Your tractor cab is likely loaded with new farming technology. And most of it probably runs on a single piece of glass: the touchscreen.
This new technology in agriculture and farming promises efficiency, but let's be honest—it often delivers frustration.
Have you ever tried to hit a tiny icon with dirty gloves on? Or while bouncing across a rough field? What about when the sun hits the screen just right, making it impossible to see?
You're not alone. This is the critical, universal flaw in many modern setups. It doesn't matter if you run a John Deere auto steer system, a Trimble auto steer setup, or an Ag Leader display—if the primary control is a screen, you've felt this frustration.
It’s a common problem. But what if the solution isn't a better screen, but finding a way to go beyond the screen? This post is about how to simplify your tech, reduce your frustration, and get your real control back.
The "Touchscreen Tax": Why Smart Tech Feels Frustrating
We can call it the "Touchscreen Tax." It's the small price you pay in frustration every time you try to use your smart farming technologies.
Does this sound familiar?
- The Bumpy Ride: You're on uneven ground, and your finger hits the "Settings" menu instead of the "Engage" button for the third time.
- The Glove Problem: You have to pull off a glove dozens of times a day just to tap the screen, or the screen just won't respond.
- The Glare Blindspot: At sunrise or sunset, that bright screen becomes a useless mirror. You're tapping blind.
- The Long Reach: The screen is mounted just far enough away that you have to lean and stretch, pulling your focus from the field ahead.
We Need Muscle Memory, Not Menus
When you're making a headland turn, you're busy. You're juggling multiple tasks at once: lifting your implement, managing your speed, and steering.This is a moment for muscle memory, not "menu-diving."
You need to be able to disengage your autosteer without thinking, without even looking down. Fumbling for a virtual button on a screen is slow, stressful, and can be unsafe. It divides your attention at the worst possible moment.
As one long-time farmer told us:
"I'm juggling the hydraulic lever with my right hand, watching the planter, and steering. I don't have a third hand to find a tiny button on a screen. I just need a button I can feel and trust."This is the core of the problem. Farmers need tools they can trust by feel.
The Solution: A Simple Button for a Smart System
This is where how to integrate technology with traditional farming gets a lot smarter. You don't need to give up your high-precision tech to get simple controls. You just need to add the right tool.This is the whole idea behind the FJDynamics ecosystem. The solution is to pair a high-precision system (like the AT2 Auto Steer System for retrofitting or the AS2/AH2 for steer-ready/hydraulic tractors) with a simple, physical controller.
We designed the FJD Easy Control, FJD Mini Control, and FJD Easy Switch specifically for this purpose.
We saw a farmer call this the "powerful combo for the slightly lazy (or extremely efficient) farmer!" That's exactly right. Want to turn autosteering on or off? Skip the screen tapping. It's just one button pressed.
How This Simple Fix Changes Your Workflow
This small change has a big impact on your day. It replaces frustration with confidence.| Task | With a Standard Touchscreen | With an FJD Physical Controller |
| Engaging Autosteer | Lean forward, reach for the screen, find the icon, tap it. | Press a single, physical button without moving your arm. |
| Headland Turn | Look away from the field, find the "disengage" button, tap it. | Press the button in your hand. Your eyes never leave the headland. |
| Wearing Gloves | Pull your glove off, tap the screen, put the glove back on. | Just press the button with your glove on. |
| Bumpy Ground | Try to tap the icon, miss, hit the wrong menu, get frustrated. | Your hand is already on the controller. No misses. |
| Quick Correction | Fumble for the screen icon while trying to steer. | Instantly disengage with a trusted, tactile "click." |
It’s Not Laziness, It's Peak Efficiency
Don't mistake this for being "lazy." This is about being efficient. The real return on investment (ROI) from better controls is huge:- Less Fatigue: You're less stressed and more alert at the end of a 12-hour day because you're not fighting the controls.
- Fewer Errors: You'll never accidentally delete your AB line when you just meant to disengage. That saves time and inputs.
- Faster, Safer Turns: Your headland turns become faster, tighter, and safer because your eyes stay on the field, not on the screen.
- Easier for the Team: A simple button makes the system less scary. New hires or family members can learn to use it in seconds.
Your Questions Answered (FAQs)
Is this like "Tesla auto steer," but for tractors?
That's a great way to think about it! It brings that same level of smart automation to your field. But farming is tougher than a highway. You need controls that work with gloves and bumps, which is why pairing a smart autosteer system with a physical controller is so important.How is this different from a Wheelman auto steer or Trimble system?
It's the perfect balance of power and simplicity. Some systems, like the Wheelman auto steer, are known for being simple but may not offer the sub-inch RTK precision you need for advanced planting. Other high-end systems, like a Trimble auto steer setup, are powerful but can be complex, trapping all their main controls on the screen.The FJD ecosystem (like the AT2 Max or AT2 Ultra) gives you the best of both: all the RTK power you need, with the simple one-button control you actually want to use all day.
Can I use an FJD controller with my John Deere auto steer kit or Ag Leader auto steer system?
FJD simple controllers (like the Easy Control or Mini Control) are designed to integrate perfectly with the FJD autosteer family (AT2, AS2, AH2). While they're not designed for other brands, many farmers find the full FJD kit is the simplest and most affordable way to get a complete high-precision system that finally solves the "touchscreen problem" they have with their current setup.How do I add autosteer to an older tractor?
This is what retrofit auto steer kits are for. The FJD AT2 Auto Steer System (including Lite, Max, and Ultra models) is the perfect tractor auto steer solution for this, as it's an electric motor kit that's easy to install on any tractor, new or old. If your tractor is 'steer-ready,' you can use our FJD AS2 system, and for hydraulic needs, there's the FJD AH2. We have a solution for virtually any machine.Get Smart and Simple Control
The future of farming technology isn't about adding more complex menus. It's about making powerful tools easier and more intuitive.
It’s time to stop fighting with a screen and get back the simple, confident control you deserve.
Are you ready to simplify your farm tech?
Discover more about the FJD simple controls (like Easy Control and Mini Control) and see how they pair with the FJD Autosteer family (AT2, AS2, AH2) to take the frustration out of precision farming.