Powering Up with Methane

Aside from its pristine appearance, the New Holland tractor parked outside Wyeth Dairy’s office looks just like the other blue tractors buzzing around the fields and freestall barns of this dairy farm in Modesto, California.  

But this tractor is unlike any other in California or the rest of the country. This T6.180 model is, in fact, the first methane-fueled tractor New Holland has sold in North America. And it’s an important step for customers Ivan and Cindy Wyeth.

It’s only been a week since the couple took possession of the new tractor. But Ivan already knows how to operate this unique piece of equipment. That’s because, for the last year, he’s been using another T6.180 tractor on a demo basis for his New Holland dealer, Garton Tractor in Modesto. Those efforts helped Garton Tractor, New Holland and the Wyeths confirm the unique abilities of the T6.180 -- namely, that the tractor, which runs solely on methane, minimizes air emissions while providing the same power, torque and durability as its diesel equivalent.  

During that demo year, Ivan also learned how to collect methane-filled tanks from a compressed natural gas (CNG) station in Ripon, about 10 miles away. He learned how to attach a 3-foot-tall methane tank to the tractor. The 49-gallon-capacity gas tanks are stored in the same easily visible position as the diesel tanks on New Holland’s standard T6 model. And he learned how the tractor performed in the real world of his 210-acre farm, which produces mostly winter wheat and corn. 

“I pulled a disk with it in my fields and couldn’t tell any difference from my diesel tractors,” Ivan says. “It’s a very good piece of equipment. We’ve had no problems at all. It’s pretty straightforward. Putting methane in the tractor is pretty much plug-and-play.”

Putting the T6.180 to work
The new tractor joins 11 other New Holland equipment pieces operating on the Wyeth’s fifth-generation farm. The couple have designated their new methane tractor, with its 145-horsepower engine and four-wheel drive, for dairy use. It will pull the feed wagon that delivers mixed rations to their 700 milking Holsteins and 700 replacements.

Wyeth Dairy expects to see a fuel savings of about 20% by using a tractor that relies on methane instead of diesel. New Holland research shows methane’s per-gallon cost is less than half that of conventional diesel. 

Further, the new tractor’s reduced emissions will increase the Wyeth’s evolution toward carbon-neutral farming. Compared to emission limits allowed under European Stage V emission regulations, the methane-powered tractor produces 98% less particulate matter. 

But those aren’t the only pluses of purchasing the T6.180.

“The real savings has been through the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District,” says Ivan. 

Through the air district’s popular Agricultural Tractor Replacement Program, the Wyeths received a $158,000 clean-air grant from the program. That covered some 70% of the T6.180’s cost. The program provides funding help to replace agricultural equipment that’s at least 30 years old. 

Keeping up with technology
The T6.180 is one more step the Wyeths have made to invest in advanced technology for the farm, which has been in Ivan’s family since 1912. Seven years ago, they installed a solar-panel system on the dairy. Today, that energy powers the dairy’s manure pumps, milk barn and other facilities, and two onsite homes. 

“Solar lowered our monthly bill with Modesto Irrigation District from $8,000 a month to $500,” Cindy says.

They also purchased SCR collars to monitor their milking herd’s rumination and other activities. In addition, they invested in a herd-management software system that uses a hand-held computer to digitally capture health data via an ear tag on each cow. That, says Ivan, not only saves time but is “way more accurate than a written list.” The Wyeths have even looked into robotics for the dairy.

“I’m very interested in technology,” Ivan adds. “If we want to continue to do business in today’s ag environment, we have to use every tool available to us to reduce costs.” 

Looking ahead, the Wyeths don’t expect to produce their own methane to power their new T6.180. They can’t yet justify the expense of a digester project, not with volatile milk prices and high production costs on what they say is their “small” dairy. 

“I’d love to acquire more land, but it’s almost impossible,” Ivan says. “Land values around here are $40,000 an acre or more.”

But the couple is interested in a potential project still in the discussion phase. That would involve one day joining a cluster of other nearby dairies that would draw methane from a neighbor’s digester. 

Until then, the Wyeths fully expect their methane-powered tractor – with its lower fuel costs, reduced emissions and high-performance role in achieving a smaller carbon footprint – to help sustain their dairy for years to come.

“It’s just like New Holland likes to say,” Ivan says. “‘The greenest your farm can be is with a blue tractor.’”