UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Faculty and students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will soon have expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and research with the addition of New Holland’s fully methane-powered tractor.
The tractor, provided to the college through a partnership of the Penn State Corporate Engagement Center with CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment whose brands include Case IH and New Holland, incorporates advanced technologies in precision farming, autonomy and connectivity.
Under the partnership, the New Holland T6.180 methane tractor will be available to Penn State for one year, enabling students and researchers to gain hands-on experience with alternative energy technology and study its benefits for sustainable farming.
The tractor will be based at the college’s 2,200-acre Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, Centre County, a hub for research and education improving food, farming and environmental health.
Studies at this living laboratory range from optimizing the performance of agronomic crops such as corn and soybean through precision nutrition to developing integrated strategies for managing pathogens, weeds, and insect pests of vegetable and fruit crops.
This collaboration supports Penn State’s focus on agricultural innovation, alternative energy research, and studies that address farm efficiency and profitability, noted Troy Ott, dean of the college.
“We are pleased to partner with CNH and New Holland to bring this groundbreaking methane-powered tractor to our research and teaching programs,” Ott said. “This technology will enhance hands-on learning, advance cutting-edge research and prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders, while supporting solutions that benefit farmers, communities and the environment. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation, education and the future of agriculture.”
CNH Product Marketing Manager Sean Dorosz explained that the industry’s first and only production natural gas-powered tractor is manufactured in the same factory as diesel tractors. It offers an alternative energy solution for farmers with digesters or landfills while reducing environmental impact by capturing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
“Our collaboration with Penn State allows for real-world data collection versus just engineering-controlled tests, which is crucial for understanding the tractor’s performance and efficiency in the many different jobs this-sized tractor performs around the world,” he said. “It will give us good data and exposure to the market so customers can see the unit in action, realize it works just like a diesel tractor, and envision how it could fit in their operation. Plus, it’s much cleaner for the environment. It’s a win-win.”
Ott explained that the tractor will be integral to more than 80 interdisciplinary research projects at the research center, supporting work such as tillage, planting, raised bed preparation, haying, and mowing, all to improve farm profitability and sustainability. Those conducting the projects will benefit from the tractor’s availability, while the company will be able to see how the tractor performs in a variety of tasks across conditions.
Equally important, it will serve as a valuable teaching resource for faculty, staff and students in courses such as forage crop management, vegetable crops, weed management and precision agriculture, while also supporting student clubs and Penn State Extension programs, noted Beth Gugino, assistant dean for graduate education and associate director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.
“Educating our students about the latest in farming technologies through hands-on access and not just two-dimensional images will help prepare them to solve real-world problems and understand where alternative energy sources can be part of the solution,” she said.
The tractor will be featured in daily operations, major events including Ag Progress Days and the Pennsylvania Forest Products Equipment and Technology Exposition, and other stakeholder activities. The college will employ it in demonstrations for farmers, industry partners and the public and will showcase it during outreach events such as the college’s Plant Yourself in Ag Day, which encourages high school students to explore agricultural innovations and career paths.
“This is a great example of how major corporations are partnering with Penn State to advance student success, education, and research through technology and innovation,” said John Peterson, director at the Penn State Corporate Engagement Center.