SAN ANTONIO (DTN) -- From a corn planter attachment that claims to cut late emergers by 18% to a new class of 400-plus-horsepower tractors built for today's larger operations, the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio offered a clear picture of where agricultural technology is headed -- and what it will cost to get there.
Here are some of the new and innovative tools of the trade that DTN/Progressive Farmer saw at the event last week.
**
PRECISION PLANTING -- POWER OF THE TIP
AGCO's Precision Planting brand, which is organized within AGCO's PTx arm, plans to make its new ArrowTube innovation ready by the end of this year.
ArrowTube is a corn seed delivery system that optimizes seed placement in a tip-down orientation and the embryo side facing outward -- toward the adjacent row.
The positioning allows the coleoptile a straight path to the soil surface, reducing time to emergence. And with the embryo side facing outward, leaves grow across the row rather than along the furrow for better capture of sunlight.
Precision Planting has developed many planter tools: downforce, depth control, row cleaner and seed delivery systems, among them. The next step, in the minds of its developers and researchers, is seed orientation.
Their solution is ArrowTube.
ArrowTube not only maintains depth, spacing and singulation that every grower expects, but it orientates the seed tip down to help give the young plant the best start possible. And Precision Planting said it does all this at speed. Corn farmers are interested in this technology, Precision Planting said, but not if they must slow the planter to only a few miles per hour.
ArrowTube orients and accelerates the seed down the tube, pushing it into the bottom of a sub-furrow. A tungsten carbide knife at the bottom of the tube creates the narrow sub-furrow that "locks" the seed in place, tip-down.
Precision Planting is beta-testing ArrowTube currently but said it has found that it cuts late emergers by around 18% and has delivered average yield gains of 7 bushels per acre.
**
NEW HOLLAND'S 435 HP T7 XD
New Holland introduced its largest T7 Series tractor, the T7 XD. With up to 435 horsepower, the T7 XD targets a wide variety of work around the farm -- hauling, hay, forage and row crops. There are three versions of the T7 XD, including the T7.360 XD, T7.390 XD and T7.440 XD.
The New Holand tractors are powered by a six-cylinder, 8.7‑liter, FPT Cursor 9 engine, delivering 360 to 435 horsepower and with top road speed of 37 mph. The engine delivers maximum power across a broad RPM range, with peak torque arriving at 1,400 rpm, New Holland said. The T7 XD runs with an upgraded Auto Command 4-by-2 CVT transmission that electronically manages engine speed to reduce fuel consumption. At idle, the engine drops to 650 rpm to further enhance fuel efficiency.
These tractors include an integrated front hitch design and a two-speed front PTO. The tractor provides the hydraulic capacity to run larger implements, such as a 24-row planter, New Holland said.
The T7 XD includes New Holland's IntelliView 12 touchscreen display for access to the tractor's settings, implement control and precision farming functions. The T7 XD models also are equipped with the New Holland FieldOps farm management application.
**
A NEW CLASS FOR CASE IH OPTUMS
Case IH highlighted its latest Optum series tractors in three models, from 360 to 435 horsepower. The tractors are powered for tillage, planting, baling and hauling, at road speeds up to 37 mph.
At the heart of these Optum series tractors is a new version of the Cursor 9 engine. The engine's low idle speeds help reduce fuel consumption, while the improved heat-management system maintains ideal engine temperatures.
These Optum series tractors feature a new independent front-axle suspension for stability on the road and in the field. Operators manage air pressure from the cab with Optum's integrated central tire-inflation system.
**
FENDT 800S BRING POWER TO THE FIELD
AGCO's Fendt brand introduced its new Fendt 800 Vario Gen5 with 12-liter cooler box and a premium massage seat. Those are measures of comfort.
The measure of power comes from the six-cylinder, AGCO Power Core80, 8.0-liter engine mounted into three 800 Gen5 models -- the 826, 829, and 832 -- with horsepower ratings from 260 to 320 horsepower. With Fendt's DynamicPerformance feature, the engines produce up to an additional 23 horsepower.
Simple and strong, the structure of the Fendt 800 Vario Gen5's frame carries a payload of 8.3 tons, allowing use of heavier implements and combinations.
The new Fendt 800 Vario Gen5 is fast -- 37 mph at 1,450 rpm.
The Fendt 800 Vario Gen5 is powered with the six-cylinder 8.0-liter AGCO Power CORE80 engine, putting out a maximum 343 horsepower.
The Fendt 800 Vario Gen 5 offers 360-degree lighting, with UltraVision LED spotlights all around the cab roof, the A-pillar and on the fenders. GroundVision LED spotlights installed in the fenders illuminate the rear mounting area. Additional lighting can be attached to the cab by way of Fendt's new Tech Rails factory-integrated mounting rails.
**
FENDT 500 DELIVER MANEUVERABILITY AROUND THE FARM
AGCO brand's new Fendt 500 Vario Gen4 features maneuverability with a turning circle of 10.1 meters (33 feet) for loader work, narrow courtyard entrances and tight headlands. That is possible because of Fendt's VarioDrive drivetrain, which actively pulls the separately driven front axle into the turn, Fendt said.
Fendt offers its new Fendt 500 Vario Gen4 in four models -- 512, 513, 514 and 516 -- its AGCO Core 50, 5.0-liter low-RPM engine produces a horsepower range of 124 hp to 164 hp. Fendt says the 500 series Gen4s are designed for light tillage, hauling and hay work.
With the Fendt DynamicPerformance added, the Fendt 500 Vario Gen4 produces up to 10 horsepower more power for increased productivity while reducing fuel consumption. DynamicPerformance automatically recognizes when auxiliary power consumers such as the fan, compressed air supply, air-conditioning system or hydraulic pump require additional power.
The Fendt 500 Vario Gen4 incorporates a fully integrated VarioGrip tire pressure regulation system offering better roading and towing performance and lower fuel consumption.
**
TIM UPGRADES MASSEY FERGUSON'S 9S
AGCO's Massey Ferguson brand is announcing updates to its 9S Series tractors, including the addition of Tractor Implement Management (TIM).
With TIM, the MF 9S allows compatible implements to communicate directly with the tractor, automatically managing speed and key tractor functions to achieve a targeted outcome. By aligning tractor performance with implement demands, TIM minimizes operator variability.
During field trials using a MF 9S and a Hesston by Massey Ferguson LB 2200 Series large square baler, TIM reduced flake variability from approximately 13 flakes per bale to about three to four flakes per bale. TIM-enabled operations also resulted in about 80 additional pounds per bale, while maintaining consistent bale size.
The addition of TIM builds on an efficiency-focused foundation that has defined the MF 9S Series since its launch, Massey Feguson said. The MF 9S Series is engineered to deliver up to 15% fuel savings compared to other tractors in its class.
A dual-circuit system improves thermal management efficiency by up to 70%, allowing the MF 9S to maintain stable performance under sustained load.
All model year 2026 MF 9S tractors include a free three-year PTx FarmEngage subscription, allowing farmers to track machines, monitor work in real time and manage data across mixed fleets from a single, easy-to-use platform.
**
CLOUD-BASED DATA MANAGEMENT WITH AGFINITI
AgFiniti is Ag Leader's cloud-based data platform designed to simplify farm data management by bringing planting, applications and harvest data together in one place. Farmers access that information from their display, phone, tablet or computer.
Here are several features:
-- All InCommand displays stay synchronized in real time.
-- Grower, farm and field names, guidance lines, boundaries, as-applied data, harvest data and implement configurations remain consistent across the operation.
-- If multiple displays are running, everyone sees the same information at the same time.
-- Remote support allows users to view and control displays from anywhere, making troubleshooting quicker and more efficient.
-- An intuitive interface makes it easy to map, analyze, generate reports and create prescriptions.
-- Live maps provide real-time visibility into planter, sprayer and combine performance on any connected device.
AgFiniti is built for mixed fleets, Ag Leader said.
-- AgFiniti supports most major precision ag brands and connects with third-party platforms such as John Deere Operations Center, Climate FieldView and CNH's FieldOps.
-- Data from multiple brands can be brought into one system and shared back to InCommand displays, including guidance lines.
-- Device location tools provide real-time visibility of equipment such as grain trucks and tender wagons, helping operations manage field logistics more effectively.
DTN Headline News
DTN Blogs & Forums
