Case IH beefed up its forage lineup this month with the new Optum tractor series, which was publicly launched at the 2015 Farm Progress Show. The Optum tractor joins the company’s complete line of hay and forage equipment, including updates across its Puma® and Maxxum® series offerings.
“The Optum is targeted to be a heavy duty haying tractor, for those conventional hay producers and large operations,” said Dave Bogan, Case IH marketing manager for Puma® and Maxxum® tractors, in an interview at the Farm Progress Show, “But it has other uses as well. It can be configured as a row crop tractor, especially with the new 4.75 front axle we have, which allows us to put duals up front, and it can be a great tractor for transport and haulage operations.”
The Optum fulfills a new horsepower requirement, with PTO horsepower ranging from 240 to 270 hp, which boasts a power-to-weight ratio that highlights the versatility of the series: it is optimal for a wide variety of applications, such as haulage, tillage, mowing and baling, showing the same level of performance with a large square baler or grain cart as it does with a midsize planter or seeder.
“I’ve kind of coined a term that it’s a ‘compact, high-horsepower tractor,’ with its size-to-weight ratio,” says Bogan of the Optum’s versatility.
The Optum also features a modern, redesigned look, including a grille and roof cap with LED lighting, and a spacious SurroundVision cab that offers 63.2 square feet of glass.
Case IH will start producing the 2016 model in October, so expect to see them showing up on dealers lots around the holidays and into early 2016.
Listen to Chuck’s Interview with Dave here:
Interview with Dave Bogan, Case IH
2015 Farm Progress Show Photo Album
