Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles 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… MACHINERYMAXAM: Engineered to Perform. Built to endureOn the field or the road, MAXAM farm tyres are built to go the distance, delivering unbeatable performance, extended tyre life, and the confidence of an industry-leading 8-year warranty. Engineered… 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: JCB Fastrac owner rates his pair of 6300sHauling heavyweight tankers, spreaders and trailers across England’s northernmost counties requires a tractor that’s as adept at clocking up hours on tarmac as it is in the field. That is… TRACTORSClaas launches refreshed 145-180hp Arion 5 tractorsClaas has revamped its middleweight Arion tractors with a nose-job and a bunch of driver-friendly features. Following hot on the heels of the company’s revised Axion 8 launch, this latest… Tractor reviews and testsSee all 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… MACHINERYMcCormick X5.30 on testMcCormick X5.30 Price: £55,305 RANKING: 6th Cab The X5.30 was so new at the time we carried out the tractor test that McCormick had to field a pre-production model,… 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… 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… MACHINERYMid-range tractor test: Valtra T203 DirectPower Farming Verdict: 3/5 The Valtra was the least powerful of the test group. It performed averagely in the DLG tests, although the usability of its gearbox was its biggest… 401+HPFirst impressions: New cab major progress for Claas Axion 9Claas can rightly revel in its top-dog status when it comes to combine harvesters and foragers. But 22 years after swallowing Renault Agriculture, its tractor division continues to lag behind.… MACHINERYTop-end tractor test: New Holland T8.390Power Farming Verdict: 3.5/5 Fiat engine very frugal on fuel – but AdBlue is also required. Good performer in the field for heavy draft work, helped by effective engine-transmission management… 201-300HPOwner rates MF 8S.265 with Dyna E-Power transmission For a high-horsepower tractor with such a radical new design, Massey Ferguson’s 8S came into being with surprisingly little fanfare. Launched in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in August… MACHINERY4 tractors, 3 years: How they performedThe test Landini 135 Case Puma 210 John Deere 6930 Fendt 718 Verdict Two years ago a Devon contracting outfit embarked on an epic tractor test to see which brand… TRACTORSDriver's View: Ben Sharp’s Case IH Optum 300Case IH’s Puma 260 might be the obvious match for the 300hp tractors featured in this series, but, with the near-identical T7.300 already covered, we’re instead focusing on a model… MACHINERYVideo: Furse four tractor test: Fendt 718 VarioThe Fendt 718 is expensive, but it's a top-quality contractor's tractor, has excellent fuel consumption and has been the most reliable machine on test. The cab is a bit on… TRACTORSFirst impressions: New £250,000 Fendt 728 lands on UK soilWhat do you do when you’ve nailed the formula for a compact 240hp tractor that accounts for about half your annual sales? If you’re Fendt, you decide to change it.… 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 101-200HPHow to keep a four-cylinder Valtra N-series running wellValtra 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… MACHINERYTop-end tractor test: Case IH Magnum 340Power Farming Verdict: 3.6/5 The Fiat engine performed well, especially under full load, and is in its element on heavy draft work. The engine-transmission automation system and mechanically efficient gearbox… TRACTORSOn test: John Deere's 6R 185 tractorAs 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… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2025A 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:… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere four-track 8RX – an alternative to wheels?Since its launch at Germany’s Agritechnica show in November, the web has been awash with pictures and videos of John Deere’s shiny new 8RX tracked tractor range. The hype has… TRACTORSDriver's view: Tom Dirom's Valtra Q285Valtra’s long-awaited Q-series finally broke cover in 2022, filling a void between its existing T and S ranges. Second biggest in the five-strong line-up is the Q285, which matches the… MACHINERYCompare tractors and combines with our buyers guidesFarmers and contractors looking to take several options into consideration when choosing a new tractor will find the new specification and price guide published on FWi this week a useful… MACHINERYRemapped Valtra duo improve safety for road usersGibliston Farming Company’s 2015 Valtra T215 was struggling for power on some of the unforgiving hills and ground farmed in the East Neuk of Fife. The nature of the business… MACHINERYMid-range tractor test: Fendt 724 VarioPower Farming Verdict: 4.2/5 As usual, the Fendt delivered on working and driving comfort as well as performing well at the DLG testing station. This is reflected in its high… 201-300HPDriver’s view: Shropshire farm rates Massey Ferguson 7S.210The 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… 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… 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… Tractor technologySee all TECHNOLOGYSwappable batteries for Traktorarvid autonomous tractorSwapping a discharged battery for a fresh one to minimise downtime is a key feature of the all-electric Drever 120 four-wheel-drive autonomous tractor being developed by Swedish enterprise Traktorarvid. The… TECHNOLOGYMidlands start-up to develop electric tractor based on TE20A 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… TECHNOLOGYFendt trials hydrogen fuel cell tractorsFendt has revealed that two prototype hydrogen fuel cell tractors will be moving on to farms in Bavaria, southern Germany, this spring to help evaluate their performance and the practicalities… Road legalSee all TECHNOLOGYTractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rulesMuch 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 adviceSee all 101-200HPHow to keep a four-cylinder Valtra N-series running wellValtra 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… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2025A 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:… MACHINERYCompare tractors and combines with our buyers guidesFarmers and contractors looking to take several options into consideration when choosing a new tractor will find the new specification and price guide published on FWi this week a useful… MACHINERYRemapped Valtra duo improve safety for road usersGibliston Farming Company’s 2015 Valtra T215 was struggling for power on some of the unforgiving hills and ground farmed in the East Neuk of Fife. The nature of the business… 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… 101-200HPTop tips for getting the best from a John Deere 6930 PremiumIn 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… 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… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Centenary for iconic Lanz BulldogThe introduction of the Lanz company's first Bulldog series tractors 100 years ago set the wheels in motion for one of the European tractor industry’s biggest success stories. Tractor history… MACHINERYTractor tuning perks and pitfalls: Is it worth the risk?Fork out a few hundred quid on a little black tuning box and you could unleash a healthy dollop of extra power and torque from your tractor. Sounds tempting, doesn’t… TECHNOLOGYDiesel-electric drives offer give cheaper tractor powerThe Autonomous Tractor Corporation (ATC) has found a way to recycle old tractors to get another 25,000 hours of labour from a wornout workhorse. The US company, tucked away in… TECHNOLOGYTractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rulesMuch 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… TRACTORSHandy checklist for buying a second-hand tractorHaving a comprehensive checklist to hand when going to view a second-hand tractor could make the difference between bringing home a stalwart and shelling out for a disaster. The second-hand… VideoSee all MACHINERYTillage Live: Fendt 700 at work[fwi_vidyard code="3K1udI5uCpk5mpxhq_i-2A"] Tillage Live provided the first working demo of Fendt’s newest offering – the 700-series. With its distinctive curved front screen, the new range runs from 200hp to 240hp… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere four-track 8RX – an alternative to wheels?Since its launch at Germany’s Agritechnica show in November, the web has been awash with pictures and videos of John Deere’s shiny new 8RX tracked tractor range. The hype has… VIDEO: Fendt tractor sales rocketThe explosive modernisation of eastern European agriculture has fuelled massive growth in sales for German tractor maker Fendt. Sales of Fendt tractors have rocketed on the back of the… Video: Tractors decorated in Christmas lights on paradeTractors festooned in Christmas lights have brought a bit of festive joy to the streets of a small town in south-east Ireland. A group of 15 tractors paraded around the…
