USDA Grant Helps Monarch Tractor Impact Farming, One Farm at a Time

The alliance was made possible through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The organization selected Hopville Farms for funding under the Conservation Innovation Grant program to integrate and test Monarch Tractor’s autonomous electric tractor. The goal will be to automate specific blueberry field maintenance tasks to reduce the use of diesel fuels while improving farming productivity. Praveen Penmetsa, co-founder & CEO of Monarch Tractor, tells IndustryWeek, the USDA’s vote of confidence serves as validation for Monarch Tractor’s technology stack of 100 percent electric, automated operations, driver optional modes and data analytics.