Farmall upgrades turn heads at National Farm Machinery Show

Feb 22, 2019

By Paul Nolan

Editorial Director

Farms.com

“Weight and durability. Operator environment. Emissions technology.”

Those are some key reasons for the popularity of the Farmall Utility A series tractors, according to Denny Stroo, Case IH Farmall marketing manager.

Stroo spoke to Farms.com at the recent National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. where a lot of the focus was on the 75A model – part of an expanded lineup that includes the 55A and 65A, and all with cab options.

“We do sell more cabs than non-cabs,” explained Stroo. “So our customers are already there.

“Farmers want cabs. So we are meeting that need.”

Stroo provided further insight into the current popularity of the Farmall Utility A series.

“These tractors really do have a lot to offer. The Farmall is known for its weight and its durability. And the weight is built into the guts of the tractor – the powertrain and the main parts of the tractor. It weighs more, so it can do more work.

“It also offers a superior operator environment.

“And from an EPA standpoint, we have emissions technology that doesn’t require us to have a DPF (diesel particulate filter) now. So no regeneration and no down-time for our customers.”

Stroo is also enthused about the Powershuttle option. This technology offers clutch-less operation, which is ideal for tasks that require frequent changes in direction.

An optional creeper transmission can be added to the 12x12 transmission, which allows for eight very slow forward speeds and eight very slow reverse speeds, providing a 20x20 transmission for operational speeds as slow as six feet per minute.

Case IH has sold over two million Farmalls worldwide, with strong market share in the dairy and livestock sectors.

Robert Meier is territory sales manager for Ontario, and he explained recently that “the Farmall A Series is an economical line that provides the necessary features that Ontario producers require, without all the additional bells and whistles.

“It expands our portfolio or range to serve the needs of customers we didn’t really have a tractor for before now.”

Definitely adding to the legacy of the Farmall.

“We introduced Farmalls back in 1923,” said Stroo.

“Back then the letters indicated the size of tractor. But we are transitioning so that the classification reflects more than size.”

The Farmall Utility 75A is the strongest of the Utility A lineup, with 74 engine horsepower at 2300 ERPM. PTO horsepower: 60. Traction: 2WD or MFD. Transmission: 8x8 mechanical, 12x12 power or 12x12 with creeper. Emissions compliance: Tier 4 B/Final.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.