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TRACTORS

Revamped John Deere 6R gets new cab and sharper handling

John Deere has overhauled the top end of its popular 6R tractor range, fitting a bigger cab and uprating the running gear for better handling. For now, only models on…

301-400HP

First impressions: New 8340’s cab is a Deutz-Fahr revolution

Not for the first time, green tractors of German provenance stole the headlines at November’s Agritechnica show. Only this time, John Deere, Fendt and Claas bods were among the spectators…

TRACTORS

Updated Claas Xerion 12 capable of semi-autonomous driving

A clutch of powertrain and digital technology upgrades are being released for the biggest tractors in the Claas range, including autonomous working – albeit with an operator in the driving…

TRACTORS

Challenger gets reverse drive conversion for tree pruning

After decades of hauling heavy cultivation kit, a 1990s twin-track crawler has found an unlikely second career in the cider orchards of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Caterpillar Challenger 55 is…

TRACTORS

Massey Ferguson extends 20-65hp compact tractor range

Massey Ferguson’s revamped compact tractor range now extends to nine models in all, covering power outputs from 20-65hp with hydrostatic and all-mechanical transmissions, and open platforms or air-conditioned cabs. The…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2026

The year’s Farmers Weekly Ultimate Guide to tractors is notable for the first-time listing of a mainstream electric model and a driverless tractor range, and the removal of two familiar…

Tractor reviews and tests

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MACHINERY

Video: John Deere 8R – tracks v tyres

John Deere launched its range of high horsepower 8R tractors last autumn. Emily Padfield had a drive of both wheeled and tracked models to see how they perform in the…

MACHINERY

Video: Claas Axion 850 test: Old model v new

  The latest Axion 800s look set to ruffle a few feathers with their new cabs, engines and tweaked transmissions. Nick Fone and Oliver Mark pitched the range-topping 850 against…

101-200HP

Kioti bids to undercut rivals with 140hp HX tractor

Name an up-and-coming East Asian tractor manufacturer that starts with K and has a penchant for orange paint. The Pointless answer, for fans of the BBC's favourite teatime quiz, is…

MACHINERY

7 versatile 300hp arable tractor newcomers

Three hundred horsepower to pull a trailer? That sounds excessive, but it is one of the roles envisaged for a new breed of powerful tractors that makers say are not…

TRACTORS

Driver's view: Richard and Matthew Thomas's Zetor Proxima CL80

Since Zetor tractors first arrived in the UK, they’ve been the tool of choice for Welsh hill farmers Richard and Matthew Thomas. The initial attraction to the Czech brand was…

MACHINERY

Drivers view: JCB Fastrac 3185

Driver's verdict I would certainly consider buying another Fastrac. Arguably, they are not the best cultivation tractors, but ours have worked extremely well. You get a lot of tractor for…

MACHINERY

Top-end tractor test: MF 8690

Verdict: 3.7/5 Good transmission and driving comfort. The Sisu engine kept up with the test averages. Easy working thanks to effortless shuttle change, roomy cab and SpeedSteer system. Computer controller…

101-200HP

Video: Massey Ferguson's entry-level 5711M on test

Massey Ferguson has enjoyed a fair amount of success in the loader tractor market, with its basic Global Series catering for the keep-it-simple brigade and the comparatively swish S series…

201-300HP

Driver’s view: Shropshire farm rates Massey Ferguson 7S.210

The 7S.210 might be the smallest tractor in G&J Belcher and Sons’ all-Massey fleet at Puleston Farm in Newport, Shropshire, but this compact powerhouse has still had to tackle the…

401+HP

First impressions: John Deere’s bonkers-big 913hp 9RX 830

John Deere’s new 9RX 830 is the biggest, most powerful and most expensive tractor ever to go into series production. In pure horsepower terms, it can be bettered only by…

TRACTORS

On test: Four-cyl Claas Arion 570 proves punchy and nimble

The high-horsepower four-cylinder tractor fraternity gained a new member this year as Claas gingered up its compact Arion to deliver a mighty 180hp and 730Nm of torque. Better still, it…

MACHINERY

On test: New Holland T7.230

The other tractors on test Fendt 720 Vario Case IH Puma 175 CVX Valtra T 214 Direct Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna To avoid an awkward comparison between two near-identical tractors,…

Tractor guides

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TRACTORS

Tips for buying a second-hand Challenger MT765E

Rising input costs, falling subsidy payments and squeezed profit margins mean many farmers are turning to the second-hand machinery market to add extra firepower or replace their ageing prime mover.…

TRACTORS

Machinery Milestones: Wheel and tyre developments

When the first tractors arrived on farms in the 1890s, they were equipped with steel wheels, and it took 40 years for inflatable rubber tyres to arrive. Steel wheels were…

MACHINERY

Valtra N163 Versu on test

Power Farming Verdict: 3.6/5 It’s the same old story with the Valtra – good test scores were let down by substandard ergonomics and an outdated cab. But once you work…

TRACTORS

Farm machinery giants: The Fendt success story

Village blacksmiths started many of the big-name companies in the farm machinery industry, but the family who founded Fendt buck that trend. Sylvester Fendt began his clock-making business in the…

101-200HP

How to keep a four-cylinder Valtra N-series running well

Valtra has long been a proponent of the pokey four-pot engine, but the introduction of its N174 in 2015 pushed the concept to new levels. Serving up 165hp from its…

MACHINERY

Tractor tyres: make sure your pressures are right

We all know that tyre pressure is important if a tractor is to work at its best. But only a few operators, it seems, actually bother to ensure that correct…

TRACTORS

Video: First impressions - Fendt 1162 MT twin-track crawler

When Fendt announced it would be inheriting Challenger’s product range in Europe, questions centred on how the tracklayers and their crude powershift gearboxes – so obviously at odds with the…

TRACTORS

On test: Valtra T215 Direct

Massey Ferguson and Fendt might reign supreme in Agco’s tractor portfolio, but Valtra is closing in after unleashing a blizzard of major updates to its tractor cabs and controls. No…

MACHINERY

Eight 80hp tractors put to the test

We have been to the Netherlands to pit some new names against familiar faces in the world of small tractors. James Andrews and Oliver Mark gave all eight models the…

POTATOES

Potato contractor finds the best tractor for flailing success

Lincolnshire potato contractor David Matthews expects potato haulms to have a high biomass at burndown time, thanks to this year’s growing season, and says growers will need a lot of…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Tractor cab filters: are you protected?

Most operators and farmers will be well aware of the potential risks that working with agricultural chemicals brings, but with the right precautions, users will be kept free from any…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2025

A flurry of newcomers in the 90-130hp range destined for livestock and mixed-enterprise farms are the main changes to this year’s Farmers Weekly Ultimate Guide to tractors. See also: Fendt tractors:…

Tractor technology

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TECHNOLOGY

Contracting start-up makes bridge kit for JD guidance system

A West Sussex start-up has steered its way to success with a bridge kit for seamlessly installing John Deere guidance in tractors made by all major competitor brands. Deere has…

Tractor drivers get in-cab audio upgrade

Drivers looking to replace an ancient or broken in-tractor entertainment system might take a look at Clarion’s latest offering. The CZ505E DAB radio-CD player, designed and engineered as a direct slot-in replacement for all…

TECHNOLOGY

Midlands start-up to develop electric tractor based on TE20

A Midlands-based start-up has revealed plans to develop an electrically powered rework of the iconic Ferguson TE20. Atomictractor, run by ex-MF executive Campbell Scott, intends to develop the machine in…

Road legal

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TECHNOLOGY

Tractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rules

Much of the development costs of new tractors these days involves engine emissions. Will that soon end? Probably not, says Peter Hill. Just when everyone thought the clampdown on tractor…

Tractor insights and practical advice

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TRACTORS

Tips for buying a second-hand Challenger MT765E

Rising input costs, falling subsidy payments and squeezed profit margins mean many farmers are turning to the second-hand machinery market to add extra firepower or replace their ageing prime mover.…

TRACTORS

Machinery Milestones: Wheel and tyre developments

When the first tractors arrived on farms in the 1890s, they were equipped with steel wheels, and it took 40 years for inflatable rubber tyres to arrive. Steel wheels were…

TRACTORS

Farm machinery giants: The Fendt success story

Village blacksmiths started many of the big-name companies in the farm machinery industry, but the family who founded Fendt buck that trend. Sylvester Fendt began his clock-making business in the…

101-200HP

How to keep a four-cylinder Valtra N-series running well

Valtra has long been a proponent of the pokey four-pot engine, but the introduction of its N174 in 2015 pushed the concept to new levels. Serving up 165hp from its…

MACHINERY

Tractor tyres: make sure your pressures are right

We all know that tyre pressure is important if a tractor is to work at its best. But only a few operators, it seems, actually bother to ensure that correct…

POTATOES

Potato contractor finds the best tractor for flailing success

Lincolnshire potato contractor David Matthews expects potato haulms to have a high biomass at burndown time, thanks to this year’s growing season, and says growers will need a lot of…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Tractor cab filters: are you protected?

Most operators and farmers will be well aware of the potential risks that working with agricultural chemicals brings, but with the right precautions, users will be kept free from any…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2025

A flurry of newcomers in the 90-130hp range destined for livestock and mixed-enterprise farms are the main changes to this year’s Farmers Weekly Ultimate Guide to tractors. See also: Fendt tractors:…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2023

Rationalisation of models and specifications is the name of the game for several manufacturers listed in the 2023 edition of the Ultimate Guide to tractors. Supply chain issues remain problematic…

TRACTORS

Linkage-mounted mudguard options to reduce mud splatter

Factory-fitted fenders might do a half decent job of keeping your tractor clean, but they offer implements little protection against being pebble-dashed with mud, road grime and stones. This is…

TECHNOLOGY

Tractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rules

Much of the development costs of new tractors these days involves engine emissions. Will that soon end? Probably not, says Peter Hill. Just when everyone thought the clampdown on tractor…

TRACTORS

Understanding CVT and powershift transmissions

Tractor transmissions have come a long way since the days of double-clutching and crunching your way between the three or four gears of a basic, unsynchronised box. Through the introduction…

Video

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MACHINERY

Driven: Claas Xerion 4500 tractor

[fwi_vidyard code="TxY-mjt0bhhniymH7JdsKg"] Power Farming Verdict Star Star Star Star Star More power (450hp) and weight means the Xerion is now a strong rival for the traditional big-hp makers. Forward visibility…

TRACTORS

Video: First impressions - Fendt 1162 MT twin-track crawler

When Fendt announced it would be inheriting Challenger’s product range in Europe, questions centred on how the tracklayers and their crude powershift gearboxes – so obviously at odds with the…

MACHINERY

Driven: JCB Fastrac 3230 Xtra

[fwi_vidyard code="RtMpvZlVpEDdXs4lzG4jIw"] Power Farming Verdict Star Star Star Star Star New powershift gearbox brings the 3230 fully up-to-date. Headland management system is not perfect, though. Overview Gear change Getting started…

TRACTORS

Video: 180hp tractor test 2019 preview

This summer, FW’s machinery team took four 180hp tractors from some of biggest names in the industry to a Hampshire farm for a rigorous workout during a busy cultivation period.…