John Deere has officially expanded its presence in Texas with the launch of a new Research and Development Center in Austin. What began in 2022 as a modest 40-acre leased site with two machines and a trailer has grown into a 285-acre facility designed for year-round testing, innovation, and collaboration.
The site combines modern office space with extensive crop trial fields, creating a unique environment where strategic planning meets field testing. According to test site manager Kyle Leinaar, “It’s where boots-on-the-ground insights meet enterprise-wide innovation.”
Why Austin?
The central Texas location offers a balance of farmland access and urban connectivity. With proximity to the airport, visitors can join testing sessions and still fly home the same day. Thanks to Texas’ early growing seasons, teams can plant corn as early as February—months before the Midwest—giving Deere more opportunities to trial advanced systems such as See & Spray™, autonomy platforms, Machine Sync™, and AutoTrac™.
Building Partnerships
The Austin hub is also about collaboration beyond Deere’s internal teams. Engineers are partnering with local farmers, having already mapped more than 20,000 acres to evaluate mixed-fleet operations. Over a dozen farmers are actively involved, helping Deere refine its technologies while gaining exposure to the company’s full precision agriculture suite.
Collaboration at Work
Inside the center, engineers from different divisions work side by side, fostering knowledge sharing across product lines. Employees are encouraged to step outside their specialties—such as sprayer engineers working with construction equipment teams—ensuring broader experience and stronger collaboration across the company.
About John Deere
Founded in 1837, John Deere has grown into a global leader in agricultural and construction machinery, precision agriculture solutions, and advanced digital technologies. With innovation hubs like the Austin R&D Center, the company continues to strengthen its position as a driver of farming efficiency and sustainable agriculture worldwide.
