Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSOn test: New engine and transmission revitalise Fendt 516Too small for heavy tillage and too dear for livestock-related duties, Fendt’s four-cylinder tractors have traditionally served as backfill for the ever-popular 724. But the tables are turning. With the… TRACTORSMore driverless tech for Amos Power's 85hp electric tractorA US digital tech business hopes to emulate European manufacturers such as AgXeed by selling a twin-track driverless tractor for field work. Weighing in at about 3t, the Amos Power… TRACTORSRevamped Valtra T-series gets new 10-speed powershiftThe Finns like to do things their own way. So, despite Valtra’s new T6 being peppered with shared Agco parts, there is a healthy dose of Suolahti engineering in the… TRACTORSFirst look: Massey Ferguson unveils 170-245hp 7S Mark 2sMassey Ferguson has cross-pollinated its 7S and 8S tractors to fill a band of infertile ground between the two. The six 7S “Mark 2s” don’t officially supplant any existing models,… TRACTORSZetor moves tractor production from Czech to India and ChinaTractor maker Zetor has finally acknowledged it can no longer manufacture and assemble its products competitively in the city of Brno, its long-standing home in the Czech Republic. Dwindling sales… TRACTORSValtra factory keeps producing first-gen Vario transmissionAgco’s Valtra factory in Finland is supplementing production of the first-generation ML-series Vario transmission for installation in some of its own tractors. Capacity at Fendt’s Marktoberdorf facility in southern Germany… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Sharper handling for latest John Deere 6RWhen a tractor range is one of Europe’s bestsellers, the last thing you want to do is upset the formula. Get too radical with any redesigns and there is a… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSDriver's view: Deutz-Fahr 6125 CAs with most tractor launches nowadays, it was inescapable emissions limits that drove Deutz-Fahr to replace its 6120, 6130 and 6140 with very similar 6 C models in early 2022.… MACHINERYJohn Deere 6130R on testPower Farming Verdict: 4.1/5 John Deere’s rangy four-cylinder was blissfully simple to use and its sizable cabin made it one of the best for driver comfort. But the keep-it-simple approach… TRACTORSRevamped Valtra T-series gets new 10-speed powershiftThe Finns like to do things their own way. So, despite Valtra’s new T6 being peppered with shared Agco parts, there is a healthy dose of Suolahti engineering in the… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Kubota M110GXPower Farming Verdict: 3/5 Plenty of potential but not the finished article – its weak engine was a disappointment and the cab finish needs some work. But there’s plenty to… 201-300HPDriver's view: Leics farm rates McCormick's 240hp X7.624Shifting fewer than 100 tractors a year at the last count makes McCormick one of the lowest volume tractor brands selling in the UK. But what the Italian marque lacks… MACHINERYMid-range tractors put to the testToday's high-horsepower tractors are expected to be more versatile and comfortable than ever before. We spent a week testing five of the most popular in the field and on the… TRACTORSOn test: 123-143hp M6002 joins Kubota rangeShort of a tractor range to bridge the gap between its flagship M7003 and utilitarian MGX ranges, Japanese maker Kubota decided it was high time it introduced one. The M6002… TRACTORSOn test: Claas Arion 440 CISThe Claas is all geared up for loader work, with brilliant views through the roof window, a clever speed steering system and clutch-pedal-free braking. However, it was short of power… MACHINERYVideo: Fendt 828 v Deutz-Fahr Agrotron TTV [fwi_vidyard code="ERTd4JlyKIZRqdrGXQVCqA"] Power Farming Verdict There’s nothing new in Fendt’s approach – it’s still a driver’s tractor. Buy the tractor, send the driver on a course and you stand… MACHINERYValtra N163 Versu on testPower 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… MACHINERYWorld's most powerful four-cylinder tractors on testThe appeal of a small frame and strong engine has seen most of the major tractor makers falling over to build the biggest four-cylinder tractor on the market. Oliver Mark… CVT choice offers perfect tractor working speedWhen Fendt unveiled the first practical continuously variable transmission, it did more than just bring a new level of speed control and adjustment. It brought the engine and transmission together… Tractor buying advice Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2025 What to look for when buying and fitting a tractor dashcam 6 simple, low-cost loader tractor options The inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractors Handy checklist for buying a second-hand tractor Buying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statistics Understanding CVT and powershift transmissions when buying a tra... Legal tips for buying and selling second-hand machinery Tractor guidesSee all TRACTORSHigh-hour horsepower: John Deere 6830 breaks 20,000 hoursGraham Hayllar runs a grassland-based contracting outfit in the picturesque Eden Valley, Cumbria, and uses a fleet of high-hour workhorses, including a John Deere 6830 Premium that has clocked an… MACHINERYVideo: JCB 8310 – a good all-rounder?With the new engine and semi-mid-mounted cab, the 8310 is a good all-rounder. It may not be a completely jump-on-and-go machine, but you’ll only have to be shown once. Summary… TECHNOLOGYCentral tyre inflation systems – the options and pricesPump ’em up for the road, let ’em down for the field. That is the essence of using a central tyre inflation system (CTIS) to actively manage inflation pressures and… 101-200HPDriver’s view: Claas Arion 450 CIS QuadrishiftPacking 130hp and 500Nm of torque, the Arion 450 is the third most powerful model in Claas’ compact four-cylinder tractor range, behind the 140hp 460 and 155hp 470. Since 2014,… TRACTORSLinkage-mounted mudguard options to reduce mud splatterFactory-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… MACHINERYOn test: Valtra T214 DirectThe other tractors on test Fendt 720 Vario New Holland T 7.230 Case IH Puma 175 CVX Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna From a driver’s point of view, the revamped T-series… MACHINERYOn test: Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna VTThe other tractors on test Fendt 720 Vario New Holland T 7.230 Case IH Puma 175 CVX Valtra T 214 Direct Dig down and MF’s 7720 Dyna VT is a… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Fendt 1100 MTs get power boostWind the clock back a decade and Fendt looked like it might push crawler tractors to the brink of UK extinction. The reputation of iconic twin-track brand Challenger was already… TRACTORSDriver's view: Case IH Maxxum 125 ActiveDrive 4A recent reordering of Case IH’s smaller tractor ranges has resulted in a slimming down of the popular Maxxum series to a trio of models. But with three transmission options… TRACTORSDriver’s view: McCormick X6.413 P6-DriveFitted with a 4.5-litre FPT engine and an in-house six-speed semi-powershift transmission, the X6.4 is McCormick’s premium offering in the four-cylinder sector. This means buyers have access to a host… 101-200HPOn test: Deutz-Fahr 6150.4 with peculiar RVshift transmissionPostnatal electronic surgery has transformed the Deutz family’s CVT transmission into a faux powershift that aims to offer the best of both worlds. This non-binary gearbox, born a TTV at… 101-200HPVideo: Massey Ferguson's entry-level 5711M on testMassey 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… Tractor technologySee all MACHINERYCase IH telematics system protects against theftTelematics systems that allow you to both monitor your combines’ and tractors’ performance and let you know if they’ve been nicked have been around for a while. However the latest… TECHNOLOGYCentral tyre inflation systems – the options and pricesPump ’em up for the road, let ’em down for the field. That is the essence of using a central tyre inflation system (CTIS) to actively manage inflation pressures and… TRACTORSAgritechnica 2019: Valtra updates Smartglass head-up displayValtra has finalised the design of its head-up display and reckons it should be available to order on N and T models through its tractor-tailoring Unlimited studio by the end… Road legalSee all MACHINERYRules reminder: Stay road legal this harvestWhether it's harvesting grass, cereals or vegetables, extra numbers of wide machines will be heading up and down Britain’s roads. But in all the rush to get ready, don’t forget… Tractor insights and practical adviceSee all TECHNOLOGYCentral tyre inflation systems – the options and pricesPump ’em up for the road, let ’em down for the field. That is the essence of using a central tyre inflation system (CTIS) to actively manage inflation pressures and… TRACTORSLinkage-mounted mudguard options to reduce mud splatterFactory-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… MACHINERYSolving your starter motor woesIntroduction Step-by-step Voltage drop testing Voltage drop – what’s it about? The opening part of this series laid out how the starter motor works, set the thing in the context of… MARKETS AND TRENDSHow tight margins on farm are hitting ag machinery salesMachinery dealers are feeling the pinch as reduced demand from farmers for new kit hits their bottom line. With fewer than 9,000 machines being registered in 2025, the Agricultural Engineers… How to avoid buying a dodgy used crawler tractorTracked tractors are widely recognised as being the best means of putting serious horsepower to the ground. They’re expensive to buy new, yet here in the UK we still lap… MACHINERYNew Holland Dynamic Command TransmissionsWith transmission technology forever evolving, New Holland invites you to Drive the Change with the Dynamic CommandTM (DCT) offering. The latest next generation of semi powershift transmissions are simple and… TRACTORSBuying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statisticsHands up who knows the difference between a tractor’s rated and maximum power? Or what the perfect torque curve should look like? How about torque rise? Or six-point fuel tests?… TECHNOLOGYHow technology that can control tractors worksIf the idea of driving into a field, punching a few settings into a touchscreen and letting a computer take charge of key tractor and equipment controls sounds a bit… Alpine tractor maker sets its sights on UK hill farmersLindner might be a little-known name in UK farming circles, but it accounts for a healthy chunk of the tractor market in its home country of Austria and it’s slowly… TRACTORSMachinery milestones: Driverless tractorsThe UK played the leading role in the early stages of driverless or autonomous tractor development and the first experimental tractor designed to carry out a range of tasks without… TRACTORS11 biggest tractors of all timeThe average horsepower of new tractors in the 1920s was just 25hp, but it's now nearing 160hp. Michael Williams takes a look at the 11 most powerful tractors built over… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Wood-fuelled tractorsIt might sound a bit wacky, but tractors have the potential to be powered by wood – as proven by several farming inventions over the years. The tractor fuel produced… VideoSee all MACHINERYVIDEO: Tour around New Holland's Ad Blue T6[fwi_vidyard code="BkCL2t0KIs24emNHXNG-AA"] Watch New Holland's T6 product specialist Mark Howell's talk about how the machine uses Ad Blue to meet Tier 4 emissions regulations MACHINERYVideo: JCB 8310 – a good all-rounder?With the new engine and semi-mid-mounted cab, the 8310 is a good all-rounder. It may not be a completely jump-on-and-go machine, but you’ll only have to be shown once. Summary… MACHINERYVIDEO: Quadtrac Guinness world recordA Lincolnshire farm was the venue for a new world record last weekend, as 50 Case IH Quadtracs went to work in the same place at the same time. [fwi_vidyard… 101-200HPVideo: Massey Ferguson's entry-level 5711M on testMassey 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…
