Glacier FarmMedia – Some say that the feeling of winning an award can be electric, possibly an even more accurate emotion for the team at Haggerty AgRobotics.
The company which specializes in farm robots won first prize with its Monarch MK-V electric tractor in the Equipment category at the Innovation Program Awards ceremony on the eve of the 2025 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.
The Monarch is a 4WD, fully electric, 70 horsepower tractor that also offers autonomous features.
Jeff Pettit, sales manager with Haggerty AgRobotics, says with labour shortages on the farm and the rapid pace of technology it was a “no brainer” to introduce an electric tractor into the equipment market.
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From an operator perspective, sitting in the seat of the Monarch is very similar to a conventional diesel-powered tractor, but with a catch.
“The biggest thing is that you don’t get the feedback that you would from a normal diesel tractor,” said Pettit. “It’s quite quiet and the feedback on the pedals is a little bit different. But overall, it feels and operates like a regular tractor.”
When it comes to battery life, Pettit said that operators can expect about eight hours of working time. The battery is rated for 14 hours, but battery life largely depends on what the tractor is pulling.
Pettit said it takes about five to six hours to fully charge the Monarch’s battery plugged into a 220 volt outlet and approximately eight to ten hours to charge the battery using a 110 volt outlet.
As far as what type of work the Monarch is suited for on the farm?
“We’ve got a bunch of different uses for it,” said Pettit. “We have a dairy case where it has a feed pusher on it and operates autonomously through the barn.”
Pettit also added that the Monarch is a good fit for use orchards and vineyards.
For more coverage of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2025, visit Farmtario’s landing page.
