John Deere Commits to Factory-wide Biodiesel Use

John Deere representatives shared the announcement with more than 850 biodiesel enthusiasts from across the country gathered for the 2005 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, currently taking place at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

"This is a big step forward in confirming our commitment for the use of biodiesel fuel," said Don Borgman, manager of Market Planning and Customer Integration, John Deere Ag Marketing Center. "Our manufacturing plants in the U.S. will use B2 biodiesel for fueling tractors, combines, self-propelled sprayers, and other diesel powered machines."

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can be made from any fat or vegetable oil, such as soybean oil. It works in any diesel engine with few or no modifications and can be used in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel at any level. The Department of Energy (DOE) calls biodiesel the fastest growing alternative fuel in the country.

"We are promoting the use of B2 fuel because it is readily available and meets the high quality fuel standards that we have set for our engines, and it is a positive step toward adoption of renewable fuels," Borgman said.

Borgman added that if B2 were used in all diesel engines in the U.S., the United States could displace the equivalent of about 1 billion gallons of foreign oil per year. That could, in turn, translate to some very significant increases in the demand for crops from which biodiesel is made, like soybeans and other natural fats and oils grown in the United States.

John Deere plans to transition the B2 biodiesel fuel into its U.S. plants before the end of 2005. The John Deere tractor assembly plant, Waterloo Works, in Waterloo, Iowa and its combined manufacturing plant, Harvester Works, in East Moline, Illinois will be the first to begin using the B2 fuel with implementation by March 1, 2005. All agricultural tractors and combines will be shipped with the B2 biodiesel fuel to dealers and customers direct from the factory.

John Deere also plans to publicize its fuel specs and actively encourage its customers to continue to use the B2 formula in their own operations as well.

"John Deere is an international leader in agriculture and technology," said Joe Jobe, executive director of the National Biodiesel Board. "For John Deere to embrace biodiesel in this way is a powerful step that will help raise awareness and increase use of biodiesel."

Bolstered by growing acceptance of biodiesel among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and the opportunities offered by a new biodiesel tax credit that went into effect on January 1, 2005, the NBB expects to see a significant increase in demand for biodiesel over the next few years.