Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSFirst impressions: John Deere's 8RX 540 breaks new groundAmerican heavy artillery of a friendlier type will be shipped across the Atlantic later this year when the first battalion of Europe-bound 8Rs and RXs departs John Deere’s Iowan factory.… TRACTORS11 new Valtra S376 tractors – JSE’s buying decision revealedFor some businesses, buying a new tractor is a blue-moon event, others might stretch to one or two a year, but precious few will have landed 11 in a single… TRACTORSWhy a Cumbrian contractor runs 5 ageing Claas Ares tractorsIf you spot a tidy-looking Claas Ares trimming a Cumbrian roadside, chances are it will belong to the C Davidson clan. That’s because the Carlisle-based contractor runs a total of… 401+HPGoodyear's monster 1.4m-wide farm tyre to go on sale in UKGoodyear has gained European accreditation for its widest-ever agricultural tyre. The monster LSW 1400/30 R46 is designed for suitably sized combines and articulated prairie prowlers such as Case IH’s Steiger… TRACTORSPunchy new John Deere 8RX 540 maxes out at 634hpJohn Deere reckons it has produced the world’s most powerful rigid-frame tractor. The wheeled 8R 540 and four-track 8RX equivalent are rated to a maximum output of 594hp, rising to… TRACTORSAgXeed develops more powerful tracked driverless tractorA higher powered version of the tracked AgBot self-guided driverless tractor has been developed by Dutch specialist AgXeed to cater for growers who like the concept but want more muscle… TRACTORSNokian tyre monitor calculates tractor axle weightsNokian’s second-generation digital tractor tyre monitoring system has the added feature of measuring tractor axle weights and providing recommended inflation pressures for different scenarios, such as when spraying or spreading.… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSOn test: Time-proven John Deere 6M 155 finally gets 50kphSome tractors prove to be stinkers, others functional if unremarkable, and a very select few transcend an era. John Deere’s 30-series – the 6930 and 7530 in particular – has… TRACTORSOn test: Valtra N134 VersuValtra’s recent N-series revamp has at last dragged it into the 21st century. The cab is spacious, the engine and hydraulics are strong, and a tight turning circle makes it… TRACTORSHigh-hour horsepower: MF 6465 hits 21,464 hoursThere are plenty of tractors out there with hour counts running well into the teens, but there are a select group of operators using frontline machines with more than 20,000… MACHINERYDriven: New Holland T4 and T5What's new? Engine & gears Cab Loader T5 pics The T4 Verdict Prices With more makes and models on the market than you could shake a stick at, choosing which… TRACTORSContractor rates his 500hp artic-steer John Deere 9620American farmers have a deep affection for the meaty roar and unrestrained pulling power of a 20t articulated tractor, but the prairie monsters have never quite made themselves at home… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere 6175R Directdrive tractor on testThe 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… 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… TRACTORSDriver's view: Dan Chanin's Claas Axion 870Armed with a 6.7-litre FPT engine and a choice of transmissions, Claas’s five-model Axion 800 range has the 200-300hp sector covered. And it’s the range-topping 870 with Cmatic CVT that’s… 401+HPFirst impressions: Valtra's revamped 420hp S416 gets new cabValtra’s big S-series has finally been given some Finnish affection, having been left as little more than a masquerading Massey for nigh on two decades. As well as acquiring a… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Belarus 1025.4Power Farming Verdict: 2.4/5 It might not have scored highly but the Belarus had a solid engine and a price-tag that’ll catch the eye of plenty of buyers. Noise and… TRACTORSVideo: 400hp reverse-drive Valtra S-series on testValtra has finally let its heavyweight S-series loose on the 400hp tractor scene and, armed with lorry loads of torque, a proven driveline and a redesigned cab, promises to unsettle… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Kubota M110GXPower Farming Verdict: 3/5 Plenty of potential but not the finished article – its weak engine was a disappointment and the cab finish needs some work. But there’s plenty to… 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 TRACTORSThe inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractorsMost 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… 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 2022The tractor guide listings for 2022 contain a significant number of changes. New and upgraded models having been introduced over the past 12 months, and the last tractors in our… 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… 301-400HPFirst drive: Case-IH’s Magnum 340 AFS ConnectCase-IH has cloaked its new Magnum range in an overcoat of technology as it bids to keep pace with the front runners in the high-horsepower tractor market. The original Magnum,… TRACTORSDriver’s view: Versatile Delta Track - brawn on a budgetWhen 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… MACHINERY7 common agricultural engine remapping questions answeredMore farmers are choosing sophisticated agricultural engine remapping technology to increase power, torque and work efficiencies from their tractors, combines and farm machinery. Avon Tuning HD has been offering professional… MACHINERYOn test: 9-series takes Deutz tractors over 300hpDeutz-Fahr is a tractor builder on a mission. It has followed up the launch of its 6- and 7-series CVTs with another tractor range that pushes the company’s boundaries well… MACHINERYFirst impressions of Valtra’s redesigned T-series tractorsValtra’s six-cylinder, T-series tractors have been crying out for a refresh for years... and at last they’ve got it. James Andrews travelled to Germany to see if it’s been worth… 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.… TRACTORSFarm machinery giants: The Fendt success storyVillage blacksmiths started many of the big-name companies in the farm machinery industry, but the family who founded Fendt buck that trend. Sylvester Fendt began his clock-making business in the… 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… Tractor technologySee all TECHNOLOGYContracting start-up makes bridge kit for JD guidance systemA West Sussex start-up has steered its way to success with a bridge kit for seamlessly installing John Deere guidance in tractors made by all major competitor brands. Deere has… TRACTORSJohn Deere to phase out support for old Starfire iTC kitUsers of John Deere’s Starfire iTC receivers are being urged to upgrade their kit as Deere will end basic correction signals for these devices by January 2021. See also: LH Agro… TECHNOLOGYHow to build your own tractor autosteer system for £700Anyone who has seen Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime recently will have learned that driving in arrow-straight lines when carrying out fieldwork doesn’t come naturally to some. It’s not only… 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 TRACTORSThe inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractorsMost 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… 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 2022The tractor guide listings for 2022 contain a significant number of changes. New and upgraded models having been introduced over the past 12 months, and the last tractors in our… TRACTORSDriver’s view: Versatile Delta Track - brawn on a budgetWhen 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… MACHINERY7 common agricultural engine remapping questions answeredMore farmers are choosing sophisticated agricultural engine remapping technology to increase power, torque and work efficiencies from their tractors, combines and farm machinery. Avon Tuning HD has been offering professional… TRACTORSFarm machinery giants: The Fendt success storyVillage blacksmiths started many of the big-name companies in the farm machinery industry, but the family who founded Fendt buck that trend. Sylvester Fendt began his clock-making business in the… WORKSHOP SKILLSMassey Ferguson tractors: Common problems and how to fix themFor the mechanically minded operator, it’s often possible to carry out minor repairs in the farm workshop. But with tractors getting ever more complex, there’s an increasing number of jobs… TRACTORSIs a future of methane-powered tractors viable?If you remember New Holland’s first attempt at a methane tractor back in 2013, you’ll probably recall being hugely sceptical and quite underwhelmed by what was a T6 tractor with… 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… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2024Fans of big tractors laying down lots of power are well catered for in Farmers Weekly‘s latest Ultimate Guide, with all-new models not only breaching the 600hp threshold but also… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2019Manufacturers 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… MACHINERYVideo: Deere demos driverless tractor technology John Deere showed off some of its latest precision farming tech during a press trip last week to the American Midwest. James Andrews reports. Watch the video and read… VideoSee all 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… 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: First drive: Armatrac 1104 LuxeThe tractors Engine Transmission Cab Verdict Specs Armawho? Pics Farmers looking for a simple livestock tractor could soon have a new name to add to their shopping list - Armatrac.… MACHINERYVIDEO: First glimpse of Case IH's JXU replacementCase IH’s replacement for the popular JXU range of small, simple tractors made its first UK appearance at Lamma 2012. The three-model Farmall U range offers 90hp, 100hp and 110hp…
