In the sun-baked fields of El Tigre, Venezuela, Darwin Ferrera, president of Agrícola La Cumbre, faced a challenge familiar to farmers worldwide: How do you grow more with less? With 4,000 hectares of peanuts, cotton, and corn to manage, the answer lay not in expanding land but in revolutionizing workflow. This is the story of how his farm embraced automation to increase efficiency and turn skepticism into advocacy.
Darwin Ferrera first encountered FJD's AT2 Auto Steer System through a recommendation from Agrotech, a local precision agriculture provider. At the time, Darwin was simply looking to experiment with a tool that could revolutionize his farm's existing planting methods and boost efficiency.
"We prioritize innovation and sustainability. Precision agriculture and telemetry are critical for farming efficiency. We wanted automated guidance for planting, tilling, and field operations to reduce human error and boost productivity," said Ferrera.
The Problems: Farming's Tightrope Walk
For Agrícola La Cumbre, guiding tractors with manual lining was like trying to thread a needle while riding a bumpy tractor—exhausting and error-prone. Workers spent hours during busy seasons just trying to steer straight lines for planting or plowing. But without exact reference lines in the slots to follow, rows often ended up squiggly or unevenly spaced. That's a persistent frustration they faced in the past.
The chaos didn't stop there. Crooked rows turned routine jobs like watering or maintenance into a game of "fix-it-later". Even their 14 central pivots—the superheroes of efficient planting—were not fully utilized, working far below their potential. The result was that they could only plant 20 hectares a day—a slow pace in a race against time and seasons. Every delay meant lost opportunities.
Ferrera explained that using the cultivator between crop rows was a stressful job when the rows weren't straight. Crooked rows made workers move the equipment very carefully, but even small mistakes could damage the plants—an expensive problem that often happened. Every mistake led to losing crops, spending hours fixing the damage, and more pressure to act quickly before the next growing phase.
"Agriculture is high-risk, and technology minimizes that risk," said Ferrera. "Technology like the FJD autosteering system shifts operations from subjective guesswork to data-driven decisions." In the face of these problems, Ferrera decided to seek a smarter way to change their operation. After comparing different brands on the market, he chose to take the FJD autosteering system into his farm.
The Solution: FJD's AT2 Auto Steer System
After partnering with Agrotech, FJD's authorized dealer in his region, Agrícola La Cumbre adopted FJD's RTK-based AT2 system. The decision to integrate the AT2 into their operations was not taken lightly, but the system won their trust almost immediately for several compelling benefits.
Pinpoint Accuracy, Zero Cellular Hassle
Rural Venezuela’s spotty connectivity made most GPS systems unreliable. The AT2's RTK correction solved this with0–2.5 cm accuracy,outperforming standard GPS’s 2–3 meters. When internet connectivity is poor, the AT2 still works perfectly as it has no cellular dependency."We worried about cellular connectivity in rural areas and GPS inaccuracy. But FJD’s RTK base corrected signals to 2.5 cm precision (sometimes 0 cm!). The system works offline, and satellite internet handles cloud updates seamlessly," Ferrera noted. After using the ATS, they saw zero deviation in the planting row, and their operators were surprised at the accuracy of the system.
As Easy as Using a Smartphone
The AT2 has intuitive touchscreen controls that allow operators to master it in minutes, regardless of skill levels. When talking about the system's learning curve, Ferrera said, "Almost none! The interface is as easy as a smartphone. Operators and technicians mastered it instantly. It's like using a smartphone!"As for the most impressive feature of FJD's system, Ferrera referred to autosteering and automatic U-turn. With the AT2's seamless integration to the same tractor and planter, they can now cover 50% more land daily. Their operators are less fatigued as the AT2 handled complex row transitions, and precision eliminates manual row alignment.
"Automated U-turns during corn planting boosted daily output from 20 to 30 hectares—a 50% efficiency gain. Fuel, labor, and time savings were immediate." Ferrera indicated the benefits of using the AT2 had exceeded their expectations, and they were satisfied with their investment in FJD's tech.
Agrotech's 24/7 Support, Day or Night
In addition to user-friendly software and competitive pricing, Agrotech's support service has been a significant factor in its success and customer satisfaction. From purchase consideration to installation, training, and on-field operation, Agrotech was always there to help Ferrera and his team."Adopting tech can feel risky,” admits Ferrera. But Agrotech’s hands-on training and round-the-clock assistance eased the transition. "They're always available, no matter the time or day. Their 24/7 assistance eliminated our fears about tech adoption." This level of support eliminated their worry, knowing that any issues or questions could be solved promptly at any hour.
The Results: A 50% Efficiency Surge & Quick ROI
The AT2 didn’t just meet expectations—it surprised in the way they carry out daily farming activities. According to Ferrera, automated guidance has helped them reduce human error, optimize fuel use, and maximize planting windows. They saw similar efficiency gains even in sprayer operations.For skeptics hesitating over upfront costs, Ferrera urged, "Yes, upfront costs exist, but ROI is swift. For example, in our recent corn planting season, we increased daily output from 20 to 30 hectares—a 50% efficiency jump—using the same tractor and planter. The auto steer system eliminated time wasted on manual turns and alignment. When you consider the cost of a new tractor or planter versus a relatively small investment in auto-steer tech, the choice is clear. Tools like this pay for themselves rapidly—they're worth every penny."