Wallaces Farmer

Case IH rolls out world's highest horsepower tractor with its 600-hp Steiger machine.

Willie Vogt

April 29, 2011

3 Min Read

When I was a kid in Eastern Iowa, there was this commercial on television from an electric motor rebuilding company, and during the TV spot as a giant motor was having its copper rewound a very deep-voiced announcer said: "Make no mistake, this is a big one." That was nearly 40 years ago and yet I remember that commercial, and that great tagline.

This week the folks at Case IH are bragging about their "big one" as they roll out the Case IH Steiger 600 tractor. And the first owner is Lawrence Grykuliak who owns Diamond G Farms, a 5,500 acre canola, wheat, lentil, pea and barley operation near Vegreville, Alberta, Canada.

The new machine features the Quadtrac 600 - which remains a Case IH Steiger exclusive with those independent positive drive tracks. Grykuliak traveled to the Case IH Fargo facility to witness his new tractor being built - an honor that the company calls its Platinum Club.


Case IH held a special ceremony for Lawrence Grykuliak, Diamond G Farms, Vegreville, Alberta, as he accepted the first-built Case IH Steiger 600 tractor. From left: Curtis Borduzak, branch manager of Hi-Way Service; Doug Tibben, vice president, Hi-Way Service; Lawrence Grykuliak, Diamond G Farms; Shawn Grykuliak, Diamond G Farms; Alex Ginda, salesman with Hi-Way Service; Mitch Kaiser, Case IH Steiger tractor marketing manager; Brett Fox, Case IH territory sales manager.

In the release announcing the first owner, Mitch Kaiser, Case IH Steiger Tractor Marketing Manager notes the machine offers efficient power to "pull the largest implements available, while reducing fuel costs."

That 600-hp tractor is part of an ongoing "horsepower arms race" by major manufacturers to provide what customers keep asking for - more power. This new machine ups the ante in the equipment business.

As for Diamond G Farms, the family operation still gets hope from Lawrence's father, Peter, who is 81 years old. Lawrence's son, Shawn, joined the operation two years ago. Other family members involved include Lawrence's wife, Elaine, daughter Carmel, son-in-law Tim, and daughter-in-law Erin, each helping out on the farm. Grykuliak tells Case IH he's the only one who farms full-time on the operation.

In its release, Case IH notes until 2008 Grykuliak had a multi-brand strategy, but that year he switched to the red brand where he could get all the machines he needed, from sprayers to tractors to combines.

That new Case IH Steiger 600 features the company's newest Tier 4A engine that uses selective catalytic reduction technology to reduce emissions. The SCR system runs separately from the engine, treating exhaust post-combustion. Note that in this release, Case IH tips its hand a bit on new Nebraska Test Lab results that indicate its Tier 4A Case IH tractors with SCR are setting new industry records for fuel-efficient power. Expect more news on that in the near future.

That 600-hp tractor was at the 2010 Farm Progress Show and is impressive on the stand. Now Grykuliak and future buyers will find out how this "big one" really performs.

You can learn more at the company's website www.caseih.com/na.

About the Author(s)

Willie Vogt

Willie Vogt has been covering agricultural technology for more than 40 years, with most of that time as editorial director for Farm Progress. He is passionate about helping farmers better understand how technology can help them succeed, when appropriately applied.

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