Yanmar was established in Japan in 1912 and has a rich history in the production of small diesel engines. The company's agricultural equipment division was launched in 1961. In the early 1980s, Yanmar formed a partnership with John Deere, manufacturing various utility tractor models for them, and continues to be an engine supplier for Deere's utility tractors. In 2006, Yanmar entered into a collaboration with MTD to jointly market compact tractors under the Cub Cadet Yanmar brand in North America. This partnership concluded in 2011, after which Yanmar America became the sole provider of those tractors.