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… MACHINERYCummins power: Keeping tractors pulling and harvests rollingFarmers ask a lot from their machinery, but not every machine is asked to do the same job. A tractor needs pulling power that can respond as loads and soil… 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… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSFirst impressions: Valtra's new Q305 tractorA two-year reshuffle of Valtra’s entire tractor range, including a new G-series and updates to the As, Ns and Ts, culminated this summer with the launch of a quintet of… 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… TRACTORSVideo: 400hp reverse-drive Valtra S-series on testValtra has finally let its heavyweight S-series loose on the 400hp tractor scene and, armed with lorry loads of torque, a proven driveline and a redesigned cab, promises to unsettle… TRACTORSOn test: Fendt 312 Vario ProfiAs ever, there was no faulting the Fendt’s comfort, but for once it was beaten to the top spot by John Deere. The 300 series remains a slimmed down version… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Same Virtus 120Power Farming Verdict: 3.3/5 Lots of extra features should help it appeal to a wider audience, including the stop/go braking system and quick-steer wheel. But low lift capacity and limited… MACHINERYVideo: John Deere DirectDrive gearbox on testIt’s fair to say John Deere has lagged behind a bit in the gearbox stakes over recent years. While nearly all the other main players in the tractor game have… TRACTORSOn test: John Deere's quick-fit EZ Ballast weight systemAdding ballast to a cultivation tractor is a time-honoured method of delivering maximum grip and making the most of the ponies it has to offer. Traditionally this has come in… MACHINERYHow to pick a good used 150hp tractorTractors around the 150hp mark are now some of the most sought after second-hand buys and finding a good one is no easy task. Nick Fone takes a look at… 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… MACHINERYDrivers view: JCB Fastrac 3185Driver'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… TRACTORSContractor rates his 500hp artic-steer John Deere 9620American farmers have a deep affection for the meaty roar and unrestrained pulling power of a 20t articulated tractor, but the prairie monsters have never quite made themselves at home… TRACTORSDriver's view: William Heslip's New Holland T7.300A new cab was the stand-out improvement on New Holland’s “long-wheelbase” T7s when they were introduced at the Sima show in Paris three years ago. There are five Auto Command… 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 401+HPVideo: On test - John Deere 8400ROver the past couple of decades, tracked tractors have established themselves as the go-to cultivations power source for many 500ha-plus arable growers, thanks to their ability to skip lightly across… TRACTORSDriver’s view: John Deere 9620RX power proves the differenceWhen Case-IH chose to bolt four track units to one of its articulated prairie monsters it created a new tractor concept that had no direct rivals for more than 15… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: How safety and comfort reformed tractorsDriver safety and comfort are among the top essentials for today’s tractors, but they remained near the bottom of the priority list during the first 100 years or so of… 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… MACHINERYVideo: Driven: John Deere 6190RIn avoiding the use of AdBlue exhaust treatment to limit emissions, John Deere has managed to tweak the new engine so that it is torquier and more thrifty than before.… WORKSHOP SKILLSMassey Ferguson tractors: Common problems and how to fix themFor the mechanically minded operator, it’s often possible to carry out minor repairs in the farm workshop. But with tractors getting ever more complex, there’s an increasing number of jobs… MACHINERYTop-end tractors put to the ultimate testThe test Engines Transmissions Hydraulics Cabs Test process AdBlue We’ve gathered together the most powerful wheeled tractors on the market for a monster multitest. And for the first time ever… MACHINERYHow alternative fuels are helping to reduce farm emissionsDiesel-powered transport and machinery have been under scrutiny globally for some time now due to their large environmental impact in the form of hefty CO2 emissions. Recent years have seen… 401+HPFirst impressions: Valtra's revamped 420hp S416 gets new cabValtra’s big S-series has finally been given some Finnish affection, having been left as little more than a masquerading Massey for nigh on two decades. As well as acquiring a… 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… MACHINERYDeutz-Fahr 5100C on testDeutz-Fahr 5100C Price £59,015 RANKING: 4th Cab The Deutz’s four-pillar cab wasn’t the biggest on test, but it was a comfortable place to sit. The controls were well laid… MACHINERYCase IH Maxxum 130 EP on testPower Farming Verdict: 3.7/5 CNH was represented by the red-liveried Maxxum and its economical FPT engine scored highly. But it had a limited number of transmission settings and the monitor… Tractor technologySee all HEALTH AND SAFETYTractor 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… ARABLEAnalysis: Could technology kill off diesel tractors?Car manufacturers are making great strides in electric drive technology and the death of diesel and petrol engines will be seen as early as 2019 for one major manufacturer. Volvo… TECHNOLOGYRetrofit autosteer gives RTK accuracy to older tractorsMachinery guidance systems may be getting more sophisticated, but that is benefiting those at the lower-priced end of the scale too. There are now several manufacturers offering retrofit kits that… Road legalSee all Police ask tractor drivers to pull into lay-bys more oftenPolice in Gloucestershire are urging tractor drivers and other slow-moving vehicles to pull into lay-bys more often to let cars by. Concern has been raised about slow-moving tractors holding up… Tractor insights and practical adviceSee all HEALTH AND SAFETYTractor 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… ARABLEAnalysis: Could technology kill off diesel tractors?Car manufacturers are making great strides in electric drive technology and the death of diesel and petrol engines will be seen as early as 2019 for one major manufacturer. Volvo… TRACTORSFendt tractors: Common problems and how to fix themIt might be the premium brand of choice for large-scale farms and contracting businesses, but just like any other maker, Fendt’s tractors can suffer the odd mechanical gremlin. Engine problems… 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… POTATOESPotato contractor finds the best tractor for flailing successLincolnshire 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… TRACTORSBuying the right tractor: Part 3 - suspension and tyresIn the final installment of our guide to getting the right spec on your new tractor, Peter Hill takes a look at cab suspension and tyre options. [pm_module id="1482425"] Suspension… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: UK tractor-building revolution failureAgricultural and General Engineers (AGE) was formed in 1919 to help Britain’s tractor and machinery industry compete against the big American manufacturers, but it ended up putting some of its… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: The most unusual tractor launchesPublicity spectaculars featuring tractors are unusual, but they have been used to give an extra boost to new developments that prove difficult to sell. An example is the introduction of… TRACTORS16 must-have tractor accessories and upgradesAs swish as modern tractors are, there’s always room an upgrade or two. James Andrews eyes up a few options, some purely functional and others a little more frivolous... Stainless-steel… TRACTORS6 simple, low-cost loader tractor optionsIn the small loader tractor sector, the demand is for simple, reliable tractors that will get the job done with minimal expense. Most of the big manufacturers offer models to… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Wheel and tyre developmentsWhen 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… 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… VideoSee all MACHINERYVideo: Head-to-head: MF 5610 v Case IH 105UPower Farming Verdict From an operator’s point of view, both the Massey Ferguson 5610 and Case IH 105U have moved on quite a bit from their predecessors, but in very… MACHINERYVIDEO: Up close with Deere's most powerful tractorSummary Engine & transmisson Cab & controls Lamma 2012 was the first UK show appearance for John Deere’s largest and most powerful 9R series tractors. The three-model line up ranges… TRACTORSVideo: 160hp CVT tractor test 2020 previewFarmers Weekly's big annual tractor test saw the machinery team take four 160hp CVT tractors from some of the industry's biggest players to a Hampshire farm during this autumn's cultivation… MACHINERYVideo: Valtra T234 tractor on test with a Sumo Trio cultivatorValtra has always been the quirky alternative in the Agco tractor line-up. While Challenger takes care of the tracklayer market, Fendt does the premium end of things and Massey appeals…
