Planting leafy green vegetables more than three times a year requires efficient communication, precise seeding and an agile equipment provider that can move with you as conditions change. Queen Victoria Produce, part of Ippolito International, uses advanced machine control and connected equipment to grow high-quality vegetables efficiently. 

“We want to put food on every person’s plate in the United States,” said Hiram Quintero, Queen Victoria’s Equipment Manager. “We run nearly 200 machines, each with a specific job to keep things moving.”

Farm Snapshot 

• Farm Name:  Queen Victoria Produce
• Location: Salinas Valley, California 
• Specialty: Large-scale vegetable farming, growing Brussels sprouts, lettuce, broccoli for all of North America
• Fleet Highlights: A customized Monosem MS Planter, John Deere 8RT & 9RT tractors, along with 6120E Utility Tractors and JD 286 Disk for trash management.
• Precision Agriculture Solution: John Deere’s SeedStar™ system on planters plus Gen4 or G5 Displays in tractor cabs with JDLink connectivity to access John Deere Operations Center™ 

Challenges on the Farm

With three planting and harvest cycles a year and $6 million invested in seedlings, precise and optimized planting isn’t optional — it’s essential for timely harvests. 

“At times we have to move fast to get that crop in the ground,” Quintero said. “So it’s important that I can see all my machines from the Operations Center. 

Rising costs, challenges in labor and plant protection prompted Queen Victoria to seek more efficient and consistent methods for planting.

“Queen Victoria will often have tractors moving as early as 3 a.m. during planting,“ said Jack Swartz, Precision Agriculture Product Specialist. “It can be difficult for operators to see if they have accurate seed spacing and depth when they have to move fast before it’s light out.”

Machine Alerts, Monitoring and Reports 

Queen Victoria wants to gather more data to see how they plant and where they plant to illustrate where discrepancies exist. Enter John Deere’s Operations Center ™ and SeedStar™system.

“Queen Victoria’s fleet wasn’t connected to the Operations Center about five years ago,” said Garrett Long, RDO’s Sales Professional. “Queen Victoria is a forward-looking farm and really wants to use solutions like the Operations Center to quickly make informed decisions during critical times.”

RDO works with Queen Victoria to keep its large fleet, including the Monosem MS planter, connected to the Operations Center.

“One of my operators may be too busy to see potential issues with the tractor or planter,” Quintero said. “So the fact that I can use the Operations Center to see where my machines are and receive Machine Health Alerts allows me to work with the RDO team to address the problem.”

The RDO Solution:Connecting Monosem Planters to the Operations Center 

The RDO team, connected machines, mapped field boundaries and trained operators — making sure Queen Victoria could hit the ground running with John Deere’s SeedStar ™.

“The SeedStar ™ system provides real-time data on planter performance, helping operators maximize efficiency and seed placement,” Swartz said. “ Sensor placed in the Monosem’s shoes shares key data with Queen Victoria’s Operations Center.” 

On the in-cab displays, operators can see critical seeding data points like:

• Target Population 
• Applied Population 
• Machine Speed 
• Variety 

“When they wanted to collect more data about their farming operation, we knew we had to start the seed,” Swartz said. “That’s why we recommended the SeedStar™ system and worked alongside them to set up planters and their Operation Center dashboard for success.”

These tools enable operators to monitor seeding rates and row unit performance in real-time, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments for optimal placement. 

Results in the Field: Parts and Support for Monosem Planters 

With SeedStar™ on the Monosem planters, Queen Victoria achieves consistent row unit performance, optimal seed placement and documented agronomic data. Combined with Operations Center insights, they uncover efficiency and performance opportunities for both the tractors and planters. 

“I honestly say that I’ve used the Operations Center almost every time I need to make operational decisions in the field,” Quintero said. “I can’t be everywhere, so the fact that I have confidence in the management system, plus RDO’s service and support, makes my day easier.” 

With improved planter optimization and machine monitoring, Queen Victoria has reduced downtime, saved input costs and increased operator efficiency.

Watch the QVP team in action with RDO team members working in partnership to precisely plant and produce quality crops that find their way to grocery store shelves.  

Why RDO? 

Queen Victoria values RDO’s responsive service, deep ag expertise and commitment to partnership. From planting to tilling, RDO’s team supports Queen Victoria every step of the way. 

“We have a really great relationship with RDO,” Quintero said. “We have chat groups where I know I can get answers fast when I need them.” 

Equipped for Future Growing Seasons

Queen Victoria plans to continue expanding its use of precision ag tools and deepen its partnership with RDO to support the next generation of farming. With technology and teamwork, they’re building a more sustainable future for vegetable production. 

“At RDO, we’re not just selling tractors and then done,” Long said. ”We’re there for the farm when the tractors are in fields.”

Ready to boost your farm performance? Talk to an RDO ag specialist today and discover how precision tools and John Deere equipment can work for you.