By Jamie Martin
New agricultural technologies were introduced at the 2026 PTx Winter Conference held at the headquarters of Precision Planting in Tremont. The conference highlights agronomic research, technology development, and economic insights from PTx and its related brands.
“Providing farmers with new trial results, the latest in technology research, and a few pages of notes to reference at home is why we host this conference,” said Bryce Baker, marketing director at PTx. “This year’s conference continues the 23-year legacy of the Precision Planting Winter Conference and adds the PTx Trimble brand in its 24th year.”
One of the key product launches was ArrowTube, a seed delivery system designed to improve corn planting accuracy. The system carefully controls seed movement from the meter to the soil, ensuring correct spacing and orientation. By planting seeds tip down and positioning the embryo sideways, ArrowTube supports natural root and shoot growth. This leads to more uniform emergence, improved canopy development, and stronger yield potential, even at higher planting speeds.
Another major highlight was SymphonyVision | Duo, a sprayer retrofit system that helps farmers improve weed management. The technology uses cameras to detect weeds and spot spray contact herbicides only where needed. At the same time, residual herbicides are broadcast applied across the field. This allows farmers to apply two treatments in one pass while making full use of their sprayer’s tank capacity.
The conference also featured SmokeRow, a solution designed to control weeds along field borders. Weeds in these areas can produce seeds that spread back into fields. SmokeRow adds extended spray nozzles that reach beyond the boom width and apply a separate tank mix to control weeds along edges, terraces, and waterways.
“Timeliness matters for every field operation,” said Mike Schlitt, strategic marketing manager, PTx. “Fall tillage that is done immediately after harvest when the weather is warmer leads to more residue breakdown in the fall and more nutrient availability in the spring.”
“Autonomy can help growers complete their field operations in the timeliest manner possible to hit the optimum agronomic window for each operation,” said Schlitt.
Autonomous farming was another focus, with PTx Trimble showcasing its OutRun system. The technology allows tractors to operate autonomously for tasks such as tillage and grain cart work. Completing field operations on time helps improve soil conditions and supports better crop performance.
The 2026 PTx Winter Conference runs through January 23, with both in-person and remote sessions across the United States and Canada, drawing thousands of attendees from the agriculture industry.
Photo Credit: istock-fangxianuo
Categories: National