Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles 301-400HP288-340hp Case IH Optum tractors get digital tech updatesJoystick operation of the rear lift is one of several digital technology improvements on Case IH's three latest Optum tractors, with peak outputs of 288hp, 313hp and 340hp. The armrest… TRACTORSLower cost Farmall C ManualDrive rejoins Case IH line-upAfter a brief period off-sale, Farmall C tractors running the simple 12x12 ManualDrive gearbox are back in the Case IH fold with driveline and digital tech upgrades. Easily recognisable thanks… 401+HPCase IH tweaks Magnum PowerDrive powershift transmissionUpgrades to the PowerDrive full powershift transmission and hydraulics system have been introduced for Case IH Magnum wheeled and Rowtrac semi-tracked tractors, along with a simplified choice of digital tech.… MACHINERYComplete auction platform lets businesses sell used farm kitYou’ve got lots to sell. Selling used agricultural equipment online has never been easier — or more powerful. Webtron’s all-in-one white-label online auction platform is built for companies wanting to… 100HPMassey Ferguson unveils diddy MF 1M Series compact tractorsMassey Ferguson has begun the process of replacing its 1500 Series compact tractor range with two new “professional” models – the 20hp MF 1M.20, successor to the 1520, and the… TRACTORSZetor launches 131-171hp four-cylinder Series 6 tractorsZetor may have drifted off the UK farming radar, but the Czech firm intends to bounce back – starting with a new 131-171hp Series 6 range. It encompasses three four-cylinder… 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:… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSRound-up of designer tractor ballast boxes with tool storageA ballast block that doubles as a spacious storage container is rapidly becoming fashionable for tractors operated on arable or mixed enterprise units. Some have been conceived by enterprising operators themselves… TRACTORSVideo: Valtra T174 Versu tractor on testValtra has made huge progress with its T-series tractors over the past couple of years, so it was no surprise that it ranked so highly in our test. Its cab… TRACTORSFirst drive: McCormick pins hopes on updated X7 tractor rangeWhen its tractors were built in Doncaster on Case-IH underpinnings, times for McCormick were really rather rosy. The sub-brand of Italian firm Argo Tractors – resurrected after Case-IH merged with… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere 6155R Autopowr on testIt's difficult to pick holes in Deere's well-rounded R-series. The cab is polished in general but the standout feature is the Command Pro joystick, which is easy to use, has… 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… 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… TRACTORSOn test: Massey Ferguson 5713 SL Dyna-6The 5713 SL put in a solid, if slightly underwhelming performance, that saw it slide into last position. Engine and hydraulic outputs were below par and the ageing cab is… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere four-track 8RX – an alternative to wheels?Since its launch at Germany’s Agritechnica show in November, the web has been awash with pictures and videos of John Deere’s shiny new 8RX tracked tractor range. The hype has… 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… MACHINERYJohn Deere 6130R on testPower Farming Verdict: 4.1/5 John Deere’s rangy four-cylinder was blissfully simple to use and its sizable cabin made it one of the best for driver comfort. But the keep-it-simple approach… TRACTORSDriver's view: Fisher Farms’ Claas Axion 960 TTAfter dropping a teaser about its development of a half-track Axion at Agritechnica 2017, Claas officially launched 355hp and 445hp 900-series Terra Trac machines in 2020. Promising 15% more traction… TRACTORSVideo: Fendt Vario 516 on testThe Fendt Vario's 516’s four-cylinder Deutz engine might be low on displacement, but it conjures up an impressive amount of power and torque from its 4-litre capacity. It can’t quite… 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 MACHINERYVideo: Head-to-head: MF 5610 v Case IH 105UPower Farming Verdict From an operator’s point of view, both the Massey Ferguson 5610 and Case IH 105U have moved on quite a bit from their predecessors, but in very… MACHINERY7 versatile 300hp arable tractor newcomersThree hundred horsepower to pull a trailer? That sounds excessive, but it is one of the roles envisaged for a new breed of powerful tractors that makers say are not… 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… ROAD LEGALTractor driving - the law for 16-year-oldsSuffolk 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… 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.… TRACTORSOn test: John Deere's quick-fit EZ Ballast weight systemAdding 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… TRACTORSOn test: Fendt 312 Vario ProfiAs ever, there was no faulting the Fendt’s comfort, but for once it was beaten to the top spot by John Deere. The 300 series remains a slimmed down version… MACHINERYTop-end tractor test: John Deere 8335RPower Farming Verdict: 3.5/5 At certain points through the measurement curve for partial engine loading, the engine burnt more diesel than its competitors. But with a DPF the Deere needed… 101-200HPTop tips for getting the best from a John Deere 6930 PremiumIn the second-hand, mid-horsepower tractor market, John Deere’s 6930 Premium is arguably one of the most sought after. Built in Mannheim between 2007 and 2012, this lightweight, powerful tractor offers… MACHINERYVideo: 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… 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… MACHINERYFendt 516 Vario on testPower Farming Verdict: 4.6/5 Fendt tractors always seem to perform well in our in-depth tests and the 516 was no exception. It topped the scorecard for technical ability and driver… Tractor technologySee all TECHNOLOGYMidlands start-up to develop electric tractor based on TE20A Midlands-based start-up has revealed plans to develop an electrically powered rework of the iconic Ferguson TE20. Atomictractor, run by ex-MF executive Campbell Scott, intends to develop the machine in… 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… TECHNOLOGYEngineer adapts Kubota tractors for driverless contractingPlenty of manufacturers have had a stab at building a driverless tractor – Case-IH has one based on a Magnum, Kubota’s attempt is a quirky-looking tracked contraption and John Deere… Road legalSee all ROAD LEGALTractor driving - the law for 16-year-oldsSuffolk 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 adviceSee all ROAD LEGALTractor driving - the law for 16-year-oldsSuffolk 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… 101-200HPTop tips for getting the best from a John Deere 6930 PremiumIn the second-hand, mid-horsepower tractor market, John Deere’s 6930 Premium is arguably one of the most sought after. Built in Mannheim between 2007 and 2012, this lightweight, powerful tractor offers… 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… TRACTORS22-year-old Fendt Favorit 515C gets £15k revampThe allure of a new, top-spec tractor might win over many farmers and contractors, but Matthew Barnett has considerably more time for older machines with a proven track record. He… MACHINERYSolving your starter motor woesIntroduction Step-by-step Voltage drop testing Voltage drop – what’s it about? The opening part of this series laid out how the starter motor works, set the thing in the context of… 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… 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… 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… TRACTORSUnderstanding CVT and powershift transmissionsTractor transmissions have come a long way since the days of double-clutching and crunching your way between the three or four gears of a basic, unsynchronised box. Through the introduction… Latest tacho, licence and red diesel rules explainedWhat is legal on the road is not so much a grey area – it’s more like 50 shades of grey, all which have to be interpreted carefully by farmers… 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… 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… VideoSee all MACHINERYVideo: Head-to-head: MF 5610 v Case IH 105UPower Farming Verdict From an operator’s point of view, both the Massey Ferguson 5610 and Case IH 105U have moved on quite a bit from their predecessors, but in very… MACHINERYTested: 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… TRACTORSVideo: 160hp CVT tractor test 2020 previewFarmers Weekly's big annual tractor test saw the machinery team take four 160hp CVT tractors from some of the industry's biggest players to a Hampshire farm during this autumn's cultivation… 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.…
