New Holland Showcases Methane-Powered Tractor, Expands Product Lines
New Holland kicked off the 2017 farm show season with a wide range of product introductions — the most unique being a concept tractor powered by methane, which is the company’s latest development in its vision for the sustainable future of farming. According to Carlo Lambro, New Holland agriculture brand president, the innovative tractor’s methane-power engine delivers the same performance and has the same durability as its diesel equivalent, but with up to 30% lower running costs.
More importantly, the tractor was designed with the concept that farmers may someday be able to generate their own fuel. Theoretically, a farm-based biodigester could be fed with specifically grown energy crops, animal waste, food waste, or crop residues. The biogas is then refined into fuel-grade methane to power the farm’s vehicles and machinery. In the meantime, the engine can also run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
The tractor design, which was inspired by the automotive industry, features a fully integrated, wrap-around design that blends the hood, front, and rear fenders and fuel tank to create a flowing, stylish look. However, it’s also functional. The floating glass domed roof, for example, offers an unobstructed view of the loader at all times. The futuristic design even includes a fixed hub steering-wheel-mounted display cluster that moves with the steering wheel when it is raised or lowered.
The new methane-powered tractor was only the icing on the cake when it came to New Holland product introductions. Other new innovations addressed transmission technology, productivity, product line extensions, and acquisitions and partnerships.
New Holland Agriculture is now offering its proven Auto Command continuously variable transmission on its high-power T9 series tractors. As the first articulated four-wheel-drive tractor with a CVT, T9 tractors can now go as fast backward as forward, which is great for those producers who use a four-wheel-drive to pack silage.
The New Holland T6 tractor series has been expanded with T6 Dynamic Command. The new T6.145, T6.155, T6.165, and T6.175 Dynamic Command models feature a new three-range, eight-step semi-powershift that provides 24 speeds in each direction for greater efficiency and reduced fuel consumption.
A new CR Revelation combine from New Holland promises to expand the maximum harvesting potential, while lowering the total cost of ownership. In addition to guaranteed grain quality, it is said to improve average total capacity by up to 10%, while lowering the power needed to separate the grain by up to 75 hp., compared with previous models.
After releasing the BigBaler 340 PLUS in 2016, New Holland Agriculture has debuted a full line of BigBaler Plus balers that offer greater durability and up to 10% greater bale density, which means fewer bales to handle.
New Holland Agriculture has expanded its hay equipment offering with three new RF Series Fixed Chamber Round Balers — RF440 Utility, RF450 Utility, and RF450 SuperFeed models. Designed for simplicity and ease of use, the RF Series balers can be used with existing tractors with as low as 40 PTO hp.
The New Holland hay equipment lineup also includes new Discbine 310 and 312 center-pivot disc mower conditions that offer 10-foot, 4-inch- and 11-foot, 6-inch-cutting widths, respectively.
New Holland Agriculture also expanded its tillage offerings with a new Kongskilde 9200 Series Vertical Tillage model, 8200 Series Field Cultivator, and 800 Series Field Cultivator.
Finally, New Holland Agriculture debuted its newest front boom sprayer models as the Guardian SP310F and Miller Nitro 7310 … the first to be engineered and built as a result of New Holland’s acquisition of the Miller-St. Nazianz company in 2014.
