Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSMcCormick X7.624's in-cab controls are a work in progressNine new dealers have put pen to paper in the past 18 months, there is an updated 340hp flagship on its way, and a squad of Italian engineers is working… 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… 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… 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… Tractor reviews and testsSee all 401+HPDriver’s view: Louth Park Farms’ New Holland T8.435Buyers looking to harness some extra grip from their New Holland T8.435 can ditch the regular rear rubber and opt for a set of triangular track units instead. But rather… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Claas unveils 92-120hp Axos 3 tractorsClaas has bolstered the lower reaches of its tractor range with a quartet of new Axos 3 models that run from 92hp to 120hp. The foursome has been shoehorned in… MACHINERYTop-end tractor test: Valtra S353Power Farming Verdict: 3.5/5 Good driving comfort and transmission. Transmission operation differed from the rest so took a bit of getting used to. Room for improvements in ergonomics and especially… MACHINERYFirst drive: Deutz-Fahr Agrotron L730The 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… MACHINERYDriven: Zetor Proxima 85Summary Power Transmission Cab PTO/Hydraulics Zetor has found a new lease of life recently with powershift gearboxes and a 180hp model due for launch in the near future. The Proxima… MACHINERYGPS tracking devices on testGPS trackers are becoming a popular way for farmers to safeguard their tractors, but do they work? Emily Padfield and David Cousins fitted seven different models to one tractor to… TRACTORSVideo: On test - John Deere 6250R v 7250RThe 250hp tractor market is bulging at the seams, so picking the model that provides the best balance of power, chassis size, transmission and fuel consumption requires careful consideration. In… TRACTORSVideo: Fendt Vario 516 on testThe Fendt Vario's 516’s four-cylinder Deutz engine might be low on displacement, but it conjures up an impressive amount of power and torque from its 4-litre capacity. It can’t quite… TRACTORSDriver’s view: Case-IH Quadtrac 600When 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… 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… 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… 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,… 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 TRACTORSValtra tractors: Common problems and how to fix themWhen Valtra joined the Agco stable in the early 2000s, it brought with it dependable Sisu engines that have since been given the parent company’s branding. They are still solid… TRACTORSOn test: Deutz-Fahr 6140.4 TTVDeutz is still using up its stash of Tier 4i engines, so we separated it from the rest of the cleaner-running, Tier 4f-powered pack. Poor marks for its small cab,… TRACTORSRound-up of designer tractor ballast boxes with tool storageA ballast block that doubles as a spacious storage container is rapidly becoming fashionable for tractors operated on arable or mixed enterprise units. Some have been conceived by enterprising operators themselves… TRACTORSOn test: Massey Ferguson 5713 SL Dyna-6The 5713 SL put in a solid, if slightly underwhelming performance, that saw it slide into last position. Engine and hydraulic outputs were below par and the ageing cab is… MACHINERYDriver's view: McCormick MTX 150Driver's verdict I like the simplicity of the McCormick. The gearbox is easy to use, the hydraulics are basic and there are no high-tech electronics to make things complicated. It… MACHINERYIn-cab tyre inflation cuts costs and compactionIf there is one thing that we can all be sure of in 2016, it is that soil compaction will be an increasing worry for farmers. However, machines continue to… TRACTORSVideo: Valtra T174 Versu tractor on testValtra has made huge progress with its T-series tractors over the past couple of years, so it was no surprise that it ranked so highly in our test. Its cab… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: John Deere 6115MPower Farming Verdict: 3.3/5 Deere’s build quality and logical arrangement of controls has been the force behind its perennial success. It also had a strong engine, but being the smallest… 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… MACHINERYSix of the best alternatives to dieselDiesel is less abundant and more expensive than ever. Oliver Mark goes on the hunt for the fuel best suited to power the tractors of tomorrow as the oil wells… 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… 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… Tractor technologySee all TRACTORSJohn Deere develops 400hp electric cable-powered tractorJohn Deere has developed an electric tractor that drags a power cable up and down the field, developing up to 400hp. The GridCON project is the next stage of Deere’s… 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… 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… 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 TRACTORSValtra tractors: Common problems and how to fix themWhen Valtra joined the Agco stable in the early 2000s, it brought with it dependable Sisu engines that have since been given the parent company’s branding. They are still solid… MACHINERYIn-cab tyre inflation cuts costs and compactionIf there is one thing that we can all be sure of in 2016, it is that soil compaction will be an increasing worry for farmers. However, machines continue to… 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… 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… TRACTORSTips for maintaining a JCB Fastrac 2170Hip-busting dry clutches, a tanker-like turning circle and shonky wiring are just a few of the common grumbles levelled at early JCB Fastrac models. The list of ailments has been… TRACTORSTractors: where are they made?Long gone are the glory days when the vast majority of tractors used on UK farms were built in UK factories. Today, only CNH Industrial’s New Holland plant in Essex… TRACTORS£50k Sabanto Steward kit gets Fendt 700 working autonomouslyLong, lonely hours spent cultivating, drilling and mowing could be a thing of the past with the advent of a plug-in kit that can get any autosteer-ready tractor operating autonomously.… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2021Among the changes to the Ultimate Guide to tractors for 2021, the addition of Massey Ferguson’s new 8S is arguably the most significant as it sets a new style and… 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… 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… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2023Rationalisation 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… 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… VideoSee all TRACTORSVideo: Valtra T174 Versu tractor on testValtra has made huge progress with its T-series tractors over the past couple of years, so it was no surprise that it ranked so highly in our test. Its cab… TRACTORSVideo: On test – Fendt’s monster 500hp 1050Farmers buying a tractor with more than 500hp on tap have traditionally had to settle for a hulking great machine that will have its cylinders firing for only four months of… MACHINERYTested: Five Case tractors around 100hp[fwi_vidyard code="5wupkyFm0I5EoA6BJbU0mw"] Summary Power Transmission Linkage/hydraulics Which one for you? Loads of choice but which one do you go for? In some sectors of the tractor market, the amount of… TRACTORSVideo: Fendt Vario 516 on testThe Fendt Vario's 516’s four-cylinder Deutz engine might be low on displacement, but it conjures up an impressive amount of power and torque from its 4-litre capacity. It can’t quite…
