From a sprayer that only activates nozzles when it sees a weed to tractors with fertilizer tanks integrated into the body of the machine, the next generation of John Deere equipment is bigger, smarter and more efficient than previous models.

The new products also include precision agriculture components that are now standard in  many tractors and optional features such as the ability to adjust tire pressure with the push of a button inside the cab.

“We have really tried to focus on the pain points our customers have,” Joel Dawson, John Deere production and precision ag marketing manager, told reporters during a product introduction on Deere’s test farm near Ankeny. “All this technology is great — but it’s not technology for technology’s sake. What once took 20 to 25 years is now...