- Markets
- Orchard spraying · Vineyard spraying · High-density orchard and berry spraying
AN INDEPENDENT FIELD GUIDEAGRICULTURAL ROBOTICS / TOP FARM ROBOTS
MANUFACTURER FIELD SHEET / TFR / 20932
GUSS Automation.
GUSS Automation, LLC makes autonomous sprayers for orchards, vineyards, and berries. Founder Dave Crinklaw started Crinklaw Farm Services in 1982. GUSS Automation, LLC was launched to manufacture and sell GUSS machines. In 2025, John Deere acquired GUSS Automation. Each Mini GUSS sprayer is built in Kingsburg, California. Manufacturing address 2545 Simpson Street, Kingsburg, California 93631. Phone 559-897-0245. Email info@gussag.com.
Acquired · John DeereStartup
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Overview
At a glance.
People
The team.
Dave Crinklaw
Founder
Gary Thompson
Co-Founder
Field relationships · GUSS Automation
Customers & deployments.
Robot · GUSS
Crinklaw Farm Services
Customer · Active · Other · US
Kingsburg, California · California
trees and vineyards · contract spraying
CFS still contracts with growers to spray up to 5,000 acres a day during peak season.
Robot · GUSS
Five Star Farm Management, Inc.
Customer · Active · Grower / farm · US
Linden, California
orchard crops · autonomous orchard spraying
Mike Carr: “We do more acres every shift due to less stopped and downtime.”
Robot · GUSS
John Deere dealer network ↗
Distributor / dealer · Active · Dealer / distributor · US
worldwide via Deere
After the Deere acquisition, GUSS products are sold through John Deere dealerships.
Robot · GUSS
76 commercial units
Customer · Active
California, Arizona, Florida, Australia
almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, citrus
Farm Progress: 76 machines in customers’ hands at time of article.
Robot · GUSS
250 commercial units
Customer · Active
global
More than 250 machines globally; 2.6 million acres sprayed.
Product family · 3 robots
The machines.
GUSS Automation
GUSS Automation
Shipping
GUSS
Autonomous orchard sprayer designed for precision spraying in tree crops and vineyards
self driving / sprayingField sheet →
GUSS Automation
GUSS Automation
Shipping
Herbicide GUSS
Self-driving orchard floor sprayer that detects, targets, and spot-sprays weeds. Brochure figures: 23 ft 6 in long, 6 ft 4 in tall, 15–19 ft adjustable boom width, 12,460 lb empty, John Deere 4.5 L 74 hp Stage V diesel, 90 gallon fuel cell (~13–14 h), 600 gallon tank.
self driving / sprayingField sheet →
GUSS Automation
GUSS Automation
Shipping
Mini GUSS
Self-driving sprayer for vineyards, high-density orchards, and berries. Built 25% smaller than Orchard GUSS. GPS, LiDAR, sensors, and software; one operator can monitor up to eight machines. Empty weight 8,840 lb. John Deere 4.5 L 173 hp diesel; about 12 hours on a 77 gallon fuel cell.
self driving / sprayingField sheet →
Categories · GUSS Automation
Where they work.
Podcasts
Podcasts.
Podcast · GUSS · Oct 20, 2026
USDA Announces $13.8 Billion in Farm Payments as Autonomous Spraying Technology Advances ↗
AgNet News Hour
Gary Thompson · Co-Founder
Gary Thompson, Co-Founder of GUSS Automation, joins hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill on AgNet News Hour episode 2453, published 20 October 2026 at 13:00 UTC. Apple Podcasts lists the episode at 48 minutes. Thompson says GUSS has sprayed more than 3 million acres autonomously, that one supervisor can run as many as eight machines, and that a new interface plus performance reports cut interventions per acre. Richard Fordyce of USDA also appears.
Press
Press.
Trade press · Mini GUSS · Nov 3, 2026
FIRA USA 2026: A New State, New Opportunities, and a Strong Future for Agricultural Robotics ↗
Western Growers Association
FIRA USA 2026 in Yakima, Washington, drew more than 2,000 attendees. Thursday orchard demonstrations named Mini GUSS, Burro equipped with SBW smart spraying and implement control, and Kingman Ag autonomy retrofit. Reservoir Farms plans a Prosser, Washington location. FIRA USA 2027 is still listed for Florida with no dates in this recap.
Trade press · GUSS · Oct 23, 2026
GUSS Advances Autonomous Spraying to Boost Farm Efficiency ↗
AgNet West
Gary Thompson · Co-Founder
AgNet West recap of Nick Papagni’s Ag Meter interview with Gary Thompson, Co-Founder of GUSS Automation. Thompson describes fewer obstacle-detection stops, a redesigned supervisor interface for fleets of up to eight machines, and performance reports that log spray coverage, refill time, idle time, and obstacle waits. More than 3 million acres have been sprayed autonomously. John Deere dealers in California sell and service the machines.
Appearances
In the field.
Product · GUSS
FIRA USA 2026 ↗
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
exhibitor
Growth exhibitor on the official FIRA USA 2026 exhibitors and partners list.
Product · GUSS
FIRA USA 2026 ↗
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
demo
Robot-demo list: GUSS Automation, Herbicide GUSS, and mini GUSS. Expo map places GUSS in the John Deere demo zone.
Product · Mini GUSS
FIRA USA 2026 ↗
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
demo
Mini GUSS stood out at the Thursday commercial apple-orchard demonstrations after the main conference.
Product · Herbicide GUSS
FIRA USA 2026 ↗
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
demo
Robot-demo list names Herbicide GUSS. Expo map places GUSS in the John Deere demo zone.