It’s the calm before the storm here at Farm Equipment headquarters on New Year’s Eve. With our Precision Farming Dealer Summit set for Jan. 6-7 in Louisville, Ky., and the upcoming issue of Farm Equipment going to print just 2 weeks after that, January is always the most action-packed month of the year for us.

February is a close second with the National Farm Machinery Show and the World Ag Expo taking place at the same time on the week of Feb. 10 (apologies to my wife Alex, looks like I’ll be a little late for Valentine’s Day dinner). 2025 will start with a bang, and I can’t wait to check out some of the new technology on display at these shows, including the following winners of the World Ag Expo’s Top 10 New Products contest. 

3 in 1 Orchard Brush Rake-Shredder-Blower by HCL Machine Works

The self-propelled OMC Brush Shredder has a front mounted orchard brush rake and a rear mounted blower. This machine does 3 tasks in one, more efficiently than before. 

ARA, The Ultra-High Precision Sprayer by Ecorobotix

Powered by Ecorobotix’s Plant-by-Plant AI Software, ARA’s high-definition cameras scan fields to detect and distinguish weeds from crops, applying treatments with remarkable precision, covering an area of just 2.4×2.4 inches. This adaptable system can be used year-round — even at night and in windy conditions — delivering various crop protection products (herbicides, insecticides, etc.) and fertilizers with up to 95% reduction in product use.  

Autofill by Oxbo

AutoFill is an innovative, integrated technology available on Oxbo 7440 and 7450 Berry harvesters, with a limited release in 2025 and full release in 2026. AutoFill is designed to reduce labor costs by up to 75% and increase harvest efficiency by automating labor-intensive tasks such as de-stacking and filling lugs. AutoFill improves efficiency when harvesting for fresh or processed and in all tonnages. 

FlexiRiser Pump Puller by Water Well Rentals/Hose Solutions

The FlexiRiser is a hydraulic, trailer-mounted spool system designed to install and retrieve submersible pumps at the push of a button.  

Garford Electric Weeder by Garford Farm Machinery

The Garford Electric Weeder brings electric weeding technology to salad, brassica and vegetable crop applications. It has been developed from a collaboration between the UK manufacturer of technologically advanced mechanical weed control products Garford Farm Machinery and the UK electrical weed control manufacturer RootWave. The next generation of electrical weeding technology uses electricity to boil weeds and their roots, providing weed control at a lower cost than chemical herbicides. With full and systemic control, the technology kills weeds above and below the ground without leaving residues harming health, soils, biodiversity or crops. 

Pelican Spray by Pyka

Pelican Spray is an autonomous electric crop spray UAS designed and built by Pyka in Alameda, Calif. Pelican Spray uses a combination of precision spray and drift reduction technologies to optimize chemical output and reduce costs for growers. The aircraft is fully automated, can be easily controlled from a laptop computer and can fly and spray both during the day and at night. Newly redesigned for 2025, the next-generation model boasts a heavier payload, higher productivity and commercially proven reliability in the field.  

Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) by BeeHero

BeeHero’s Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) uses patented, plug-and-play in-field sensors and AI to provide powerful data-backed insights into pollination activity (bee visits to flowers, bee behavior and environmental conditions) in permanent tree crops, seed, row and specialty crops, such as berries, canola and more. 

Seppi Miniforst Pick Up CL 175 by Seppi M. and Gearmore

Engineered to boost soil health and vineyard management efficiency, the Seppi Miniforst CL175 stands as a testament to sustainable agriculture. Equipped with unique dual feed rotors, this advanced shredder effortlessly grabs, feeds and mulches branches and prunings of all sizes. Built to tackle all species of wood, shredding up to 8-inch diameter material, then dispersing the organics back onto the soil where they will decompose more quickly, enriching the soil health while simplifying vineyard pruning management. The Seppi Miniforst CL175 provides vineyard operators with a streamlined, eco-friendly solution for efficient pruning management. 

Synergy Blower by Flory Industries

The Synergy Blower is a hydraulically driven berm blower that has been integrated into the Flory VR700 Side Mount Shaker. It was designed to clean berms during the almond and walnut tree shaking process. Eliminating an entire sweeping pass, it reduces passes by up to 50%, resulting in less dust, cleaner windrows, reduced equipment usage and lower labor demands. The hydraulically powered fan and damper are easily and quickly controlled from the cab to suit specific orchard conditions, providing growers with a practical and efficient harvesting solution. 

Vulcan T380 by FarmWise Labs, Inc

The Vulcan T380 is an advanced AI-driven weeder specifically developed for the tomato processing industry, marking FarmWise’s first foray into broader-acre crop solutions. This next-generation, machine learning-powered precision weeding and cultivation tool addresses the industry’s demand for more efficient and cost-effective weed management practices. The Vulcan T380 achieves remarkable accuracy in predicting tomato stem locations and eliminating weeds at operational speeds of 2–4 mph.

All of these new products will be showcased at the World Ag Expo, Feb. 11-13 in Tulare, Calif. Of course, depending on your location, not all are relevant to your customers. But there's a common theme here — helping farmers increase efficiency while saving money, time and labor. That's something everyone can get behind during what's expected to be another tough year in 2025.

"We see farmers continuing to buy machines and technology, even if they only have $15,000 to $20,000 to spend," says Seth Crawford, senior VP and GM — precision ag and digital, AGCO, in a recent Farm Journal article. "Farmers are going to have to continue to manage seed costs and fertility costs. We've got to show where they could be losing yield and offer solutions that pay off quickly. Difficult times cause farmers to be creative because they love farming and want to do everything they can to stay with it." 

Which products on your personal top 10 list are expected to generate the most interest from your customers in 2025? Let me know at Nnewman@LessiterMedia.com. Enjoy the New Year's holiday, hope to see you at one of the shows this winter!