Farm equipment provider John Deere plans to purchase farming AI firm Blue River Technology for $305m. The 60-person start-up produces a range of farming tools, including an automatic precision weed sprayer, a lettuce trimmer and drone software for crop analysis. “Farmers are increasingly using drones as part of their operations in order to monitor the health of crops or identify pests before they damage them,” said John Deere, president and CEO of JD Edwards & Co.
Farm equipment provider John Deere plans to purchase farming AI firm Blue River Technology for $305m. The 60-person start-up produces a range of farming tools, including an automatic precision weed sprayer, a lettuce trimmer and drone software for crop analysis. John Deere's tractors already incorporate limited autonomous capabilities; the purchase of Blue River will help the company build increasing amounts of intelligence into its vehicles.