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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

401+HP

Video: Fendt's 943 MT twin-track crawler on test

Agco has breathed new life into its flailing twin-track fleet with a major rebranding and upgrading exercise for the long-in-the-tooth Challenger tractors. And the firm’s prairie monster range needed some…

TRACTORS

Early Fastrac prototype sells for £15,000 at auction

An early version of JCB's Fastrac tractor has been snapped up at auction for £15,000 by a Northern Irish enthusiast. The fifth prototype of the iconic Fastrac was sold to…

TRACTORS

4,000 lots under the hammer at Walford Cross sale

With more than 4,000 lots, Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s Walford Cross collective machinery sale inevitably throws up a few gems amongst the agri-jumble. There was every conceivable bit of equipment on…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2019

Manufacturers 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…

TRACTORS

John Deere responds to increasing Greenstar thefts

A PIN code locking system has been installed on John Deere’s Greenstar cab displays and StarFire satellite receivers to curb the appeal of these products to thieves. See also: GPS…

TRACTORS

McCormick launches more frugal X5 tractors

A new range of McCormick X5 tractors features extra transmission options designed to make the machines more fuel-efficient during day-to-day tasks. There has also been an engine upgrade, with the…

201-300HP

Michelin launches road-friendly tyres for 200hp tractors

Michelin has launched a new tarmac-friendly RoadBib tractor tyre that is longer-lasting and offers a more comfortable ride than existing deep-lugged options for operators clocking up high road miles. The…

Tractor reviews and tests

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MACHINERY

Video: Valtra goes for sophistication with new A93 Hitech machin...

Valtra’s small A series tractors have gained features and sophistication, as David Cousins found when he tried an A93 Hitech. Intro Engine Cab Transmission PTO Systems Verdict Spec Video Until…

MACHINERY

Six of the best alternatives to diesel

Diesel 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…

MACHINERY

Seven 100hp loader tractors on test

A mid-sized loader tractor still offers mixed farmers the most affordable combination of farmyard dogsbody and in-field workhorse. Farmers Weekly spent a week in Germany comparing seven of them. An…

MACHINERY

Seven 110hp tractors put to the test

It might not be the quickest growing sector, but 100-150hp tractors probably appeal to the biggest farming audience. Oliver Mark joined colleagues from France, Germany and Holland to test seven…

MACHINERY

Video: Head-to-head: Zetor Major v Farmtrac 685

  The Zetor Major has returned to the UK after a six-year sabbatical. Nick Fone and Oliver Mark pit the seasoned Czech stalwart against a new name from the Eastern…

TRACTORS

On test: Claas Arion 440 CIS

The Claas is all geared up for loader work, with brilliant views through the roof window, a clever speed steering system and clutch-pedal-free braking. However, it was short of power…

MACHINERY

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.…

ARABLE

New tractor tyre technology offers 18% more traction

The 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…

MACHINERY

Driven: Zetor Proxima 85

Summary Power Transmission Cab PTO/Hydraulics Zetor has found a new lease of life recently with powershift gearboxes and a 180hp model due for launch in the near future. The Proxima…

MACHINERY

First Drive – Massey Ferguson 7618

You can make the 7618 as complicated (or not) as you like. We’d probably opt for the changeable ratios of the Dyna-6 box.   Modern powershifts are clever enough so…

MACHINERY

110hp tractor test: Kubota M110GX

Power 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…

MACHINERY

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…

Tractor buying advice

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TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2019

Manufacturers 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…

MACHINERY

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

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…

MACHINERY

Tractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulations

Harvest is in full swing which means tractors are taking to the roads up and down the country. It may seem unfair to farmers and contractors, who argue that they…

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 the right tractor: Part 3 - suspension and tyres

In the final installment of our guide to getting the right spec on your new tractor, Peter Hill takes a look at cab suspension and tyre options. [pm_module id="1482425"] Suspension…

TECHNOLOGY

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

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

Video: On test - New Holland T5.120 v Fendt 312

This month’s tractor test sees the New Holland T5.120 go head-to-head with Fendt’s 312. You can find how they performed with a pair of four-furrow Ovlac ploughs by watching the…

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…

MACHINERY

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…

MACHINERY

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…

Tractor technology

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CVT choice offers perfect tractor working speed

When Fendt unveiled the first practical continuously variable transmission, it did more than just bring a new level of speed control and adjustment. It brought the engine and transmission together…

TRACTORS

Mitas mobile app to help farmers set best tyre pressures

Czech tyre maker Mitas has introduced a new mobile tyre pressure app suitable for Android, Apple and Windows phones. The new app allows farmers to find the right pressure for their…

TRACTORS

Electric tractors ‘on UK farms as early as 2020’

Electric tractors may be coming to UK farms at least 10 years sooner than anticipated, according to the NFU. A NFU paper, Electric tractors by 2020? – a review of…

Road legal

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Police ask tractor drivers to pull into lay-bys more often

Police 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 advice

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ARABLE

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…

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…

MACHINERY

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…

MACHINERY

Should 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…

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…

MACHINERY

Video: 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…

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…

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.…

TECHNOLOGY

Diesel-electric drives offer give cheaper tractor power

The 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…

MACHINERY MAINTENANCE

Ultimate guide to tractor tyre management

It is essential to ensure your tractor tyres are in good working order, both for your safety and for your pocket. We look at the causes of premature tyre wear,…

TECHNOLOGY

Tractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rules

Much of the development costs of new tractors these days involves engine emissions. Will that soon end? Probably not, says Peter Hill. Just when everyone thought the clampdown on tractor…

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…

Video

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MACHINERY

Valtra N163: The four-pot powerhouse

Intro Engine Transmission Cabs/controls Specs Gallery PF verdict Capable of pumping out 171hp, the flagship in Valtra’s new N-series range is claimed to be the most powerful four-cylinder on the…

NOW IN VIDEO: New Holland's fuel cell tractor

New Holland's NH2 fuel cell tractor - the first hydrogen-powered tractor to be shown by any tractor maker - finally broke cover in Turin, Italy last Friday. Based on a…

Video: Valtra sets world’s fastest tractor record

Finnish rally legend Juha Kankkunen has set a new tractor speed record of 88.88mph at the wheel of a modified T-series Valtra. The four-time World Rally Champion – famous for…

Video: John Deere 9RX crawler tractor in action

Those wanting to catch a glimpse of John Deere's long-awaited 9RX crawler in the flesh will have to wait for its official European launch at Hanover's Agritechnica show in November.…

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