John Deere Expands Agricultural Tech Through Acquisition of Sentera

On May 23, 2025, John Deere (NYSE: DE) announced its latest strategic acquisition of Sentera, a pioneering provider of remote imagery solutions for the agricultural sector, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. This move reflects John's commitment to enhancing its technological offerings for farmers and agricultural service providers. By integrating Sentera's innovative tools, John Deere aims to bolster its ability to generate valuable data that enhances farm profitability, efficiency, and sustainability.

Chris Winkler, John Deere's Director of Digital Software and Solutions, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "We're excited to add Sentera's talented team to our organization and integrate their advanced solutions into the suite of John Deere tools that help farmers do more with less." This integration will allow farmers and trusted advisors to gather agronomic data seamlessly and utilize it for informed decision-making throughout the growing season.

Sentera's industry-leading camera technology, designed for compatibility with most major drone platforms, enables farmers and crop scouts to capture high-resolution data efficiently. Their software, known as FieldAgent, empowers agronomists to assess plant health, identify stressors, and take appropriate actions based on the gathered data. Additionally, the creation of customized herbicide prescriptions through the SMARTSCRIPT™ Weeds tool allows for more precise application, minimizing waste.

Unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with Sentera technology fly over fields, gathering high-resolution images that are processed to pinpoint specific weeds and generate actionable weed maps. These maps are crucial for farmers as they dictate how much product should be utilized in the sprayer. Once processed, prescriptions can automatically be sent to compatible farming equipment through the John Deere Operations Center, integrating technology with practical application.

The functionality of weed maps is just one of the numerous applications made possible by Sentera's advanced scouting technology. This methodology can also be employed to assess a field's crop uniformity, disease pressures, and pest incidences. This acquisition is particularly significant as it aligns with John Deere’s goal of meeting farmers at their current technological adaptation stages, offering new precision capabilities to a diverse range of customers while working in harmony with existing advanced technologies such as See & Spray™.

Nick Einck, Director of Agronomy at Chandler Coop in Minnesota, emphasizes the clear value this integration brings. He notes, "Sentera's scouting solutions allow us to quickly gather data across more acres and with greater detail, customizing our approach to each field. With the John Deere technologies we already utilize, we can achieve greater efficiency and deliver better outcomes for our customers."

Additionally, Sentera will persist in providing its camera technology to drone manufacturers for their product lines while also selling directly to farmers, agronomists, and agricultural retailers. The John Deere Operations Center remains open for integrating other drone imagery providers, ensuring a wide spectrum of choices for customers and their trusted advisors.

Brian Wenngatz, Sentera's CEO, stated, "John Deere provides us a great outcome and is exactly the right home for Sentera. They are the industry benchmark for precision agriculture innovation, sharing our commitment to relationships, measurable insights, and scalable platforms. Together, we will further support farmers and maximize the value they derive from their technology."

About John Deere

John Deere has a rich legacy that dates back almost 200 years, starting with a steel plow to its current advancements in agriculture, construction, and forestry. The company remains steadfast in its mission to enhance food, fiber, and infrastructure production, making technology accessible to every individual on the planet. For additional information about John Deere and its ongoing innovations, visit www.deere.com/en/news/.