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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…

TRACTORS

Mitas creates Granterra tyre for low-speed, high-torque needs

A heavy-duty tyre developed by Mitas is designed for larger tractors, from around the 200hp mark upwards, undertaking heavy cultivation. The Granterra meets the criteria for the industry’s VF category,…

TRACTORS

Nexat wide-span tractor sows 200ha per fill with 28m drill

German manufacturer Nexat and its gantry-style field tractor continue to make headlines as the machine gets new capabilities and early adopters discover its potential. The wide-span vehicle uses a growing…

Tractor reviews and tests

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MACHINERY

Mid-range tractor test: NH T7.270

Power Farming Verdict: 3.9/5 The T7 finished second overall and its engine and transmission performed well at the DLG tests. The only minor disappointments were the cab and monitor. Cab…

MACHINERY

First drive: Deutz-Fahr Agrotron L730

The L730 is a solid tillage tractor and you get plenty of power and lift for your money. With all the controls neatly stacked on the side panel and armrest…

TRACTORS

First impressions: New cab revitalises Case IH Optum

The 250-300hp tractor division is red hot right now and the launch of Case IH’s Optum CVX and the equivalent New Holland T7 HD has cranked up the competition another…

TRACTORS

High-hour horsepower: John Deere 6830 breaks 20,000 hours

Graham 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…

MACHINERY

Mid-range tractors put to the test

Today'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…

TRACTORS

On test: Case's double-clutch gearbox in the 145hp Maxxum

Double-clutch gearboxes have long been a must-have for Audi’s slick-shifting saloons, but the DSG concept has now found favour with farmers looking for similarly snappy acceleration in their tractors. John…

MACHINERY

Claas Arion 550 on test

Power Farming Verdict: 4/5 Claas’ Arion turned out to be a pretty good all-rounder. The cab was comfortable and well thought out, and the gearbox performed well in tests. We…

TRACTORS

On test: John Deere's 6R 185 tractor

As the UK’s most popular tractor, brands of all colours and creeds have long been gunning for John Deere’s 6R 155, but it might be some friendly fire that finally…

MACHINERY

Video: Head-to-head: Zetor Major v Farmtrac 685

  The Zetor Major has returned to the UK after a six-year sabbatical. Nick Fone and Oliver Mark pit the seasoned Czech stalwart against a new name from the Eastern…

401+HP

Video: Fendt's 943 MT twin-track crawler on test

Agco has breathed new life into its flailing twin-track fleet with a major rebranding and upgrading exercise for the long-in-the-tooth Challenger tractors. And the firm’s prairie monster range needed some…

MACHINERY

Versatile's Quadtrac challenger on test

Versatile Engine Transmission In the field Cab Maintenance Versatile has had a chequered history. The past 20-or-so years have proved turbulent, with paintwork changing colour with chameleon-like frequency and ownership…

TRACTORS

Video: Kubota's 170hp four-cylinder M7173 on test

Kubota’s battle to become part of the 150hp-plus conversation took a new twist last month after HRN, one of Scotland’s biggest machinery dealers, penned a deal to sell and service…

Tractor guides

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TRACTORS

On test: Valtra's 100hp A104 HiTech4

Valtra is on a relentless offensive to ram-pack its tractor ranges with near limitless engine, transmission and cab spec combinations. The latest versions to be flung into its smallest A-series…

TRACTORS

16 must-have tractor accessories and upgrades

As 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…

TRACTORS

Fendt puts £200k price on base spec 75hp e100 Vario tractor

Fendt has slapped a £200,000 base list price on its first full-size plug-in electric tractor, which is now on sale in the UK. The 75hp e107S Vario is based on…

TRACTORS

On test: John Deere's quick-fit EZ Ballast weight system

Adding 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…

ARABLE

New tractor tyre technology offers 18% more traction

The tyre designer’s job, it seems, is never done. As tractors continue to gain power and weight to meet farmer demand for greater performance, new tyre designs are needed to…

MACHINERY

Top-end tractor test: John Deere 8335R

Power Farming Verdict: 3.5/5 At certain points through the measurement curve for partial engine loading, the engine burnt more diesel than its competitors. But with a DPF the Deere needed…

TRACTORS

Video: John Deere 6175R Directdrive tractor on test

The John Deere 6175R’s spacious, quiet cab and well-thought-out controls made it a clear favourite among our test team. We also got on well with the Directdrive transmission, which is…

TRACTORS

Video: Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic on test

The Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic's modest proportions and respectable power make it a handy all-rounder. After testing it, we think it’s better suited to drilling and top work than…

TRACTORS

What to look for when buying and fitting a tractor dashcam

Drive a tractor on the road for any length of time and you are bound to see some form of reckless manoeuvre from an impatient motorist. Most of the time,…

TRACTORS

Driver's view: Kubota M6-132

Kubota is now a respected player north of 100hp, having gradually introduced more four-cylinder models that have helped shed its reputation as an amenity and scraper tractor specialist. The most…

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…

Tractor technology

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TRACTORS

Canadian arable farmer builds driverless tractor for £3,000

Fully autonomous farm equipment is something the big brands haven't yet offered customers to buy, so Manitoba farmer Matthew Reimer decided to save waiting by building his own robotic tractor…

TRACTORS

Fendt puts £200k price on base spec 75hp e100 Vario tractor

Fendt has slapped a £200,000 base list price on its first full-size plug-in electric tractor, which is now on sale in the UK. The 75hp e107S Vario is based on…

TRACTORS

New Holland T7 Methane tractor offers range and performance

New Holland has unveiled a prototype T7 Methane Power tractor that runs on a liquified version of the gas to give longer working times to a fill. Thanks to the…

Road legal

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Latest tacho, licence and red diesel rules explained

What is legal on the road is not so much a grey area – it’s more like 50 shades of grey, all which have to be interpreted carefully by farmers…

Tractor insights and practical advice

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TRACTORS

16 must-have tractor accessories and upgrades

As 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…

TRACTORS

Fendt puts £200k price on base spec 75hp e100 Vario tractor

Fendt has slapped a £200,000 base list price on its first full-size plug-in electric tractor, which is now on sale in the UK. The 75hp e107S Vario is based on…

TRACTORS

What to look for when buying and fitting a tractor dashcam

Drive a tractor on the road for any length of time and you are bound to see some form of reckless manoeuvre from an impatient motorist. Most of the time,…

MACHINERY

Solving your starter motor woes

Introduction 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…

MACHINERY

Top tips for buying a used tractor

Avoiding the pitfalls Second-hand buyer's checklist The market for second-hand machinery could barely be more competitive than it is right now. Soaring prices for new kit and a favourable exchange…

TRACTORS

Worn-out tractor seats: How to refurbish or replace them

Thousands of hours subjected to bouncing backsides, grubby overalls and flatulence can take its toll on a tractor seat. But considering it’s such a crucial contributor to driver comfort, this…

Why energy maize could spark steel track crawler comeback

Having to work arable land late after an energy maize harvest, when slippery surface conditions can show up the limitations of rubber tracks, could result in a comeback for steel-track…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2019

Manufacturers appear to be preparing to unveil their next round of major updates at the same time as introducing engines to the European Stage 5 emissions regulations that came into…

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…

TRACTORS

The inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractors

Most farmers would back themselves to spot a dodgy tractor a mile off, but a burgeoning agricultural business is offering an impartial inspection service that goes a bit further than…

101-200HP

Top tips for getting the best from a John Deere 6930 Premium

In the second-hand, mid-horsepower tractor market, John Deere’s 6930 Premium is arguably one of the most sought after. Built in Mannheim between 2007 and 2012, this lightweight, powerful tractor offers…

Video

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MACHINERY

3 Cereals videos: Top tractors, cultivation kit and sprayers

Machinery makers from across the globe flocked to Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire this week (10-15 June) for the annual Cereals 2015 event. We captured a few highlights from the tractor manufacturers, cultivation…

TRACTORS

Video: John Deere 6175R Directdrive tractor on test

The John Deere 6175R’s spacious, quiet cab and well-thought-out controls made it a clear favourite among our test team. We also got on well with the Directdrive transmission, which is…

TRACTORS

Video: Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic on test

The Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic's modest proportions and respectable power make it a handy all-rounder. After testing it, we think it’s better suited to drilling and top work than…

NOW IN VIDEO: New Holland's fuel cell tractor

New Holland's NH2 fuel cell tractor - the first hydrogen-powered tractor to be shown by any tractor maker - finally broke cover in Turin, Italy last Friday. Based on a…