Starting in 2026, a small number of early-production Deere electric tractors will be in use by actual farm customers. These will be 130 HP models.

CaseIH Farmall 75C electric models with 75 HP 4WD are in development.

Monarch is currently the leading producer of E-tractors with the following models:

MK-V Utility 70HP, MK-V Standard 70HP and MK-V Dairy 70 HP.

Minneapolis Moline UDLX comfortractor

In 1938, MM designed a combination tractor/car. They installed a streamlined cab with fenders on the UDLX frame to offer a tractor that could work in the field, then be transportation to town.

Some small manufacturers had tried to do the same thing with mixed results by building a kit to convert a Ford Model T for the field. These kits provided iron-lugged rear wheels, heavier rear axles, and chain drives to lower the speed. The kits were sold from 1910 and 1930 for $125 to $300.

The MM Comfortractor was different in that it started with a tractor which would not require any additional fittings. It would provide the farmer with a tractor which could also be a car. Top speed was 25 MPH.

Only 150 were built. 100 were sold, 50 were returned to the company. It was too unconventional and expensive for farmers to accept.

Deutz-Fahr

Deutz-Fahr has announced a 9-series 6-cylinder diesel 7.8-liter with continuously variable transmission and Terramatic technology. Rear hitch lift capacity is 26,450 lbs. 3-speed rear PTO is standard; front PTO is available.

Autonomous tractors on Wisconsin dairy farms

In a November 2025 column, I reported the increasing number of Monarch autonomous tractors being purchased by Wisconsin dairies. New statistics tell why.

There were 5,100 dairy farms in the state at the beginning of this year. That is just half of the number 10 years ago. However, the number of cows being milked has stayed almost the same because of the increase in very large herds. In the past, those operations have pushed back feed by hand, and now labor is much harder to get. An autonomous tractor can do this job well. The long barns allow the autonomous tractor to do this job more often than was done manually.

Small farms – nothing new

I visited a Kubota dealer northwest of Chicago that sits between urban growth on one side and traditional agriculture still operating on the other. We discussed the increasing number of small farm operations, just as is happening elsewhere in the U.S. Typically, a couple that were raised on the farm but have no other family still farming will buy about 40 acres that they can operate and raise their children on. One of this dealership’s new customers is boarding horses, selling vegetables to local restaurants, and doing a small amount of cropping with used machinery. They hope to purchase additional small acreage.

These changes remind me of our 160-acre farm with dairy, hogs, sheep and chickens that I was raised on a long time ago. There were no farms bigger than that in our neighborhood.  Now we are seeing similar startups.

Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with corporate IH in domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate two IH dealerships. He is the author of THE BREAKUP of IH and SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. See all his books on www.PaulWallem.com. Email your comments to pwallem9@gmail.com.