Breese-based L&R Ag brings grain bin safety robot to local farmers
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NEW TECHNOLOGY — Luke Boeckman and Ryan Vonder Haar, of L&R Ag, stand outside of a grain bin with the Grain Weevil robot.
By ROBBY DORMAN
BREESE — A family-run agriculture technology business in Breese is bringing cutting-edge robotics to grain bin management, making the work safer and more efficient for farmers across the Midwest.
L&R Ag, founded by cousins Luke Boeckman and Ryan Vonder Haar in 2021, has partnered with a Nebraska-based ag-tech firm, to introduce an autonomous grain bin robot to the region. The device, named Grain Weevil, is designed to level grain, feed extraction augers and break up crusts, in order to eliminate the need for farmers to enter potentially hazardous bins.
“We started with spraying drones for crop dusting, but this fall, we had the opportunity to partner with Grain Weevil,” Boeckman said. “Their robot is built to eliminate as much human entry into grain bins as possible.”
Grain bins are a well-documented safety hazard. Farmers can suffocate if they become trapped in shifting grain. The Grain Weevil robot provides a remote solution, which allows the operator to manage the grain flow without stepping inside.
“Basically, this robot does two key jobs,” Vonder Haar explained. “It levels grain when bins are being emptied, which prevents issues with grain flow, and it breaks up crusts that can form when moisture builds up. Those crusts can turn into major problems for farmers, causing grain to clog and even leading to spoilage.”
“The number one rule in grain bins is ‘stay out,’ but sometimes farmers don’t have a choice,” Boeckman said. “With this technology, we’re taking people out of harm’s way.”
L&R Ag has transitioned from providing the technology as a service to offering it for direct purchase. The first wave of orders will be delivered in September, just in time for harvest. “We tested the service model first to work out any kinks,” Vonder Haar said. “Now that the system is running smoothly, we’re opening up pre-orders so (that) farmers can have their own robot before the fall.”
The Grain Weevil operates much like a drone, though instead of flying it navigates across the grain’s surface. Farmers use a remote controller and an integrated camera system to operate the machine from the outside.
“It’s simple to use,” Boeckman said. “You drive it across the top of the grain just like you would with a drone, only this one rolls instead of flies.”
Vonder Haar described the robot as a “game-changer” for farm operations, particularly for those dealing with frequent grain flow issues.“The way it moves is unlike anything else in the industry,” he said. “
L&R Ag was one of the first companies in the region to adopt drone-based spraying technology. Expanding into grain bin robotics is a natural progression for the company, which focuses on technological solutions to improve farm safety and efficiency.
“We’re a farm tech company at heart,” Vonder Haar said. “Our goal is to bring the latest innovations to local farmers, so (that) they can work smarter and safer.”
