Deere & Company is accelerating the adoption of AI and autonomous systems across its core product lines, deploying smart sprayers equipped with 36 high-resolution cameras and machine-learning algorithms that identify and target individual weeds. In a 2023 field trial covering 1 million acres, this precision spraying technology cut pesticide use by 50%, reduced airborne chemical drift by 87% and slashed runoff by 93%, delivering both environmental benefits and cost savings to farmers. The company also continues to advance its autonomous tractor program, featuring 360-degree obstacle detection and remote-monitoring capabilities that allow operators to initiate field work via mobile app, freeing them for higher-value tasks and laying the groundwork for fully driverless operations in the coming years.

Despite a 12% decline in net sales and a 29% drop in net income for full-year 2025—largely driven by elevated R&D spending, which reached $2.29 billion or 5.1% of sales over the past four years—Deere posted an 11% increase in Q4 revenue, signaling a rebound as technology investments begin to pay off. The company maintained an 11% net income margin and ended the year with a market capitalization near $139 billion. Deere’s commitment to returning capital is underscored by a dividend that has risen 113% since 2020, supporting income-seeking investors even as the business funds its push into AI and automation to meet projected demands for a 60–70% increase in global agricultural output by 2050.