Deere & Co., the manufacturer of John Deere tractors, has acquired Sentera, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based agriculture technology startup. The acquisition, announced on May 23, enables John Deere to integrate Sentera’s advanced imagery technology into its digital farm management system, helping farmers make more informed decisions through data-driven insights.
Sentera’s technology utilizes drones equipped with high-resolution cameras to monitor crop health, detect harmful weeds and pests, and identify disease pressures. These drones can rapidly survey fields, capturing detailed images that are then processed into digital maps. This information allows farmers to assess their crops’ health and take targeted action.
The acquisition comes after a decade-long partnership between John Deere and Sentera. During this period, Deere has watched Sentera grow from a small startup into a global provider of precision agriculture solutions serving customers in over 45 countries. The deal is particularly significant as it comes during a period of slow demand for agricultural equipment like tractors and combines.
As part of the acquisition, Sentera’s team of approximately 50 U.S.-based employees will join John Deere. While Sentera will now be part of John Deere, it will continue to supply its cameras directly to drone manufacturers, farmers, and agronomists. The John Deere Operations Center will also remain open to integrating imagery from other drone providers.
“By combining Sentera’s imagery capabilities with the John Deere Operations Center, farmers and their advisors can now more seamlessly gather and analyze agronomic data, understand real-time field conditions, and turn that data into actionable insights throughout the growing season,” said Chris Winkler, director of software and solutions at John Deere.
Sentera was founded in 2014 by Eric Taipale, a former senior engineer at Lockheed Martin. Under his leadership, the company has developed not only drone and sensor technology but also software that helps farmers use data for precision spraying and enhanced crop health visibility. Taipale noted that the acquisition will help Sentera better support farmers and unlock more value for them.
The acquisition is the latest step in Sentera’s growth trajectory. The company secured $25 million in late-stage funding in 2021 and additional unspecified funding in 2023. It had previously reported 40% year-over-year growth, driven by its advanced data capture technology and machine learning capabilities.
