Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSClaas pulls the wraps off revamped 264-313hp Axion 8 tractorsAs part of an update programme across its entire tractor range, Claas has launched revamped versions of its 800-series machines. Three new variants – the Axion 8.240, 8.270 and 8.290… TRACTORSQuicke improves weighing on tractor-mounted Q-Series loadersTractor loader control and automation is reckoned to have reached new heights with the latest updates to Quicke’s Q-companion digital system introduced alongside changes to the flagship Q-Series loaders. Existing… TRACTORSCereals 2026: John Deere 6M tractor and 500R sprayer updatedCab size is now the only real differentiator between John Deere’s 6R and 6M series tractors, thanks to a handful of new optional extras on the latter. These include a… TRACTORSRevamped John Deere 6R gets new cab and sharper handlingJohn Deere has overhauled the top end of its popular 6R tractor range, fitting a bigger cab and uprating the running gear for better handling. For now, only models on… 301-400HPFirst impressions: New 8340’s cab is a Deutz-Fahr revolutionNot for the first time, green tractors of German provenance stole the headlines at November’s Agritechnica show. Only this time, John Deere, Fendt and Claas bods were among the spectators… TRACTORSUpdated Claas Xerion 12 capable of semi-autonomous drivingA 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… TRACTORSChallenger gets reverse drive conversion for tree pruningAfter 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… Tractor reviews and testsSee all MACHINERYJohn Deere 6150R six months inNew tractors cost a pretty penny these days so it’s wise to do your homework before dipping your hand in your pocket. Simon Henley visits a farmer in Warwickshire who… 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: Lee Henzell's Fendt 728 VarioFendt’s 700-series overhaul was big news in the summer of 2022, with the ever-popular 724 downgraded to mid-range status and a new 728 thrust to the apex. It strayed well… 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… MACHINERYValtra N93 on testValtra N93 Price: £59,090 RANKING: 2nd Cab A new cab is on the horizon for the N-series but, for now, Valtra’s vintage six-poster is well suited to this power… 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… MACHINERYDeutz-Fahr 6160.4 TTV on testPower Farming Verdict: 4/5 Deutz-Fahr has been on a mission to update its higher horsepower tractors. They now have plenty of and radical styling, but the DLG results suggest there's… MACHINERYVideo: First Drive: Deutz Fahr 7250 TTVIf first impressions are anything to go by then the 7-Series looks like it should be a real contender in an already competitive horsepower segment.The ride is comfortable and the… MACHINERYOn test: Claas Arion 650 CmaticWhen Claas pulled the wraps off its Arion back in 2012, it was the culmination of a Grand Designs-style rebuild of the brand’s mid-rangers. The five-pillar cab came from the… MACHINERYOn test: Fendt 720 VarioThe other tractors on test New Holland T 7.230 Case IH Puma 175 CVX Valtra T 214 Direct Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna It’s the same old story with the Fendt… 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… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Fendt's swish new cab updateFendt is rolling out new-look cab controls that it reckons will finally put to bed the myth that its tractors are hard to drive. Comfort, quietness and a raft of… 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 MACHINERYJohn Deere 6150R six months inNew tractors cost a pretty penny these days so it’s wise to do your homework before dipping your hand in your pocket. Simon Henley visits a farmer in Warwickshire who… 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… 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… 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… TRACTORSDriver's view: Lee Henzell's Fendt 728 VarioFendt’s 700-series overhaul was big news in the summer of 2022, with the ever-popular 724 downgraded to mid-range status and a new 728 thrust to the apex. It strayed well… 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… 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… MACHINERYValtra N93 on testValtra N93 Price: £59,090 RANKING: 2nd Cab A new cab is on the horizon for the N-series but, for now, Valtra’s vintage six-poster is well suited to this power… 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… MACHINERYTractor tyres: make sure your pressures are rightWe all know that tyre pressure is important if a tractor is to work at its best. But only a few operators, it seems, actually bother to ensure that correct… MACHINERYWhat to look for in a used high-hp four-cylinder tractorDemand has been steadily growing for high-horsepowered four-pot tractors. We run through the good, bad and ugly of three second-hand options from Claas, Valtra and John Deere. Ten years ago… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: The world's first tractorsThe history of the tractor began in the late 1880s, when petrol engines provided an alternative to steam, which had driven the power farming revolution for almost 100 years. Britain… Tractor technologySee all 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… TRACTORSJohn Deere responds to increasing Greenstar theftsA PIN code locking system has been installed on John Deere’s Greenstar cab displays and StarFire satellite receivers to curb the appeal of these products to thieves. See also: GPS… 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… 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 MACHINERYMachinery Milestones: Four-wheel drive tractorsIn the latest instalment of our series looking back over the history of machinery developments, Mike Williams charts the rise of four-wheel drive tractors and how they have become the… 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… How to get the best price for your old tractorPreparing to sell a used tractor should begin pretty much as soon as the machine is bought. After all, it is not just buyers of cars, vans and other vehicles… 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… 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… MACHINERY MAINTENANCEUltimate guide to tractor tyre managementIt is essential to ensure your tractor tyres are in good working order, both for your safety and for your pocket. We look at the causes of premature tyre wear,… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Steam-powered tractorsBritain once led the world in developing agricultural steam power, with stationary engines arriving on farms in the 1790s, followed later by portable and traction engines as well as cable-operated… TRACTORSBuying the right tractor: part 1 - powerBuying a new tractor is potentially one of the most complex decisions a farmer makes; there are so many models, sizes and features – let alone prices – to consider.… MACHINERYWhat to look for when buying a used tractorIntro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Purchasing a used tractor can be a pitfall-laden process for even the most seasoned buyer, with a wide range… TRACTORSWorn-out tractor seats: How to refurbish or replace themThousands 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… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2026The 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£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.… VideoSee all TRACTORSVideo: 180hp tractor test 2019 previewThis summer, FW’s machinery team took four 180hp tractors from some of biggest names in the industry to a Hampshire farm for a rigorous workout during a busy cultivation period.… Video: John Deere 9RX crawler tractor in actionThose wanting to catch a glimpse of John Deere's long-awaited 9RX crawler in the flesh will have to wait for its official European launch at Hanover's Agritechnica show in November.… 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… 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…
