John Deere Power Systems and its diesel engine factory, John Deere Engine Works, reached two notable milestones this spring. The Waterloo, Iowa, factory simultaneously celebrated its 30th anniversary and produced its one-millionth engine.

Production of John Deere engines worldwide exceeds 5 million. To accommodate the rising global demand for its engines, John Deere now manufactures engines at five factories: Waterloo, Iowa; Saran, France; Torreon, Mexico; Rosario, Argentina; and Pune, India.

The one-millionth engine manufactured at the Engine Works in Waterloo, Iowa, was a Tier 2/Stage II PowerTech 8.1L engine, and it was installed in a John Deere 9996 cotton picker. Dave Rodger, plant manager of John Deere Des Moines Works, presented a gold key to Chester Shot, who purchased the cotton picker with the landmark engine inside. Shot will take the cotton picker back to Greenville, Miss., where he farms 5,200 acres of cotton and 1,000 acres of soybeans.

John Deere Power Systems manufactures 40 hp to 600 hp engines for use in a variety of non-road applications. JDPS also manufactures and markets natural gas on-road engines and drivetrain components.