Posted: 12.08.2010

Beginning in 2011 - every new tractor or combine is going to have a new emissions system on it.  But does this new requirement rob farmers of horsepower?

The short answer is no - according to Tom Dean with the Case-IH company of Racine.  In an interview with Pam Jahnke, Dean says for the first time in their history - there were no compromises made to meet new EPA emission standards.  In fact, growers might be pleasantly surprised at what they get.  Dean says the average operator will probably see about a 10 percent decrease in the cost of operations.  "They won't be changing oil as often because of these new systems - and we expect engines to last longer too." 

In Wisconsin there's one thing farmers WON'T see - black smoke,  "Any farmer that's started a diesel engine in Wisconsin's winter knows how much black smoke can come chugging out of those exhaust stacks," Dean says.  "With the new tier 4A system in place, you won't see much coming out of the stacks at all."

What operators will have to get used to on some models is something called a DEF tank.  Dean explains that the Case-IH emission system they use is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). SCR treats emissions with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), which is a stable, non-toxic solution of synthetic urea and deionized water.The DEF tank is simply filled during routine refueling, and SCR technology takes over from there, mixing DEF with the exhaust to create harmless nitrogen gas vapor and water. Dean tells Jahnke that most new over-the-road semi's use the same technology.

Dean says the farm equipment industry's not done yet with emission standards.  The Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that all farm equipment meet more stringent Tier 4B emission standards by 2014. Under those guidelines - tractors and combines will have to exhaust air that's equal in quality to what it takes in.

« back to news articles