In the heart of Uvalde County, Texas, lies Henry Brothers Farms, an American farm where history runs as deep as the roots of their crops. This farm has been in the Henry family since 1901, growing from humble beginnings into a large and successful operation. Today, it's managed by Stephen Henry, a fifth-generation farmer, who is leading the charge into the future of agriculture with a clear focus on technology.
In this blog, we're going to share Mr. Henry's journey with FJD's autosteering systems. We'll dive into how FJD's precision agriculture technology has helped him succeed and make his family farm even successful, especially as he takes the reins more fully at 60 years old this year. His story can be a tale of tradition meeting innovation that will inspire more farmers around the world.
Henry Brothers Farms: A Century of Dedication
The story of Henry Brothers Farms started with James A. Henry. In 1901, he moved his family to Sabinal for a warmer, drier place because his doctor said it would help his health problems. Later, his son, A. L. (Bud) Henry, made the farm much bigger. In 1962, Bud's sons, Jimmy and Ray Henry, officially became partners. Ray managed the crops, and Jimmy handled the cattle. Working together, they built a very successful business.After Ray passed away in 2013 and Jimmy in 2018, the farm became a company, still run by family. In 2017, Ray's son, Stephen Henry, a retired teacher, came back to the farm. He brought his many years of experience and new ideas. As the CEO of the farm now, Stephen is a respected person in his community, known for his good habits and polite ways.
The farm covers almost 4,500 acres, growing a variety of crops like milo, corn, oats, wheat, cotton, sesame, and hay, alongside a cattle operation. The farm uses both natural rainfall (dry land) and irrigation to grow crops. Their loyal full-time workers, Martin Foster and Moises Martinez, have been with the Henry family for decades. This shows how strong the farm's ties are to the local community.
Texas Farming: Adapting to the Land and Climate
Texas is the second-largest state in the United States by area. It has about 250,000 farms and ranches, covering over 125 million acres. In places like Uvalde County, where Henry Brothers Farms is located, farmers often face warm weather and not much rain. They have to be very smart about how they use water and take care of their soil.By adapting to these conditions, farmers in Texas often choose plants that can handle the heat and dryness. Common ones include milo (also known as sorghum), corn, wheat, and cotton. These crops are popular because they are tough and can do well in the local climate. Along with these, farmers also grow oats, sesame, and hay, and many also raise cattle.
Texas farmers are quickly embracing new farming technology. They see that using automation tools isn't just about being "modern"; it's about making their large farms run better. These tools help them save valuable resources like water and fuel, and they also increase how much food they can grow. For Texas farmers, using automation is key to staying successful and competitive in today's farming world.
Henry Brothers Farms' Journey with FJD Autosteering
Stephen Henry returned to the family farm after a career in teaching, which marked a turning point for Henry Brothers Farms. He immediately saw the potential of automation technology. "When I came back, I introduced technology to the farm," Stephen shared. However, he quickly realized the high cost of precision agriculture systems, especially for older tractors that run on his farms. "It didn't make sense to make that kind of investment in old equipment," he explained.That's when he discovered FJDynamics. Stephen was "very intrigued" by FJD's products, not just because of their affordable price, but also their advanced features and effectiveness. He bought his first FJD AT1 autosteering system in 2021 and was so impressed that he decided to become a dealer for FJDynamics in 2022.
Stephen sold nearly two dozen FJD autosteer units in the past three years. But he faced some challenges with communication and getting parts due to language barriers and time differences with his FJD sales manager in Asia. "I became very frustrated... and was considering just dropping it all together," he admitted.
But then, things changed. "Eduardo from Mexico came in, and we've re-established communication," Stephen said, referring to an FJD sales manager who now handles sales in Texas, USA. FJD is bringing in more local teams to help in different areas. This means fewer problems and better support for farmers.
Eduardo introduced him to FJD's new website and dealer management system (DMS). "It provides great customer service for dealers," Stephen stated happily. "It's a great platform, all my leads are there, I can look at the equipment, I can order, I can see all my past orders." This renewed support energized Stephen, reinforcing his confidence in FJD's commitment to its partners and customers.
FJD Tech: Helping the "Little Guy" Farm Smarter
What truly excites Stephen about FJDynamics is its potential to help smaller farmers. "It can really help the little guy, the little farmer on a tight budget," he emphasized. Precision agriculture offers these farmers a crucial edge they wouldn't have otherwise.Stephen highlighted the direct benefits: "It saves hours, it saves seed, it saves fertilizer, it saves chemical because you're not wasting it." He recalled how a sharp increase in fertilizer prices during COVID-19 (from $180 to $900 a ton) made him realize he "could no longer afford to overlap and waste fertilizer." This pushed him to seek precision agriculture for his older machines, especially the one used for applying fertilizer.
"That's what excites me about FJD's products," he continued, "is that the small farmer with small acreage, you know, 500 acres, 200 acres, 1,000 acres, not 20,000 or 30,000 acres... the small farmer who couldn't afford a $20,000, $30,000, or $40,000 GPS for their big tractor or little tractor, FJD will fit."
He stressed the incredible versatility of FJD systems, noting they "will fit on my 40-year-old John Deere 4440. It could fit on a Kubota, it could fit on a CASE, it could fit on a John Deere." This means it works on "any equipment," making advanced technology accessible to more farmers.
Lifetime Value: No Hidden Fees for Constant Updates
Another thing Stephen loves about FJDynamics is their fair pricing model. "They don't gouge you on subscriptions," he stated. Unlike many other systems that require ongoing payments for updates or specific features, FJD offers lifetime updates.
"As they improve the software, you get the benefit of that. You don't have to pay extra," Stephen explained. "That's very attractive to the American farmer, because we don't like having to pay for things over and over and over again." This commitment to long-term value resonates deeply with farmers who prioritize predictable costs.
Active Upgrades for Smarter Farm Management
Stephen is actively upgrading his equipment, excited about the new possibilities, which is not very common for farmers at this age. "I'm putting the new AT2 on my equipment," he shared. He's especially looking forward to the AT2 Max, which boasts a larger screen and multitasking capabilities, allowing for a split screen with four different views. "I'm looking forward to putting that on my sprayer and potentially even my combine and really getting to use a farm management system."
He commended FJDynamics for their comprehensive approach: "They're really spending lots of time and effort and money in developing the overall platform, not just the precision ag, which is fantastic, but also the farm management program and the other products they have." This shows FJD's dedication to providing a full ecosystem of solutions that help farmers manage their entire operation more effectively.
On-Farm Live Demos
Eduardo from FJDynamics recently conducted live autosteering demos at Henry Brothers Farms, giving a hands-on look at the system in action. Sitting in the tractor cab, after a simple calibration, they set the machine to drive a straight line at 130 degrees and tried A+ guidance line, which starts from a fixed point A and allows for heading in any direction.
"So if you're doing a contour, or you're doing an old terrace, or you're running a level line, it'll allow you to come back year after year and do the same line and not have to reinvent the wheel every time. So we'll see how accurate it is," Stephen highlighted the efficiency of the system brought to his farm.
During the demo, Stephen and Eduardo observed how easily adjustments could be made on the fly, for instance, if an implement was pulling slightly to one side even while the tractor drove straight. They noted the improved antenna and signal reception, ensuring strong connectivity.
Eduardo highlighted how the FJD autosteering system "records what you're doing... it'll leave a track, and therefore you can see where you've worked." This feature is incredibly useful for spraying or applying chemicals and fertilizers, preventing overlaps and ensuring that pesticides or fertilizers are only applied where needed, saving significant costs.
Connect with Henry Brothers Farms and FJD
If you're a Texas farmer interested in learning more about FJDynamics systems, Stephen encourages you to reach out. "You can contact me through my email at henrybrosfarms@gmail.com," he said. You can also visit his website, henrybrosfarms.com, for more information and contact details.Stephen's passion for helping other farmers, especially those on tighter budgets, find affordable and effective precision agriculture solutions makes him an invaluable resource in the Texas farming community. His experience truly showcases how FJDynamics is empowering farmers to embrace modern technology for a more sustainable and profitable future.
If you're looking for affordable autosteer systems to make your farming easier, or if you need custom solutions built just for your unique needs, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you find the perfect fit.[Discover FJD Autosteering Systems] | [Book a Product Demo] | [Get Your Free Quote]