John Deere green is a signature color that has been closely associated with John Deere agricultural machinery for over a century. The distinctive green and yellow color scheme was adopted by the company in the early 1900s and has been an integral part of the John Deere brand ever since.
The History of John Deere Green
In the late 1800s, John Deere began painting his plows a shade of polished steel. This helped protect the metal during transportation. However, polished steel was prone to rusting. To combat this, Deere started coating his plows in linseed oil-based paint. The oil paint provided a layer of protection from corrosion.
In the early 20th century, Deere began using a brighter shade of green paint referred to as Caterpillar green. This color was similar to the olive drab used on military equipment at the time. In 1935, Deere made the switch to a brighter, lighter shade of green paint that was uniquely formulated for the company. This distinctive “John Deere green” color was registered as a trademark in 1937.
The Meaning Behind John Deere Green
The green and yellow color scheme was selected intentionally to showcase John Deere machinery in use. The bright green color contrasted nicely against ripe yellow fields and crops, allowing the equipment to stand out. The vibrant green also provided high visibility for safety. Additionally, green and yellow are complementary colors which drew attention to the iconic machines.
By trademarking their custom shade of green, John Deere created an exclusive brand identity that would differentiate their equipment from competitors. To this day, John Deere green remains synonymous with the company’s agricultural products.
Modern John Deere Green Paint Details
Over the years, John Deere has continued to refine and improve their proprietary green paint formula. While the original oil-based paint was prone to fading, modern John Deere green is extremely durable and colorfast.
Today, John Deere green is a polyurethane paint that provides maximum protection against fading and corrosion. The pigments used create a vibrant, light green color. To ensure consistency, John Deere mixes their trademark green paint in large 2,000 gallon batches. Each batch is checked by computer to match the exact CIE chromaticity coordinates for John Deere green.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | John Deere Green |
| Paint Type | Polyurethane Enamel |
| Pigments Used | Chrome oxide green and iron oxide yellow |
| CIE Chromaticity | L*: 45.14, a*: -13.71, b*: 17.81 |
| Hex Triplet | #3CB371 |
Matching John Deere Green
Replicating the exact shade of John Deere green is challenging for regular consumers. Since it is a proprietary color, paint suppliers do not offer pre-mixed cans of “John Deere green” paint. However, with some careful color matching, it is possible to get close to the iconic shade of green.
For small DIY projects, model paints are the easiest way to match John Deere green. Testors Enamel Paint makes a John Deere Green in their farm equipment line. For painting metal and wood, Rust-Oleum also has a Farm Equipment Green that is a close match.
For larger projects, the best method is to bring a paint sample to a paint store. Major paint brands like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams can scan the sample and use computer matching to formulate a custom color. This will get you the closest match possible without using the actual John Deere paint.
John Deere Green in Popular Culture
The signature green and yellow colors of John Deere have made their way into popular culture. Some examples include:
- Sports teams like the green and yellow color scheme. The New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and Michigan State Spartans all sport shades similar to John Deere green.
- The children’s TV show “Barney & Friends” features a green tyrannosaurus rex whose color closely resembles John Deere equipment.
- The video game “Farming Simulator” allows players to use virtual John Deere tractors and implements painted in the iconic green.
- Country singers like Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton reference “John Deere green” in songs about farms and rural life.
While not an exact match, these cultural references pay homage to the signature color that has represented John Deere for over a century.
Why John Deere Green Can’t Be Perfectly Matched
There are a few reasons why the exact shade of John Deere green remains elusive to replicate outside of the company’s own proprietary process:
- Modern John Deere green uses a polyurethane base formulated specifically for industrial farm equipment. Consumer paints use different chemistry not optimized for heavy use.
- The pigments used are unique and carefully balanced in concentration to achieve the correct hue and chromaticity.
- John Deere mixes paint in large 2,000 gallon batches and meticulously controls variation to maintain color consistency.
- Paint appears different depending on lighting conditions, application method, and substrate material.
While consumer paint brands try to match the color, replicating the performance and precise shade of the original John Deere green paint is a formidable challenge.
Conclusion
John Deere green has become an iconic color tied closely to the history and brand identity of the John Deere company. The custom shade was carefully formulated to provide maximum visibility and stand out against the colors of the landscape. While nearly impossible to exactly reproduce without access to the proprietary ingredients and processes, there are consumer paint options that come quite close to the signature John Deere green color when applied on a small scale. This recognizable green will likely remain a distinctive calling card of John Deere agricultural equipment for years to come.