When we think about changing the way we’ve always run our tractors, often, the next thought is, “Why should I?” 

This is a natural next thought for practical farmers, especially when they’ve already invested in people, fuel and other inputs. As pragmatic people, we want to make operational decisions based on gathered evidence. 

In recent months, every farmer knows from experience what the USDA reported, which is that farm production costs are on the rise. Now more than ever, many farmers are looking for resource saving strategies. 

One that might be overlooked is analyzing tractor efficiency to see if there’s room for more performance. Through machine monitoring and a Farm Management System (FMS), I think there is a compelling case to consider making a change.

Farm managers are automating data collection for multiple tractors operating in different field conditions using Modular Telematics Gateways (MTG). An MTG connects the tractor to a web-based Farm Management Software (FMS) account. 

Many tractors, of different makes and models, can connect to an effective FMS like John Deere Operations Center. General steps to get started on operations center with a connected tractor are the following:

1. Download the John Deere Operations Center mobile app or access it via the website.
2. Create an account or log-in.
3. Navigate to the ‘My Equipment’ section.
4. Select ‘Add Equipment’.
5. Enter the tractor’s serial number and confirm the model.
6. Activate the JDLink connectivity service to connect the MTG to the internet. This may require a subscription.
7. Sync the tractor with the Operations…