AgXeed and Kverneland Rewrite Ploughing Rules: 20.8 ha of “Clean” Furrows in a Single Day—No Driver Required

Dutch robotics pioneer AgXeed and tillage-expert Kverneland have set the first officially recognised world record for autonomous ploughing. Over a continuous 24-hour run near Birch Farm in Stangrove (North Yorkshire, UK), the tracked AgBot 5.115T2 covered 20.8 ha, working with a five-furrow reversible Kverneland LO 300/85 plough. An independent adjudicator—former director of the Society of Ploughmen—verified the feat for entry in the global register of agricultural-robotics achievements.

Record Equipment: Key Specs

• Power train: diesel-electric, 115 kW (156 hp) Deutz Stage V, 4.1 L
• Working speed: 5.6 – 8 km h⁻¹; mouldboard width 40 cm; ploughing depth 22.5 cm
• Fuel use: 382.7 L in 24 h → 18.4 L ha⁻¹ (0.87 ha h⁻¹)
• Ballast: 7-t machine plus 1.5-t front weight
• Navigation: RTK-mapped field with auto-generated headland turns

Why It Matters

Kverneland engineers calculate that the same job with a conventional tractor-operator pair would have taken at least two full shifts. The record proves that driverless technology now masters demanding ground-engaging tasks where furrow straightness and speed stability directly dictate crop establishment quality.

AgXeed: From Start-Up to Global Player

Founded in 2018 in Oss (Netherlands), AgXeed BV specialises in the AgBot family of autonomous field robots. The flagship 5.115T2 offers adjustable track width, electric drive pods and an optional 100 kW PTO, letting farmers hitch seeders, spreaders or other ISOBUS-smart implements via a cloud-based planning portal.

Kverneland: 145 Years of Soil Innovation

Established in 1879 in Kvernaland, Norway, Kverneland Group is renowned for ploughs, drills and intelligent ISOBUS equipment. Since 2012 the company has been part of Kubota Corporation, accelerating digital features in traditional iron and strengthening its worldwide footprint.

Ukrainian Angle: Spare Parts Close at Hand

Ukrainian growers who already run Kverneland equipment—or plan to future-proof their fleets for autonomous work—can turn to Bas-Agro LLC. The company stocks a broad range of genuine and compatible spare parts for tillage and seeding machines, ships nationwide and backs every order with in-season technical support. More details: bas.ua - spare parts for agricultural machinery.

Looking Ahead

The new world record shows that driverless units are ready for heavy soil-work, matching—or beating—manual operations on precision and fuel economy. In Ukraine, where labour shortages and cost pressures are acute, such technology could become pivotal for profit margins and climate resilience across arable farms.