Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSChallenger gets reverse drive conversion for tree pruningAfter decades of hauling heavy cultivation kit, a 1990s twin-track crawler has found an unlikely second career in the cider orchards of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Caterpillar Challenger 55 is… TRACTORSMassey Ferguson extends 20-65hp compact tractor rangeMassey Ferguson’s revamped compact tractor range now extends to nine models in all, covering power outputs from 20-65hp with hydrostatic and all-mechanical transmissions, and open platforms or air-conditioned cabs. The… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2026The year’s Farmers Weekly Ultimate Guide to tractors is notable for the first-time listing of a mainstream electric model and a driverless tractor range, and the removal of two familiar… TRACTORSMitas creates Granterra tyre for low-speed, high-torque needsA heavy-duty tyre developed by Mitas is designed for larger tractors, from around the 200hp mark upwards, undertaking heavy cultivation. The Granterra meets the criteria for the industry’s VF category,… TRACTORSNexat wide-span tractor sows 200ha per fill with 28m drillGerman manufacturer Nexat and its gantry-style field tractor continue to make headlines as the machine gets new capabilities and early adopters discover its potential. The wide-span vehicle uses a growing… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Fresh Fendt 832 puts power to the groundFendt has finally cut all ties with engine manufacturer Deutz. Its new 800-series is the latest to get a heart transplant from sister company Agco Power, and with it comes… 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.… Tractor reviews and testsSee all MACHINERYKubota M9960 on testKubota M9960 Price: £48,803 RANKING: 7th Cab The little Kubota looked a bit out of place alongside our test line-up. Although it matched the rest for power it has… MACHINERYMcCormick X5.30 on testMcCormick X5.30 Price: £55,305 RANKING: 6th Cab The X5.30 was so new at the time we carried out the tractor test that McCormick had to field a pre-production model,… TRACTORSDriver's view: Charlie Flindt's John Deere 6155MHampshire farmer and FW columnist Charlie Flindt gives us the 410-hour lowdown on his John Deere 6155M tractor in his inimitable style. Find out what his likes and gripes are,… TRACTORSFirst impressions: New cab revitalises Case IH OptumThe 250-300hp tractor division is red hot right now and the launch of Case IH’s Optum CVX and the equivalent New Holland T7 HD has cranked up the competition another… TRACTORSVideo: We try out John Deere's monster 8400RIf you missed our test report from the week we spent with John Deere’s monster 8400R, you can now watch the video to give you a flavour of what the… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Valtra N113Power Farming Verdict: 3.4/5 Valtra’s combination of good gearbox, torquey engine and comfortable ride set it apart from its test rivals. Downsides included our usual Valtra gripe of bad switchgear… 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… TRACTORSDriver's View: Ben Sharp’s Case IH Optum 300Case IH’s Puma 260 might be the obvious match for the 300hp tractors featured in this series, but, with the near-identical T7.300 already covered, we’re instead focusing on a model… MACHINERYVideo: 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… 101-200HPVideo: John Deere 6120M Command Quad tractor on testLast year’s unveiling of a heavily reworked 6M tractor range may have been lost in the razzmatazz of John Deere’s high-end tractor and combine launches, but these simple(ish) models could… TRACTORSOn test: JCB Fastrac 4220 iCONThis time last year we pitted JCB’s Fastrac 4220 against a Fendt 724 Vario to see just how close the high-speed specialist’s in-field performance could get to that of a… 101-200HPFirst impressions: More power and speed for Deere 6M-seriesThey might be simpler and cheaper than their premium-spec cousins, but the lack of a 50kph transmission has long stymied sales of John Deere’s 6M tractors in the UK. Keen… 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 MACHINERYKubota M9960 on testKubota M9960 Price: £48,803 RANKING: 7th Cab The little Kubota looked a bit out of place alongside our test line-up. Although it matched the rest for power it has… MACHINERYMcCormick X5.30 on testMcCormick X5.30 Price: £55,305 RANKING: 6th Cab The X5.30 was so new at the time we carried out the tractor test that McCormick had to field a pre-production model,… TRACTORSDriver's view: Charlie Flindt's John Deere 6155MHampshire farmer and FW columnist Charlie Flindt gives us the 410-hour lowdown on his John Deere 6155M tractor in his inimitable style. Find out what his likes and gripes are,… MACHINERYWhat to look for in a used high-hp four-cylinder tractorDemand has been steadily growing for high-horsepowered four-pot tractors. We run through the good, bad and ugly of three second-hand options from Claas, Valtra and John Deere. Ten years ago… TRACTORSFirst impressions: New cab revitalises Case IH OptumThe 250-300hp tractor division is red hot right now and the launch of Case IH’s Optum CVX and the equivalent New Holland T7 HD has cranked up the competition another… TRACTORSVideo: We try out John Deere's monster 8400RIf you missed our test report from the week we spent with John Deere’s monster 8400R, you can now watch the video to give you a flavour of what the… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Valtra N113Power Farming Verdict: 3.4/5 Valtra’s combination of good gearbox, torquey engine and comfortable ride set it apart from its test rivals. Downsides included our usual Valtra gripe of bad switchgear… MACHINERYTractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulationsWhen harvest is in full swing, tractors take to the roads up and down the country. It may seem unfair to farmers and contractors, but the presence of a greater… 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… TRACTORSDriver's View: Ben Sharp’s Case IH Optum 300Case IH’s Puma 260 might be the obvious match for the 300hp tractors featured in this series, but, with the near-identical T7.300 already covered, we’re instead focusing on a model… 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… 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… Tractor technologySee all TRACTORSJohn Deere responds to increasing Greenstar theftsA 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… 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… TECHNOLOGYSwappable batteries for Traktorarvid autonomous tractorSwapping a discharged battery for a fresh one to minimise downtime is a key feature of the all-electric Drever 120 four-wheel-drive autonomous tractor being developed by Swedish enterprise Traktorarvid. The… Road legalSee all 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… Tractor insights and practical adviceSee all 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… TRACTORSBuying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statisticsHands up who knows the difference between a tractor’s rated and maximum power? Or what the perfect torque curve should look like? How about torque rise? Or six-point fuel tests?… Why energy maize could spark steel track crawler comebackHaving to work arable land late after an energy maize harvest, when slippery surface conditions can show up the limitations of rubber tracks, could result in a comeback for steel-track… 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… POTATOESPotato contractor finds the best tractor for flailing successLincolnshire potato contractor David Matthews expects potato haulms to have a high biomass at burndown time, thanks to this year’s growing season, and says growers will need a lot of… TRACTORSTips for buying a second-hand Challenger MT765ERising input costs, falling subsidy payments and squeezed profit margins mean many farmers are turning to the second-hand machinery market to add extra firepower or replace their ageing prime mover.… TRACTORS10 scraper tractor options for dairy farms of all sizesNo tractor is less mollycoddled than the one hooked to a muckscraper. Slathered in slurry from dawn ‘til dusk and shunting back and forth with monotonous regularity, these machines have… Big power outputs lift 4wd performanceA 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.… 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… 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… MACHINERYWhat to look for in a used high-hp four-cylinder tractorDemand has been steadily growing for high-horsepowered four-pot tractors. We run through the good, bad and ugly of three second-hand options from Claas, Valtra and John Deere. Ten years ago… WORKSHOP SKILLSCase and New Holland tractors: How to fix common problemsTractors are a major expenditure on the farm, and breakdowns can leave you with a big mechanic's bill. There are some ways, however, that you can try to avoid costly… VideoSee all MACHINERYAgritechnica 2011: Diesel-electric tractor from Rigitrac[fwi_vidyard code="-VV-IH9VQCfz0T6IQg-j0Q"] Jointly developed between Swiss tractor maker Rigitrac, Dresden’s technical university and a specialist electronic engineering firm, the EWD 120 diesel-electric tractor is a truly novel concept. A 120hp… MACHINERYPiste basher swaps snow for soil[fwi_vidyard code="u87O6kbxEtrXRzwekiP_7g"] No farmer really needs a machine that can scale a mountain, bulldoze thousands of tonnes of snow and carve out a half pipe. But unless you’re the sort… 401+HPVideo: On test - John Deere 8400ROver the past couple of decades, tracked tractors have established themselves as the go-to cultivations power source for many 500ha-plus arable growers, thanks to their ability to skip lightly across… TRACTORSVideo: Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic on testThe Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic's modest proportions and respectable power make it a handy all-rounder. After testing it, we think it’s better suited to drilling and top work than…
