Deere & Co has acquired 100% of GUSS Automation, a maker of autonomous agricultural sprayers, expanding its push into robotic farm equipment as demand for automation rises amid labor shortages and higher crop production costs.
The GUSS battery-powered autonomous sprayer was unveiled at the 2024 World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, which John Deere described as “the world’s first and only fully electric autonomous herbicide orchard sprayer.” The machine uses a 63 kWh Kreisel battery pack and can operate for 10 to 12 hours between overnight Level 2 charges, according to the company.
Julien Le Vely, director of production systems for high-value and small-acre crops at John Deere, said the acquisition builds on years of collaboration. “Fully integrating GUSS into the John Deere portfolio is a continuation of our dedication to serving high-value crop customers with advanced, scalable technologies to help them do more with less,” he said in a statement.
GUSS sprayers feature Smart Apply, a weed detection system that identifies chlorophyll in plants and sprays only where weeds are detected. The company says the technology can reduce chemical use by up to 90%. Deere said it plans to expand Smart Apply’s integration with its broader precision agriculture offerings.
“Joining John Deere enables us to tap into their unmatched innovative capabilities in precision agriculture technologies to bring our solutions to more growers around the world,” Gary Thompson, chief operating officer of GUSS, said. “Our team is passionate about helping high-value crop growers increase their efficiency and productivity.”
The GUSS brand will continue to operate from its Kingsburg, California, facility with its current employees and branding, while sales and servicing will be handled exclusively through John Deere dealers. More than 250 GUSS machines have been deployed globally, spraying over 2.6 million acres in more than 500,000 autonomous hours of operation, according to the company.
