The West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and New Holland have partnered to make more advanced farm equipment available for students to learn from, thanks to a donation of two methane-powered tractors.
In May, two T6.180 tractors arrived at the J.W. Ruby Research Farm courtesy of Forrester Farm Equipment and CNH, a leader in heavy machinery for agriculture and construction. The T6.180 is the first consumer tractor that is powered by compressed natural gas instead of a more traditional fuel, like diesel.
However, the T6.180 can also be powered by biomethane through the use of biodigesters. Essentially, a biodigester creates a sealed environment where microorganisms break down biodegradable waste into usable byproducts like biogas or fertilizer. Biodegradable waste includes things like plant matter, food waste, and even manure, meaning WVU students will have access to the first commercial tractor ever that can help produce its own fuel.
Ben Walsh, associate director of farms and manager of the J.W. Ruby Research Farm, said the tractors will be used for a wide variety of tasks around the farm, like making hay, growing crops, forage harvesting, and heavy load pulling.
"This gift, combined with our ongoing partnership with Forrester Farm Equipment and CNH, affords us access to the latest farm equipment technology and has been transformative to the operations of the WVU Research Farms,” Walsh said. “We are very appreciative that they have given us this opportunity and continue to support us in our mission to carry out research and outreach as we train the next generation of agriculturalists. The partnership that we have with New Holland has allowed our research farms to remain on the cutting edge of farm equipment technology."
While in use, instructors will also be able to sit side-by-side with students as they learn how to operate the vehicle on a working farm.
"Through this gift, Forrester and New Holland have allowed us to teach students what emerging technologies can do for farms. CNH’s commitment to innovation and their university partnership program continues to drive progress in the agricultural industry," Walsh said.
Sean Dorosz, Tractor Product Marketing Manager at CNH, said the partnership is just one example of how it is committed to enabling leading edge education in agriculture nationwide and in West Virginia.
The CNH donation was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.