Key Takeaways
- Bushel Plus has entered a strategic partnership with John Deere to distribute the SmartPan™ System through Deere’s North American dealer network.
- The integration connects Bushel Plus’ drop-pan technology with John Deere’s Harvest Settings Automation for more accurate combine calibration.
- The system helps reduce grain loss, improve harvest efficiency, and support data-driven machine adjustments.
- Farmers gain access to SmartPan through authorized Deere dealers in the U.S. and Canada, with joint training planned for 2026.
- Bushel Plus reports growing farmer demand for precise field-loss measurement to enhance overall profitability.
Bushel Plus SmartPan™ System Joins John Deere Dealer Network
Bushel Plus Ltd. has announced a strategic partnership with John Deere that will make the Bushel Plus SmartPan™ System available to farmers across the United States and Canada via John Deere’s authorized dealer network. The collaboration aims to strengthen harvest optimization by combining Bushel Plus’ field-verified measurement technology with John Deere’s Harvest Settings Automation.
“John Deere and Bushel Plus share a commitment to innovation and farmer success,” said Ryan Krogh, Global Combine and FEE Business Manager at John Deere. “Our decision to partner was driven by aligned values – both companies prioritize solutions that empower growers to maximize efficiency and profitability.”
Bushel Plus Technology as the Ground-Truth Layer for Automation
How SmartPan Enhances Deere’s Automation Tools
John Deere’s Harvest Settings Automation continuously adjusts combine parameters—including rotor speed, fan speed, concave clearance, and sieve and chaffer openings—based on operator targets for grain loss, broken grain, and foreign material.
The Bushel Plus SmartPan System complements these adjustments by providing physical measurements of actual grain losses in the field. By dropping the pan during harvest and calculating true bushels-per-acre loss, operators can calibrate the combine’s loss thresholds directly against real-world data.
According to the company, this approach improves accuracy across variable field conditions and helps farmers align automated adjustments with verified field measurements.
Expanded Distribution Through Deere Dealers
John Deere dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada will now be able to sell and support the SmartPan System, offering farmers access through existing sales and service channels.
“We are excited to partner with John Deere, marking a major milestone in our growth and global reach,” said Marcel Kringe, Founder and CEO of Bushel Plus. “John Deere’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver market-leading harvest optimization solutions. With OEM endorsement, the phrase ‘you can’t manage what you don’t measure’ reaches a whole new level.”
Both companies plan joint training sessions, in-field demonstrations, and operator-education events beginning in 2026 to support adoption.
Linking Field Data to Machine Analytics
Kringe noted that the SmartPan System provides practical insights with immediate value during harvest.
“Seed-to-harvest precision is only as good as the data behind it,” he said. “By working hand-in-hand with John Deere, we’re delivering a streamlined flow of data between field measurements and machine analytics, enabling farmers to refine combine calibration and automation for more efficient harvesting, reduced grain loss, and ultimately higher profitability.”
