Smarter Harvests: How CartACE and Ag Leader Are Changing Precision Agriculture
What if your grain cart operator could see exactly what your combine operator sees—without ever picking up the radio? From smoother unloading to improved visibility across the field, connected equipment is changing how farmers approach harvest. But the biggest advantage might not be the technology itself. It might be how much easier it makes everyone’s job.
On this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, the guys sit down with Pete Youngblut, owner of Youngblut Ag, to discuss CartACE, Ag Leader technology, equipment connectivity, and what the future of precision agriculture could look like for farmers.
From the Family Farm to Precision Agriculture
Pete grew up on a corn and soybean farm near Dysart, Iowa, where agriculture was part of everyday life. After studying precision agriculture at Hawkeye Community College, he went on to work for Ag Leader before eventually returning closer to home and starting Youngblut Ag.
Today, his business serves farmers across a large portion of Iowa, helping them navigate everything from precision-ag equipment to technology upgrades.
For Pete, the goal has never been simply selling the newest product. It's about understanding each farmer's operation and finding solutions that actually make sense for their equipment, acres, and goals.
And sometimes, the right solution isn't buying a newer machine.
CartACE: Making Grain Cart Operations Easier
One of the biggest conversations in this episode centers around CartACE, a technology designed to help grain cart operators maintain their position alongside a combine during unloading.
Pete shares how his own farming operation discovered the value of the system.
After pairing a Case 7120 combine with a 40-foot MacDon draper head, they realized the existing unload auger left very little room for error when positioning the grain cart.
They had a choice: invest in a longer unload auger or find another solution.
They chose CartACE.
What started as a way to make unloading easier quickly became a piece of technology the operators didn't want to go without.
By helping the grain cart stay properly positioned alongside the combine, CartACE reduces some of the constant steering adjustments and communication required during harvest.
But as Pete explains, the benefits extend far beyond simply keeping the cart in the right place.
Better Connectivity Means Better Decisions
One of the most valuable aspects of connected farm equipment is the ability to share information between machines in real time.
Instead of constantly asking the combine operator for updates, the grain cart operator can access information such as:
Yield and moisture data
Field maps and harvest progress
Combine speed
Equipment locations throughout the field
That shared visibility helps operators stay informed without relying on constant radio conversations.
For farmers juggling multiple machines, employees, and changing field conditions, better communication can mean fewer interruptions and more efficient operations.
And in some situations, it can make a difference in safety.
An Unexpected Safety Benefit
Pete shares a firsthand experience that changed how he thought about connected equipment.
While harvesting down corn, he was preparing to back up his combine. Before moving, he noticed the grain cart's vehicle icon displayed on his monitor.
That visibility alerted him to the cart's location and prevented him from backing into it.
It wasn't necessarily a safety feature he had considered when originally investing in the technology, but it quickly demonstrated another important benefit.
When operators have better information about what's happening around them, they can make better decisions.
And during the pressure of harvest, that additional awareness can be incredibly valuable.
You Don't Need a Brand-New Tractor to Use Precision Ag
A common misconception surrounding precision agriculture is that farmers need the newest tractors and combines to take advantage of modern technology.
Pete challenges that assumption.
Ag Leader offers solutions that can be retrofitted onto older equipment, giving farmers opportunities to upgrade their capabilities without replacing an entire machine.
Technologies such as SteadySteer and hydraulic steering systems can bring assisted steering and precision guidance capabilities to equipment that may have been manufactured years ago.
That flexibility allows farmers to evaluate technology investments based on their needs rather than feeling pressured to purchase new iron.
For operations watching equipment costs closely, upgrading an existing machine may provide a more practical path toward improved efficiency.
Remote Support: Less Downtime, More Productivity
Anyone who has experienced an equipment issue during planting or harvest understands how frustrating downtime can be.
The conversation explores how Ag Leader's connected technology is making technical support more accessible.
With tools such as AgFiniti, DisplayCast, and integrated modems in InCommand Go displays, farmers and dealers can share information and troubleshoot certain problems remotely.
Instead of immediately waiting for a technician to arrive in the field, a dealer may be able to review the system, identify an issue, and help resolve it from another location.
That doesn't eliminate every service call, but it creates opportunities to get farmers moving again faster.
During the busiest times of the year, saving even a small amount of downtime can make a meaningful difference.
What's Next? Automation, Autonomy, and AI
Looking ahead, Pete believes agriculture will continue moving toward greater automation and eventually more autonomous equipment.
Today's systems already help operators steer, coordinate machines, and share information. Future technology could take those capabilities further.
Artificial intelligence may eventually allow machines to make more of the situational decisions that currently require a human operator.
But Pete's perspective reinforces an important point: technology needs to solve real problems on the farm.
The future of precision agriculture isn't simply about having the most advanced equipment. It's about making farming operations safer, more efficient, and easier to manage.
The Bottom Line
From grain cart guidance to remote equipment support, precision agriculture continues to offer farmers new ways to improve their operations.
Pete Youngblut's story demonstrates that adopting technology doesn't have to mean replacing everything you already own.
Sometimes, the biggest improvements come from making the equipment you have work better together.
Want to learn whether CartACE or other Ag Leader technologies could fit your operation? Tune in to the full Farm4Profit episode with Pete Youngblut for a conversation about practical technology, harvest efficiency, and where agriculture is headed next.
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