Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles 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… TRACTORSMassey Ferguson extends 20-65hp compact tractor rangeMassey 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… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSOn test: Valtra's 100hp A104 HiTech4Valtra 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… TRACTORSDriver’s view: Marilyn Jones’ Same Dorado 90 Natural tractorFor the past couple of years, the main workhorse on Marilyn Jones’ hill farm near Brecon, Powys, has been a 2019 Same Dorado 90 Natural. This compact 87hp tractor is… MACHINERYSecond-hand loader tractor buyer's guideFinding a good second-hand loader tractor can be a tricky task. But with some expert advice, Nick Fone sniffs out some sound performers. Finding a good 'un Case IH John… ARABLE16 top 170-200hp tractors for arable farmsTractors around the 200hp mark have become the workhorse machines of most sizeable arable farms and with even more choice, here is what you should consider when looking for a… TRACTORSVideo: Valtra's new 135hp G-series tractor on testValtra recently unveiled a completely new 105-135hp tractor range, but its choice of components marks something of a departure from traditional Finnish form. Rather than using home-built gearboxes, the new… MACHINERYKubota M135-GX first driveFrom a driver’s perspective, the M135-GX has loads going for it:A roomy four-post cab with the best views around, loads of clever gadgets and an incredibly smooth ride, combined with… 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… 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,… MACHINERYVideo: John Deere 8R – tracks v tyresJohn Deere launched its range of high horsepower 8R tractors last autumn. Emily Padfield had a drive of both wheeled and tracked models to see how they perform in the… 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… 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… 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… 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 MACHINERYOn test: New Holland T7.230The other tractors on test Fendt 720 Vario Case IH Puma 175 CVX Valtra T 214 Direct Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna To avoid an awkward comparison between two near-identical tractors,… MACHINERYValtra dealers have stock tractors available right NOW!Your compact farm hero If you are looking for a compact tractor that delivers big productivity and all-day comfort, look no further than the A Series. The cab is ergonomic… TRACTORSDriver's view: Valtra G125e Active tractorSpanning a power bracket of 105hp to 135hp, Valtra’s versatile G-series neatly bridges the gap between the compact A and higher-spec N ranges. All models are driven by a Chinese-built… MACHINERYValtra N163 Versu on testPower Farming Verdict: 3.6/5 It’s the same old story with the Valtra – good test scores were let down by substandard ergonomics and an outdated cab. But once you work… MACHINERYShould you invest in a headland turning system?They save time, increase productivity and reduce driver fatigue, so should you invest in a headland turning system? Why invest? John Deere Claas Case study: William Strawson Headland turning systems… ARABLENew tractor tyre technology offers 18% more tractionThe 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… MACHINERYMcCormick's first CVT tractor on testMcCormick has launched its first ever CVT (continuously variable transmission) tractor, which it hopes will mark the beginning of a new era for the brand. The company has forged its… TECHNOLOGYJCB's hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine examinedJCB is one of the first agricultural engine makers to successfully modify its conventional powerplants to run on compressed hydrogen, eliminating carbon emissions without any impact on performance. Its gas-fired,… TRACTORSOn test: Versatile’s latest Canadian-built 260hp tractorFarmers in the market for a modern, high-horsepower tractor are increasingly getting lumbered with bundles of expensive, techy equipment, whether they want it or not. But while most makers obsess… MACHINERYCase-IH Farmall 95U Pro on testCase-IH Farmall 95U Pro Price: £58,800 RANKING: 1st Cab The Austrian-built Farmall shares the same six-post cab frame as the New Holland. This offers pretty much everything you need… TRACTORSVideo: First impressions - Fendt 1162 MT twin-track crawlerWhen Fendt announced it would be inheriting Challenger’s product range in Europe, questions centred on how the tracklayers and their crude powershift gearboxes – so obviously at odds with the… TECHNOLOGYVideo: Auto-tractor to revolutionise Canadian field workThe lead in the race for a driver-free, super-efficient arable farming utopia has been taken up by SeedMaster – a little known name in the world of autonomous agriculture but… Tractor technologySee all Tractor drivers get in-cab audio upgradeDrivers looking to replace an ancient or broken in-tractor entertainment system might take a look at Clarion’s latest offering. The CZ505E DAB radio-CD player, designed and engineered as a direct slot-in replacement for all… TRACTORSTrailblazing Auga M1 methane-electric tractor set for launchAn ambitious project to manufacture a biomethane-fuelled high-performance tractor has moved a step forwards with the unveiling of a pre-production design set for final testing prior to commercial launch. The… 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 MACHINERYTractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulationsWhen harvest is in full swing, tractors take to the roads up and down the country. It may seem unfair to farmers and contractors, but the presence of a greater… Tractor insights and practical adviceSee all 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… 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… TRACTORSBest sellers: Our top 10 tractors of the noughtiesModern tractors are getting ever more complex, with layers of electronic controls, fancy touchscreens and a medley of soot-stifling gizmos to keep exhaust emissions in check. When the tractor is… 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… 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… 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… 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:… MACHINERYTop tips for buying a used tractorAvoiding 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… 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… 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… MACHINERYTractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulationsWhen harvest is in full swing, tractors take to the roads up and down the country. It may seem unfair to farmers and contractors, but the presence of a greater… TRACTORSLinkage-mounted mudguard options to reduce mud splatterFactory-fitted fenders might do a half decent job of keeping your tractor clean, but they offer implements little protection against being pebble-dashed with mud, road grime and stones. This is… VideoSee all MACHINERYDriven: Valtra Powershift v CVT[fwi_vidyard code="vYeLMkbMi0FNEz-3s1vwBw"] Power Farming Verdict Star Star Star Star Star The CVT version of Valtra's mid-sized T202 is a very competent performer. However, if the tractor was destined solely for… 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… VIDEO: Claas ups its 100hp offeringClaas has broadened its Arion range to offer three new models in the 100hp to 130hp bracket. Slotting in between the existing Axos 300 range, which spans the 75-105hp… MACHINERYDriven: Case IH Quadtrac 600[fwi_vidyard code="np0mt_N4hZr3xmJhhJS6Qw"] Power Farming Verdict Star Star Star Star Star More power and better suspension makes life nicer for the driver, but £350,000 price tag requires deep pockets. Summary Power/Transmission…
