John Deere’s new E98 8R prototype looks, at first glance, like any other big green row‑crop tractor. Under the hood, though, it’s running on something very different from diesel: fuel‑grade ethanol, about 98 percent pure. For row‑crop farmers who already grow the feedstock for that fuel, Deere’s prototype paints a possible future where your tractor runs on a fuel made in your own community.
Instead of compression‑ignition diesel, Deere’s 8R uses a spark‑ignited version of its familiar 9.0‑liter engine that’s been reworked to burn E98 and still deliver diesel‑like performance. The goal is simple: same pull, same feel in the field, different fuel in the tank. Early test reports say it lugs and works much like a diesel 8R, but without the DEF system and with a noticeably different exhaust smell.
If you’re in corn country, you’re already part of the ethanol supply chain. An E98 tractor creates another demand outlet for that product and, in the long run, could help support local basis and plant margins. It’s one thing to sell corn to the ethanol plant; it’s another to be burning a version of that product as you are planting next year’s crop.
Supporters of an ethanol-based tractor model say it could also serve as a risk management tool against famously volatile diesel prices. Retail prices can rise dramatically over short periods, something many have witnessed recently amid the Iran conflict. Ethanol, by contrast, is produced here at home, so less impacted by geopolitical stresses and supply chain disruptions. In general, local plants typically offer more stable or at least more negotiable supply arrangements than global diesel markets.
There is also an environmental motivator for some producers. Whether you’re personally motivated by carbon numbers or not, there is a public-relations factor that could be played. Running your operation on a high‑ethanol tractor is an easy story to tell, and it costs a lot less than a full fleet of batteries. It could also open doors to premiums paid for “sustainable” or “regenerative” farming practices.
Currently, E98 isn’t something you can just grab at the local co‑op pump. E98 has different safety considerations than other ethanol blends, and the infrastructure to transport and store it doesn’t yet exist. What’s more, no farm equipment can utilize E98, as it is not a direct substitute for diesel. In other words, there has been no reason to build out the necessary infrastructure because there’s nearly zero demand.
Josh Garteson, director of Deere’s renewable fuels strategy, stresses that ethanol use in farm equipment is still in the discussion phase. Garteson says industry stakeholders are comfortable beginning the talks because “the volume availability of this fuel source is a good opportunity.”
Deere’s field tests have covered real farm work in Iowa, Illinois, and Brazil with generally positive feedback. The company plans to place additional units in the field through 2027, expanding tests across more Midwestern locations. They’ve also partnered with the National Corn Growers Association for on-farm testing and soliciting grower feedback. (Sources: DEN, Real Agriculture, Michigan Farm News, Deere)
