In the sun-baked plains of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, where rolling hills meet a wide-open sky, farming is more than a job—it's a family legacy. For a third-generation farmer, the land tells a story of tradition, hard work, and adapting to new ways. But in recent years, that story has taken a modern twist. With unpredictable weather, tight farming schedules, and the pressure to get the most from his fields, the farmer decided to turn to smart farming technology for help.
His secret weapon was three FJD AT2 Max auto steer systems, which were installed on his New Holland combine harvester, John Deere tractor, and Fendt tractor, along with other farming machinery. In this blog, we'll share the story of how this Spanish farm harvested 375 hectares of wheat in just 400 hours and why technology like the AT2 Max is becoming essential for farmers in challenging climates like Castilla-La Mancha.
The Challenges of Farming in Castilla-La Mancha
In Spain's Castilla-La Mancha region, the farming landscape is a mix of open plains and gentle slopes, with altitudes ranging from 600 to 800 meters. While the terrain is ideal for large-scale farming, the climate is anything but forgiving. Summers here are hot and dry, with temperatures soaring above 35°C (95°F) and dramatic swings between daytime heat and cooler nights.Rainfall is scarce, averaging just 400–500mm annually, and when storms do hit, they’re often intense and localized. For farmers in this area, this creates a high-stakes race against time. Summer is not only the harvest season for wheat and barley, but also a critical period for crops like corn and sunflowers to grow.
Delays caused by sudden rain, dry winds, or equipment inefficiencies can mean the difference between a profitable year and a devastating loss. So for farmers here, they had to work fast, work smart, and trust their tools, because there was no room for error.
A Family Legacy Meets Modern Demands
This Spanish farm spans 375 hectares—a medium-sized operation by local standards but massive in responsibility. Passed down from his grandfather, the farm specializes in cereal crops (primarily wheat) and olive groves. While the family takes pride in their heritage, the farm owner knows that tradition alone wouldn't sustain them in today's climate change and market demand.
With 30 years of experience in farming, the farm owner always keeps a close eye on the latest tech to help with his farm business. In 2025, the farm owner invested in three AT2 Max systems from FJDynamics, a reliable brand that quickly won his trust after on-site testing.
He used those FJD systems to automate steering and navigation with his machinery. And he was impressed by the convenience brought by modern tech: improved precision, saved more time, and reduced the physical strain of operating heavy equipment during grueling summer harvests.
Precision Never Fail: The AT2 Max on Sloped Fields
On this farm, about 50% of the land is slopes and uneven grounds, and the rolling terrain can pose a unique challenge for tractors and farming vehicles. The non-flat land often causes harvesting equipment to drift, leading to missed rows or overlapping passes—a costly waste of fuel and time. For the farm owner and his workers, the combine harvester's performance on inclines was a major concern.According to the farm owner, another issue is that, without a navigation system, they didn't know their exact position in the field. They had to start by cutting the field in half and then harvesting in circles from the middle. Before, they had to harvest right next to the row they had just finished, which was a lot of stress for driving.
"I worried the GPS wouldn't adjust properly on slopes," he admitted. "But we tested it here, and despite the uneven ground, it worked perfectly. It corrects (for the machine's roll and pitch) automatically. It does it very well!" The on-site testing gave the farm owner great confidence in FJD's precision navigation tech.
By using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and GNSS (including BDS, GPS, GLONASS, and Europe's own Galileo), the AT2 Max system can get real-time location data from satellites and steer machines with amazing accuracy, down to 2.5 cm. This helps it drive up slopes that other systems might struggle with, even very steep ones from 30 to 50 degrees. Driving a large machine like the New Holland Combine Harvester with such precision is very difficult without a reliable navigation system.
With FJD's navigation system, they always know their position and can harvest alternate rows, which is much more efficient. For the owner and his team, this meant faster harvesting. Their combine harvester followed precise paths, eliminating overlaps and missed spots. The AT2 Max system's ability to adjust for terrain tilt kept equipment on course, even on these challenging hills.
375 Hectares, 400 Hours, Zero Margins for Error
This summer, the farm confidently faced its mid-year biggest harvest task, which used to be a big challenge. But now with the AT2 Max, they managed to harvest such a vast field of wheat in a very tight task window. With one AT2 Max system deployed on the New Holland CSX 7060 Combine Harvester, the team logged 400 hours of harvesting work.
"For me, the autosteering system has been a great new development, especially for tractors and the combine harvester," said the farm owner. "Now too, because it makes our workdays much easier and more bearable." He indicated that FJD's smart farming tech has been very helpful in their daily tasks.
Before using the AT2 Max, every harvest day was exhausting. Now, it’s less tired and easier to keep working the next day.As for the reason why they chose the FJD brand, the farm owner expressed his satisfaction with FJD's smart tech. Here are the results they gained from this wheat harvesting:
- Time Saved: Automated navigation reduced operator fatigue, allowing them to work longer and even at night, without compromising safety.
- Higher Efficiency: Precise routes minimized redundant passes, cutting fuel use by an estimated 10%.
- Weather Resilience: By finishing ahead of schedule, the farm avoided potential losses from unpredictable weather conditions in late summer.
From Skepticism to Satisfaction
Like many farmers, this farm owner was initially hesitant about adopting new technology. "The software seemed complicated at first," he recalled. He even doubted that the app would take much of their time in learning.But within days, his skepticism faded. The AT2 Max's 12.1-inch interface, designed for farmers rather than tech experts, proved intuitive and simple. "But since I wasn't familiar with it, it seemed a bit complex, and I doubted it a little bit. But then in the end, the truth is it's very intuitive and very easy to use."
To give farmers the best experience, FJD constantly updates its hardware and software based on their feedback. This helps fix problems fast and makes farming easier for them. For any technical issues, FJD always responds within one hour globally and even offers help on-site. This quick response time makes farmers feel more confident in FJD's service.