John Deere: The Ambitious AI Play in Your Own Backyard

You won’t find many more iconic American brands than John Deere (DE).

The company’s only been making the agricultural machinery that powers our farms for 187 years.

Its big, turf-green tractors with flaxen yellow trim and a leaping deer logo are instantly recognizable. Green representing the crops as they grow, yellow representing the crops ready for harvest – or so the rumor goes.

Today, Deere & Company is a hundred-billion-dollar farming and machinery powerhouse manufacturing much more than just tractors – from heavy machinery for tough construction jobs to high-tech forestry equipment and even mowers and lawn care products for the everyday home.

You may have a Deere sitting in your garage or backyard right now.

What you may not realize, though, is that this centuries-old brand is also at the cutting edge of today’s hottest investment trends: autonomous vehicles (AVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and artificial intelligence (AI).

Deere: A Tech Leader in Disguise

After investing a record $2.2 billion in new products and technologies in 2023, John Deere is prioritizing spending that makes its machines smarter, more precise, and more productive.

Deere’s put that money to good use building out a beast of an autonomous tractor that can prep up to 325 acres of farmland all on its own.

It’s also aiming to bring more than 20 energy-efficient machines to the construction market by 2026, expanding its hybrid and EV battery tech beyond just mowers.

And it’s bringing seriously impressive AI to America’s farmers and construction workers with advanced machine learning and computer-vision technologies that maximize efficiency.

Its already-impressive automation/machine IQ tech stack has grown to include capabilities like Section Control, ExactEmerge, Combine Advisor AI, Exact Rate, ExactShot, and See & Spray.

As just one example, Deere’s See & Spray tech uses dozens of advanced cameras to target weeds for pesticide and herbicide application, generating huge savings for farmers by only spraying exactly where it’s needed.

Measuring Deere’s AI Impact on Main Street

Deere’s tech investments are paying off. As Deere rolls out AI upgrades to the masses, Consumer Happiness is increasing. LikeFolio metrics show that sentiment around John Deere is up by three points year over year:

This boost in customer satisfaction indicates that the company’s products and services are well-received and valued by users.

John Deere’s web traffic also remains resilient, thanks to its robust digital strategy and strong brand presence in the agricultural and construction equipment industry.

The company effectively leverages advanced AI-driven tools online to provide personalized user experiences and optimize search engine visibility, and clearly, it’s working.

The Future of Farming

John Deere’s AI and precision agriculture tools drive cost savings in U.S. farming operations by significantly lowering operational costs – ultimately allowing farmers to achieve higher profitability and sustainable growth.

The forward-thinking minds at ARK Invest put this savings into perspective, estimating these technologies could drive 26% to 33% savings per acre:

Bottom line: For investors who want to bet on a proven name with serious AI ambitions, DE could be just the opportunity you’re looking for.

This 187-year-old company isn’t just a classic Americana brand. It’s also shaping the future of farming. And that’s pretty incredible, if you ask me.

We love a bit of Americana here at LikeFolio – and the profits that can come with it. Here are a few more “Made in America” opportunities we’re hot on right now:

Until next time,