Livermore's Wente Vineyards Gets First Driverless Tractor: WATCH

LIVERMORE, CA — Wente Vineyards is now home to the first fully electric tractor that can operate without a driver, according to manufacturer Monarch Tractor.

Monarch Tractor believes its technology can aid farmers in their work, increase yields and help farms struggling with labor shortages. The smart tractor is "merging the Livermore wine region with Silicon Valley tech," the company said in its statement.

“We’ve seen firsthand the benefits of the Monarch Tractor in our vineyards,” said Niki Wente of Wente Vineyards in the statement. “Monarch Tractor represents the future of tractors and to be the first customer deployment is especially exciting as we kick off this new era of sustainable farming.”

Wente, an iconic name in Livermore Valley's wine country, was able to receive the tractor partly thanks to a grant from a California Air Resources Board program that is part of California Climate Investments, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward a greener farming industry, according to a statement from Monarch Tractor. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also contributed funding for the project.

“We are thrilled to announce the ahead-of-schedule deployment of the first Monarch Tractor,” said Praveen Penmetsa, chief executive officer of Monarch Tractor, in the statement. “Our tractor has undergone strenuous real-world testing and is now ready to get to work and deliver on the promise of a more sustainable and efficient farming operation.”

The smart tractor relies on machine-learning, automatic and data analysis technologies.

Watch it in action: