Blab Tech
Nebraskas New Engineering Hub Marks Milestone for Autonomous Farming Startup PTx Trimble
In a quiet field in Seward, Nebraska, a new hub for autonomous farming tech opened its doors this spring, marking a milestone for PTx Trimble and the state's ag‑tech ecosystem.
The engineering facility, inaugurated in 2026, is the latest chapter in a partnership that began almost ten years ago when Canadian startup JCA Technologies—now a joint venture between AGCO and Trimble—sought a Midwest university partner.
The collaboration, forged through the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, has grown into a southeast Nebraska operation that brings cutting‑edge autonomous farming technology to the region.
Nebraska was chosen because the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln excels in agricultural engineering, robotics, and autonomous systems. Darcy Cook, PTx’s senior director of autonomous solutions, said the state’s talent pool and engineering presence made it an ideal partner.
University staff—including Industry Relations, the Nebraska Innovation Campus, and Career Services—connected PTx with research facilities and startup space at NIC. The partnership also introduced the company to Professor Santosh Pitla’s lab in biological systems engineering, whose work dovetails with PTx’s autonomous platforms.
The Seward facility is staffed largely by Husker alumni and researchers developing autonomous technologies for tractors, tillage equipment, and other agricultural machinery. Pitla praised Nebraska students as emerging leaders in the field, noting that applied research directly benefits industry and society and strengthens the state's reputation as a national ag‑tech hub.
At the heart of PTx’s portfolio is the OutRun system, a self‑contained retrofit kit that converts existing tractors into driverless machines. Launched first as an autonomous grain cart solution, the platform is now expanding to autonomous tillage. The kit is compatible with John Deere 8R and Fendt 900 series tractors and can be controlled via an iPad interface that relies on Starlink connectivity to maintain reliable coverage in rural areas.
OutRun remains in an early‑adopter phase, with more than 30 systems installed—most in North America. Josh Murman, a Husker alumnus and autonomous systems engineer at PTx, said the company has spent the past year and a half training dealers and showcasing the technology at trade shows such as Farm Progress. He compared the adoption curve to that of GPS guidance systems two decades ago, noting that initial skepticism gives way to hands‑on experience that reveals time savings.
Murman also highlighted his family farm in Hastings, where he tests and refines the technology. The system allows him to help on the farm while simultaneously improving the autonomous grain cart. “It’s really come full circle,” he said.
PTx Trimble’s partnership with the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln and the Nebraska Innovation Campus not only expands the company’s product portfolio but also supports the state’s growing ag‑tech ecosystem. The company plans to launch an autonomous tillage solution for Fendt 900 series tractors in 2026, further extending the OutRun platform.
In sum, the Seward engineering center represents a significant milestone for PTx Trimble and the broader Nebraska ag‑tech community. The company continues to develop and deploy autonomous farming solutions, with early‑adopter installations underway and future product launches on the horizon. The partnership with the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln remains a key driver of innovation and talent development in the region.
The engineering facility, inaugurated in 2026, is the latest chapter in a partnership that began almost ten years ago when Canadian startup JCA Technologies—now a joint venture between AGCO and Trimble—sought a Midwest university partner.
The collaboration, forged through the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, has grown into a southeast Nebraska operation that brings cutting‑edge autonomous farming technology to the region.
Nebraska was chosen because the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln excels in agricultural engineering, robotics, and autonomous systems. Darcy Cook, PTx’s senior director of autonomous solutions, said the state’s talent pool and engineering presence made it an ideal partner.
University staff—including Industry Relations, the Nebraska Innovation Campus, and Career Services—connected PTx with research facilities and startup space at NIC. The partnership also introduced the company to Professor Santosh Pitla’s lab in biological systems engineering, whose work dovetails with PTx’s autonomous platforms.
The Seward facility is staffed largely by Husker alumni and researchers developing autonomous technologies for tractors, tillage equipment, and other agricultural machinery. Pitla praised Nebraska students as emerging leaders in the field, noting that applied research directly benefits industry and society and strengthens the state's reputation as a national ag‑tech hub.
At the heart of PTx’s portfolio is the OutRun system, a self‑contained retrofit kit that converts existing tractors into driverless machines. Launched first as an autonomous grain cart solution, the platform is now expanding to autonomous tillage. The kit is compatible with John Deere 8R and Fendt 900 series tractors and can be controlled via an iPad interface that relies on Starlink connectivity to maintain reliable coverage in rural areas.
OutRun remains in an early‑adopter phase, with more than 30 systems installed—most in North America. Josh Murman, a Husker alumnus and autonomous systems engineer at PTx, said the company has spent the past year and a half training dealers and showcasing the technology at trade shows such as Farm Progress. He compared the adoption curve to that of GPS guidance systems two decades ago, noting that initial skepticism gives way to hands‑on experience that reveals time savings.
Murman also highlighted his family farm in Hastings, where he tests and refines the technology. The system allows him to help on the farm while simultaneously improving the autonomous grain cart. “It’s really come full circle,” he said.
PTx Trimble’s partnership with the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln and the Nebraska Innovation Campus not only expands the company’s product portfolio but also supports the state’s growing ag‑tech ecosystem. The company plans to launch an autonomous tillage solution for Fendt 900 series tractors in 2026, further extending the OutRun platform.
In sum, the Seward engineering center represents a significant milestone for PTx Trimble and the broader Nebraska ag‑tech community. The company continues to develop and deploy autonomous farming solutions, with early‑adopter installations underway and future product launches on the horizon. The partnership with the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln remains a key driver of innovation and talent development in the region.
