Tarter USA, John Deere Announce Partnership to Launch American-Made Cutters

LIBERTY, Ky. – John Deere and Tarter USA announced a manufacturing partnership to develop and produce a new line of American-made flex wing rotary cutters under the Frontier™ brand.

Dealer feedback has been highly favorable, with initial order volumes exceeding first-year forecasts, signaling strong demand across key agricultural markets.

Manufacturing of the new product line is based in Liberty, Ky., at Tarter USA’s advanced production facility. The program leverages a modern manufacturing environment that includes precision laser cutting, robotic fabrication, and integrated robotic and manual welding systems. These capabilities — built on continued investment in automation and advanced technologies since 2015 — enable consistent quality, efficiency, and scalability.

Product performance and durability have been through extensive real-world field testing, complemented by advanced laboratory simulations designed to replicate long-term operating conditions.

“This partnership represents the best of American manufacturing,” said John Doyle, Partnered Products Manager at John Deere. “By combining John Deere’s deep understanding of customer needs with Tarter’s manufacturing expertise, we are delivering a product that meets the demands of today’s operators while reinforcing our commitment to quality and reliability.

Tarter USA CEO Stephen Frazier said: “For more than 80 years, Tarter has been committed to building products in the United States that stand up to the toughest conditions. This collaboration with John Deere reflects our continued investment in innovation, our people, and our communities.”

Platinum Equity acquired the American manufacturer of ranch and farm equipment in 2023.

“There’s a number of initiatives that we have that they’re putting in place,” Platinum Equity Managing Director Dan Krasner said shortly after acquisition. “We’re installing automated welding lines as we speak.

“We’re working on a commercial game plan and all of which is going quite well. We’ve put the business in a very good position to grow going forward. And I think the ops team is hard at work, driving efficiency throughout the entire cost structure. And I think this business is going to be really well positioned over the next couple of years.”

Since its founding in 1945, Tarter USA has continuously expanded its manufacturing capabilities and product portfolio, evolving alongside advancements in engineering and production technologies to remain at the forefront of the industry.

This program highlights the anticipated strength of cross-functional collaboration between John Deere and Tarter teams across engineering, quality, operations, and commercial functions. Together, the companies have created a product line designed to meet the evolving needs of modern agricultural professionals while supporting domestic manufacturing growth.