precision Technology, Siobhan Lynch.
"When we go back, we want to run training with our staff, but also go to our customers and offer information stations, customer clinics — whether it's online or in person," Ms Lynch said.
"We need to get that word out there, not let them sit behind the wheel of their machines and not use the technology they've got."
Too see more from Technology Bootcamp go to: John Deere | Lead In Technology Boot Camp 2024.
About John Deere:
Deere & Company is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, golf & turf, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what's possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products including the John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor and See & Spray™ are just two of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at JohnDeere.com or in Australia at JohnDeere.com.au.
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