Know How / Farm maintenance Must reads How to build a quality machinery shed on a sensible budget John Deere makes it easier for owners to repair tractors Winter tyres on farm vehicles - should you fit them? Borders farmer takes drainage in-house with DIY tile plough Case studiesSee all WORKSHOP SKILLSMade in Britain: Two UK ag engineering firms on the riseBehind many big-name machinery brands is the story of a fledgling engineering firm starting out from scratch. We meet two entrepreneurs with outfits on their way up. See also: High-end bespoke… CEREAL DRILLSYorkshire farmer assembles a pair of tine drills for £10kRecent autumn drilling campaigns have been a real slog for crop producers, with periods of extreme weather limiting work windows and leading to poor establishment. And that's all the more… FARM MAINTENANCEBorders farmer takes drainage in-house with DIY tile ploughChain trenchers, drain jetters and mole ploughs are quickly becoming the must-have accessories for arable farms contending with unrelenting rainfall events. But several UK growers intent on keeping their drainage… WORKSHOP SKILLSLincs grower’s bespoke harvester lifts 70k pumpkins a dayEach autumn, millions of pumpkins are plucked from their fields, carved into ghoulish lanterns and displayed with tealights flickering at their core. The process of getting these orange gourds from… FARM MAINTENANCEWhy Cambs farm invested in its own tractor-mounted trencherWhen a portion of their land began identifying more as lake than field during winter months, Stephen and Richard Mead were forced to invest in some drainage. Quotes were sourced… WORKSHOP SKILLSHow a Wiltshire-based mechanic built his own hedgecutterLuke Compton likes a workshop challenge, so when he needed a new hedgecutter he decided it would be far more satisfying to build rather than buy one. Complex geometry and… Practical adviceSee all FARM MAINTENANCEHow to build a quality machinery shed on a sensible budgetAs a general rule, farm machinery sits last in the pecking order when it comes to bagging precious shed space. And when it does get a roof over its head,… MACHINERY MAINTENANCE20-year-old John Deere telehandler gets perfect £20k refurbIt’s boom time for noughties farm machinery, with demand surging for mechanically sound workhorses devoid of the electronic and emissions-related aggravations of their successors. While John Deere, Case IH and… FARM MAINTENANCEWhat to look for when buying a farmyard CCTV systemAs the nights grow longer, darker and danker, so does the window of opportunity for unscrupulous ne’er-do-wells to pilfer from farmyards. Sadly, there’s no single answer to keeping undesirables out,… MACHINERY MAINTENANCELatest technology for putting out harvest machinery firesIt’s hard to imagine given the sogginess of the past 12 months, but there’s always a chance we could be in for a tinder-dry harvest, à la 2022. That year,… CULTIVATORSTips for picking the best cultivator wearing metalReplacing cultivator legs, wings and points can be a depressingly regular and ruinously expensive pastime for those working in the nation’s most abrasive soils. But instead of hunting around for… FARM MAINTENANCEHow to fix farm tracks with an adapted road graderBouncing along potholed farm tracks is an unpleasant business, putting unnecessary strain on tractors, implements and their operators. But with input costs through the roof and margins tight, shelling out… Machinery maintenance WORKSHOP SKILLSFarm implement control boxes: Who to call for repairsWhen metalwork twists, shafts snap and bearings give up the ghost, most farmers and contractors have the tools and know-how to get machinery up and running. But if modern electrical… MACHINERY MAINTENANCEJCB launches website for spare parts, lubricants and fluidsOwners of JCB machinery can now submit out-of-hours orders for service items and genuine spares through a new Parts Online platform. The website allows customers to search for bits, add… MACHINERY MAINTENANCEThatching straw growers to get free vintage machinery guidesHistoric England has commissioned a series of technical guides designed to help thatching straw growers maintain and modify the vintage machinery they rely on. The government body has major concerns… MACHINERYPrep now to maximise farm productivity this winterGet ready for the new season with Case IH Genuine Parts. Prepare now and produce results through the year ahead. Your machinery has worked hard through the previous season -… More articles Workshop skills WORKSHOP SKILLSFarm implement control boxes: Who to call for repairsWhen metalwork twists, shafts snap and bearings give up the ghost, most farmers and contractors have the tools and know-how to get machinery up and running. But if modern electrical… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2026: Creations to ease livestock handlingThis year’s Farmers Weekly Inventions Competition included more than a dozen entries designed to make life easier for herdspeople. We look at some of the best ideas. See also: Novel home-made… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2026: Low-cost tools and attachmentsFarmers have been busy in their workshops getting creative with clever tools and attachments to make life easier and save cash. We round up some of the best of these… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2026: Seed bag lifter speeds drill fillingHamish Watson has been highly commended. There’s no need to tie up a telehandler during drilling season at Hamish Watson’s farm in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, as his tractor has all it… More articles VideoSee all WORKSHOP SKILLSWinning Inventions Comp entry up for grabs in farm saleAfter 53 years, several million small square bales and dozens of farm inventions, Cotswolds contractor and farm-scale engineer Frank Henderson is calling time on his career – and his bespoke… MACHINERYVideo: Fitting tractor air brakesFitting air to your tractor How does the system work? Optional extras Plumbing up a trailer with air-brakes might be almost as simple as tying your laces, but it’s a… TOOLSVideo: 20 handy workshop tools, gadgets and knick-knacksHaving the right tool, gadget or knick-knack at hand can take some stress out of the most frustrating farm tasks. Here the Farmers Weekly Machinery team presents 20 potential gems… MACHINERYVideo: Getting the best from a Horsch Pronto Our series which sets out to advise users on how to get the best from their machinery continues with a look at the Horsch Pronto drill – a Pronto… InsightsSee all FARM MAINTENANCE8 security items to help protect farms, tools and machineryThere’s no single answer to keeping farmyards, tools and machinery secure, but taking the proper precautions will minimise the risk of being hit. Making your premises look as uninviting as… TOOLSWhy farmers are installing ultra accurate CNC plasma cuttersA growing number of farmers are opting to tool up with engineering-grade workshop equipment to produce their own machinery parts. And when it comes to carving out perfect sheet metal… TOOLSHandy tools and equipment to ease farm fencing jobsA rich bounty of tools and equipment awaits those keen to ease the process of erecting agricultural fencing. Here are some of the options. See also: How to make fence posts…
