White Farm Equipment

From Oliver, Cockshutt, and Minneapolis‑Moline to White and on to AGCO: the evolution of the White brand

In the 1960s, White Motor Company entered agriculture by acquiring Oliver (1960), Canada’s Cockshutt (1962), and Minneapolis‑Moline (1963). In 1969, these marques were combined as White Farm Equipment (HQ in Oak Brook, Illinois; White Motor’s HQ remained in Cleveland, Ohio), and six years later the three legendary names were fully folded into White. The green of Oliver, red of Cockshutt, and yellow of Minneapolis‑Moline gave way to White’s signature silver Field Boss tractors—with models such as the 4‑150 (4×4; number denotes PTO horsepower), 2‑105, 2‑135, 2‑155, and 4‑210.

White produced a broad lineup: tractors (including 4WD), combines, lawn and garden equipment, corn planters, and tillage tools—plows, disks, and field cultivators.

In 1979, the ag division was spun off and sold to Texas‑based TIC—the lineup was branded WFE (White Farm Equipment). Amid the severe early‑1980s farm recession, TIC sold WFE to Allied Products, and the combine business went to Massey Ferguson around 1985. Allied, owner of the New Idea brand, formed the White‑New Idea division. Later, Massey Ferguson spun off the combine business as Massey Combines and subsequently reabsorbed it.

A new chapter began with AGCO: after White and White‑New Idea were sold to AGCO, the group also acquired Massey Ferguson—effectively reuniting the former White combines with the tractor heritage. AGCO itself was formed in 1990 (by former Allis‑Chalmers executives), taking over Deutz‑Allis; in 1991 it acquired the White tractor line and the Hesston brands, as well as the remaining White‑New Idea from Allied. From 1991 to 2001, AGCO produced White tractors, then merged the White and AGCO‑Allis lines under the AGCO brand.

Today, the White name lives on in White Planters: more than 70 models and configurations from 4 to 31 rows—for both conventional and conservation planting. The White Outdoor Equipment lawn and garden business was sold to MTD.