Methane-powered tractors will bolster ag research at Nebraska U

A man speaks into a microphone as he stands next to three other men between two New Holland methane-powered tractors.

Abigayle Warm | IANR Communications

Derek McLean, dean and director of the Agricultural Research Division; Joe Luck, interim head of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering; and Joshua Richardson and Andy Dozler, CNH representatives, speak during an event May 5 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Ithaca. Two New Holland methane-powered tractors, which were donated to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln by CNH, were unveiled during the event.

Faculty and students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will have new agriculture research and education opportunities because of the gift of two New Holland methane-powered tractors.

CNH donated the tractors through the University of Nebraska Foundation. The New Holland T6.180 is the world’s first 100% methane-powered production tractor. Each tractor has a retail value of $287,240.

The gift was facilitated by Andy Dozler, manufacturing engineering manager of the CNH plant in Grand Island, Nebraska. Dozler, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanized systems management from Nebraska in 2004, serves on the Biological Systems Engineering advisory board. CNH’s manufacturing engineering department in Grand Island also employs 10 engineers who are Husker alumni.

“I was made aware of a unique opportunity that CNH was looking to donate several state-of-the-art methane-powered tractors to universities,” Dozler said. “The goal was to place this advanced equipment in the hands of students for real-world use, helping prepare the next generation of farmers and innovators while demonstrating the viability of alternative-powered machinery in everyday agricultural operations.”

More than a dozen people gather around two New Holland methane-powered tractors outside the NFarms facility at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center. — Two New Holland methane-powered tractors, which were donated to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln by CNH, were unveiled during an event May 5 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Ithaca.

The two tractors will be used at the university’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, a research and education facility near Mead.

The bright blue tractors are designed to minimize emissions while maximizing profitability and productivity on farms. Farms equipped with biodigesters can power the tractors by converting the operation’s plant waste and livestock manure into biomethane. The tractors can also operate on compressed natural gas, which is how they initially will be fueled at the university.

“ENREEC functions as both a working farm and a commercial-scale laboratory where faculty, staff, students, producers, partner organizations and members of the public can observe and test new and emerging technologies,” said Doug Zalesky, director of ENREEC. “This donation is an incredible addition to the slate of technologies here at ENREEC, and it highlights the strong partnership we’re grateful to share with CNH. We’re extremely thankful to CNH for the donation of these tractors, and we look forward to putting them to work.”

The tractors were made at a CNH plant in Basildon, England. CNH’s Grand Island plant, which recently celebrated 60 years of operation, employs more than 600 people. For over 125 years, New Holland has supported farmers with the technology, solutions and services they need for productive agriculture.

The gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska.