Kverneland & AgXeed set autonomous ploughing world record

In a 24-hour marathon last April, Norwegian tillage specialist Kverneland and Dutch robotics firm AgXeed established the first-ever autonomous ploughing world record, covering 20.8 hectares (51.4 acres).

The attempt took place on the rolling fields of Birch Farm and centred on an AgXeed AgBot 5.115T2—a 156-hp, tracked field robot—working in tandem with a five-furrow Kverneland LO 300/85 plough. The AgBot maintained a pace of 5.6–8 km/h (3.5–5 mph), easing off only for headland turns. During the night the machine paused briefly to refill its 375-litre diesel tank before resuming its programmed passes.

Former Society of Ploughmen director James Whitty verified the record area, while Kverneland UK product specialistAdam Burt highlighted the efficiency of the set-up: “Fitted with Kverneland body No. 28, the LO plough is one of the easiest on the market to pull, and even on hilly ground the AgBot used just 382.72 litres of fuel in 24 hours while leaving a high-quality finish.”The feat underscores how autonomous platforms are moving from field trials to full-scale, round-the-clock operations—an advance likely to reshape labour, efficiency and emissions targets on farms worldwide.