Menu

Know How / Tractors

Picking the right tractor is vital if work is to be done in a timely and efficient fashion, whether it’s used for feeding livestock, cultivating or hauling grain.

We provide an annual spec and price update of the entire UK tractor market, as well as regular tests, farmer reviews and tips and guidance on how to get the best from your machine, including buying the best new or used tractor for your farm.

Latest tractor articles

TRACTORS

Video: 400hp reverse-drive Valtra S-series on test

Valtra 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…

TRACTORS

Tractor sales up as arable incomes rise

Arable farmers have driven an increase in sales of new tractors and agricultural equipment this year after strong grain prices helped improve profitability. Figures released by the Agricultural Engineers Association…

TRACTORS

High-hour Horsepower: JD 6610 on fleet frontline

Mint condition John Deere 10-series tractors are now fetching close to their as-new price, but that hasn’t deterred one young contractor from running a high-houred 6610 on the frontline of…

TRACTORS

On test: John Deere's quick-fit EZ Ballast weight system

Adding ballast to a cultivation tractor is a time-honoured method of delivering maximum grip and making the most of the ponies it has to offer. Traditionally this has come in…

TRACTORS

Video: Auto-tractor to revolutionise Canadian field work

The 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…

TRACTORS

At the auctions: Second-hand kit still in high demand

A full farm dispersal sale took place on Saturday 12 May in Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire, and attracted a huge crowd of potential buyers from across the UK. However, many…

TRACTORS

Staffs dealer drops Valtra in favour of McCormick

Staffordshire machinery dealer David Eaton Tractors has taken on the challenge of selling McCormick tractors after axing its previous arrangement with Agco brand Valtra, which had been in place for…

Tractor reviews and tests

See all

TRACTORS

Mid-range tractor test: John Deere 6210R

Power Farming Verdict: 3.8/5 The John Deere was the only tractor on test not to use AdBlue, but it still performed well in the DLG tests. We tested a pre-production…

TRACTORS

Driver's view: Valtra's 170hp T163e tractor

If you’re on the hunt for a reasonably priced second-hand tractor with about 170hp under the bonnet, Valtra’s T163e could well make your shortlist. James Andrews speaks to a current…

TRACTORS

Eight 80hp tractors put to the test

We have been to the Netherlands to pit some new names against familiar faces in the world of small tractors. James Andrews and Oliver Mark gave all eight models the…

TRACTORS

Video: On test - Case IH 300hp Optum CVX

There is a growing demand from shoppers in the 300hp market for machines more versatile than the traditional tillage-grade tractor.  In response, the major manufacturers have been scrambling to fill…

TRACTORS

Video: JCB 8310 – a good all-rounder?

With the new engine and semi-mid-mounted cab, the 8310 is a good all-rounder. It may not be a completely jump-on-and-go machine, but you’ll only have to be shown once. Summary…

TRACTORS

110hp tractor test: Belarus 1025.4

Power 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…

TRACTORS

Driver’s view: John Deere 9620RX power proves the difference

When 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…

TRACTORS

First impressions of Valtra’s redesigned T-series tractors

Valtra’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…

TRACTORS

Video: Fendt demos driverless tractor

Driverless technology How it works Safety What's next? Several manufacturers are experimenting with driverless tractor technology, but it looks like Fendt will be the first to launch a viable system.…

TRACTORS

Driver's view: John Deere 6920

The John Deere 6920 and 6920S were top selling models in the 150hp category for Deere, which replaced them with the 6930 tractor in 2007. Today with prices for the…

TRACTORS

Video: John Deere e23 tractor v Autopowr

John Deere’s high-horsepower tractors have been hankering after a new powershift transmission for years and at last it’s here. Nick Fone and Oliver Mark find out if it is any…

TRACTORS

On test: 9-series takes Deutz tractors over 300hp

Deutz-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…

Tractor buying advice

Tractor guides

See all

TRACTORS

Top-end tractors put to the ultimate test

The test Engines Transmissions Hydraulics Cabs Test process AdBlue We’ve gathered together the most powerful wheeled tractors on the market for a monster multitest. And for the first time ever…

TRACTORS

On test: Claas Arion 650 Cmatic

When 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…

TRACTORS

Big power outputs lift 4wd performance

A neat hydraulic suspension installation for the front axle is designed to help avoid “power hop” with the most powerful three tractors in John Deere’s latest big four-wheel drive range.…

TRACTORS

Buying a 150hp tractor? We look at 12 options

For sheer choice and variety, the 150hp bracket marks the tractor sector’s sweet spot, with most makers offering four- and six-cylinder alternatives and a multitude of transmission types and spec…

TRACTORS

Compare tractors and combines with our buyers guides

Farmers 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…

TRACTORS

Tractor buyers guide 2017

Times might be tough in the current farming climate, but that hasn’t stopped the major manufacturers making big changes to their tractor line-ups. High-horsepower models have been beefed up, the…

TRACTORS

Machinery Milestones: How safety and comfort reformed tractors

Driver safety and comfort are among the top essentials for today’s tractors, but they remained near the bottom of the priority list during the first 100 years or so of…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2018

Our ultimate guide to 50hp-plus tractors available in Britain has been published online for 2018 with a host of changes from last year’s edition. With the removal of discontinued models…

TRACTORS

Tips for buying a 350hp Cat Challenger C-series on a budget

Shopping for a 350hp tractor with less than £30,000 in your back pocket brings up precious few options in the UK. But if you keep your eyes peeled you might…

TRACTORS

Driver's view: New Holland TS135A

If you’re looking to bag yourself a second-hand bargain, the New Holland TS135A might not seem the most obvious choice. Yet this compact high-specification tractor has plenty to offer farmers…

TRACTORS

First drive: Kubota’s biggest ever tractor – the M7171

Kubota’s top brass harbour dizzying ambitions to outsell John Deere as the world’s number one tractor manufacturer. James Andrews and Oliver Mark run the rule over the biggest machine ever…

TRACTORS

Buying the right tractor: part 1 - power

Basics The cost of power How much do you need? What about power boost? Buying a new tractor is potentially one of the most complex decisions a farmer makes; there…

Tractor technology

See all

TRACTORS

Video: Auto-tractor to revolutionise Canadian field work

The 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…

TRACTORS

Is 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…

TRACTORS

Analysis: Could technology kill off diesel tractors?

Car manufacturers are making great strides in electric drive technology and the death of diesel and petrol engines will be seen as early as 2019 for one major manufacturer. Volvo…

Road legal

See all

TRACTORS

Tractor driving - the law for 16-year-olds

Suffolk PC Mark Bryant has reminded farmers to check which machinery items their 16-year-old workers can legally drive on the road. Holders of the category-F qualification (for agricultural tractors) are…

Tractor insights and practical advice

See all

TRACTORS

Is 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…

TRACTORS

Big power outputs lift 4wd performance

A neat hydraulic suspension installation for the front axle is designed to help avoid “power hop” with the most powerful three tractors in John Deere’s latest big four-wheel drive range.…

TRACTORS

11 biggest tractors of all time

The average horsepower of new tractors in the 1920s was just 25hp, but it's now nearing 160hp. Michael Williams takes a look at the 11 most powerful tractors built over…

TRACTORS

Buying a 150hp tractor? We look at 12 options

For sheer choice and variety, the 150hp bracket marks the tractor sector’s sweet spot, with most makers offering four- and six-cylinder alternatives and a multitude of transmission types and spec…

TRACTORS

Compare tractors and combines with our buyers guides

Farmers 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…

TRACTORS

Tractor driving - the law for 16-year-olds

Suffolk PC Mark Bryant has reminded farmers to check which machinery items their 16-year-old workers can legally drive on the road. Holders of the category-F qualification (for agricultural tractors) are…

TRACTORS

Machinery Milestones: Four-wheel drive tractors

In 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…

TRACTORS

Tractor buyers guide 2017

Times might be tough in the current farming climate, but that hasn’t stopped the major manufacturers making big changes to their tractor line-ups. High-horsepower models have been beefed up, the…

TRACTORS

How to get the best price for your old tractor

Preparing 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…

TRACTORS

How to avoid buying a dodgy used crawler tractor

Tracked tractors are widely recognised as being the best means of putting serious horsepower to the ground. They’re expensive to buy new, yet here in the UK we still lap…

TRACTORS

Machinery Milestones: How safety and comfort reformed tractors

Driver safety and comfort are among the top essentials for today’s tractors, but they remained near the bottom of the priority list during the first 100 years or so of…

TRACTORS

Top tips for buying a used tractor

Avoiding 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…

Video

See all

TRACTORS

Tested: Five Case tractors around 100hp

[fwi_vidyard code="5wupkyFm0I5EoA6BJbU0mw"] Summary Power Transmission Linkage/hydraulics Which one for you? Loads of choice but which one do you go for? In some sectors of the tractor market, the amount of…

TRACTORS

Video: First drive: Armatrac 1104 Luxe

The 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.…

TRACTORS

Driven: Fendt 828 reverse-drive

[fwi_vidyard code="-ywPYYNkJb0OmXEsKYqmGw"] Power Farming Verdict Star Star Star Star Star Big cab, lots of computer wizardry, clever suspension and gutsy engine, but it's £30,000 more than the nearest competition. Summary…

TRACTORS

Driven: 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…

Most popular this week