In this episode, we sit down with Deanna Kovar, President of John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, to break down where farm equipment is headed — and what it means for your operation. Then we dive even deeper in to the High Horsepower 8R and new Planter technology.
We cover two major shifts happening right now:
• Deere is actively testing a 350 HP ethanol-powered tractor
• Runs on E98 fuel (98% ethanol)
• Uses a spark ignition engine — not diesel
• Eliminates the need for DEF
• Real-world performance pulling grain carts and tillage tools
• What infrastructure challenges still need solved
• Could farmers eventually grow their own fuel?
• New 8R & 8RX lineup (440, 490, 540 HP)
• Up to 634 max horsepower with IPM
• EVT transmission and integrated electric power (56V / 15kW)
• Fully integrated planting solutions
• Improved cab experience, controls, and visibility
• Built for bigger operations and higher efficiency
But beyond the specs and technology…
This episode is about where agriculture is headed.
Deanna shares her story growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, her passion for producers, and how John Deere is designing equipment for the next generation of farming.