With MK-V Dairy Autodrive Feed Pushing, farmers can push feed more frequently, leading to healthy, happier cows. | Credit: Monarch Tractor
Monarch Tractor this announced that it has partnered with Dairy Farmers of America, or DFA, to provide savings for DFA farmer-owners. Livermore, Calif.-based Monarch Tractor manufactures electric, autonomous, and data-driven off-road vehicles for the specialty and compact tractor market. The company said the agreement demonstrates its commitment “to working closely with leading industry voices.”
Kansas City, Kan.-based DFA is made up of nearly 9,500 diverse family dairy farmers across the U.S. The addition of Monarch Tractor to DFA’s list of preferred vendors in its Members Savings Network will give farmers greater access to dairy machinery at a reduced cost, said the partners. The machines can help them overcome labor challenges, drive down input costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said Monarch Tractor.
Dairy farmers have a history of embracing agricultural technology and innovation, the company stated. Investing in energy-efficient machinery and robotics has led to less labor and more operational efficiency, it added.
Monarch Tractor offers electric, self-driving tractor
Because the MK-V Dairy tractor is 100% electric, it can save dairies thousands of dollars each year on diesel costs while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions during feed-pushing operations, said Monarch Tractor. It can also serve as a mobile power wall, enabling farmers to easily transport stored energy to remote places on their farm to act as a clean, quiet generator for tools and other machinery.
As the manufacturer of the MK-V Dairy tractor, a 100% electric, smart tractor with autonomous feed-pushing functionality, Monarch claimed that it “is unlocking increased milk production, labor efficiency, and data-driven decision-making for dairy farmers.”
‘We’re thrilled to bring Monarch’s innovative technology to DFA’s farmer-owners,” said Praveen Penmetsa, co-founder and CEO of Monarch Tractor. “Industry partnerships are a core tenet of Monarch’s farmer-first philosophy, and our MK-V Dairy tractor aligns perfectly with DFA’s commitment to helping farmers operate more efficiently and profitably.”
Monarch Tractor raised $133 million in Series C funding in June 2024 to help expand its sales and support team and to continue to innovate following its product roadmap.
DFA commits to accessibility, sustainability
Through its commitments to sustainable and responsible farming, DFA said its partnership with Monarch Tractor will help dairy farms and their communities thrive. The organization said it will connect farms to valuable energy-efficiency initiatives and resources through its Farm Services division.
“We are pleased to partner with Monarch Tractor to bring their cutting-edge MK-V Dairy tractor to our farmer-owners,” said Kaitlyn Cherny, energy program manager at DFA.
“This collaboration not only provides significant savings, but also enhances our farmers’ ability to optimize labor resources and improve productivity,” she added. “At Dairy Farmers of America, we are committed to supporting our members with innovative solutions that drive efficiency and sustainability on their farms.”
Monarch Tractor asserted that its system’s connectivity can improve data-driven decision-making and make it easy for farmers to generate reports on the tractor’s operations and savings. As a digital platform, the MK-V Dairy tractor continues to improve even after the point of purchase through software and firmware updates, it said.
DFA members can access the exclusive discounts by logging into their myDFA accounts.
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