CaseIH STX500 Steiger Quadtrac tractors smashes world plowing record
CaseIH -A Case IH STX500 Steiger Quadtrac tractor shattered the World Plowing Record recently, turning 792 acres (321 hectares) of prime French farmland in just 24 hours.
This performance beat the previous world record for one-day moldboard plowing by 172 acres (70 hectares), set in 2002. It also tops Case IHs own record, set in 2000, by 276 acres (112 hectares).
The STX500 Steiger Quadtrac is Case IHs most powerful tractor, the result of more than 40 years of experience in the power farming sector, says Montie Milner, marketing manager for Case IH four-wheel drive tractors.
Were thrilled to recapture our top spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, he adds. Its even more exciting when you consider that we were able to regain the record in 2005 shortly after the 50,000th Steiger tractor rolled off the assembly line in our Fargo, N.D., manufacturing facility.
Both these events speak to the power, reliability and capabilities of the Steiger STX500 Quadtrac. Even more importantly, it showcases the Case IH commitment to providing our customers with superior productivity-enhancing technology, Milner says.
The 22-man world record team was made up of field personnel and engineers from Case IH and Grégoire-Besson. Jean Imbert, Case IH area manager, led the team and drove the tractor. They used an unmodified STX500 Quadtrac to pull a specially-designed, giant Grégoire-Besson 20-furrow plow. "I am delighted to have taken up this challenge and captured the world record once again, Imbert says. The team and the equipment have worked very hard.
To successfully break the record, a minimum plowing depth of 10.6 inches (27 cm) had to be maintained using only one driver, the same tractor and the same plow throughout the 24-hour challenge period.
Independent adjudicator Didier Gabin observed both equipment set up and the world record attempt to ensure that it qualified for the Guinness Book.
The STX500 began plowing at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005, and continued without incident until the first refueling stop at 5:30 p.m. Three additional refueling stops were required, plus two pit stops, which gave Imbert a brief rest and his mechanics time to inspect the tractor and plow.
Imbert maintained a fast pace throughout the competition, at times reaching speeds over 8.7 mph (14 kph). In fact, the Case IH team beat the previous world record in just 19.5 hours.