Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSDriver's view: William Heslip's New Holland T7.300A new cab was the stand-out improvement on New Holland’s “long-wheelbase” T7s when they were introduced at the Sima show in Paris three years ago. There are five Auto Command… TRACTORSDriver's view: Tom Dirom's Valtra Q285Valtra’s long-awaited Q-series finally broke cover in 2022, filling a void between its existing T and S ranges. Second biggest in the five-strong line-up is the Q285, which matches the… TRACTORSDriver's view: Tom Mixture's John Deere 6R 250Sitting at the apex of John Deere’s “mid-size” tractor line-up, the 6R 250 offers a healthy slug of power in a modestly proportioned chassis. Its versatility in tackling jobs both… MACHINERYTotalEnergies lubricants: Power, performance, protectionFor over 60 years, TotalEnergies has been the trusted partner for farmers worldwide, delivering tailor-made lubricants that keep your equipment running smoothly in all conditions and seasons. Our Agri Range… TRACTORSDriver's view: Robin Ward's Massey Ferguson 8S.305For the Massey Ferguson buyer seeking 300 horses, both the 8S and 9S can deliver the goods. But the former’s blend of power and manoeuvrability made it the sensible choice… TRACTORSDriver's view: Dan Chanin's Claas Axion 870Armed with a 6.7-litre FPT engine and a choice of transmissions, Claas’s five-model Axion 800 range has the 200-300hp sector covered. And it’s the range-topping 870 with Cmatic CVT that’s… 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… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSFirst impressions: How does 778hp Case Quadtrac shape up?When any tractor manufacturer brings its new, most powerful production tractor to the market, it’s bound to stir excitement among farm machinery enthusiasts. At a recent field day near Fuchsenbigl,… MACHINERYVideo: Claas Axion 950For a mighty machine, it can feel like a relative mouse when driving thanks to its well-managed bulk, mid-mounted cab and short bonnet. It’s a simple tractor to jump on… MACHINERYMid-range tractor test: MF 7624 Dyna-VTPower Farming Verdict: 3.5/5 The French-built Massey has plenty of features and a new joystick. It performed averagely at the test station and its unreliable terminal can be hard to… 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.… TRACTORSHigh-hour horsepower: Deutz-Fahr 165.7 smashes 21,000 hoursCornish dairy farmer Paul George’s Deutz-Fahr 165.7 has overcome worn-out clutches, tired gaskets and an overheating engine to battle its way to an impressive 21,000-hour clock read-out. It arrived at… TRACTORSOn test: Four-cyl Claas Arion 570 proves punchy and nimbleThe high-horsepower four-cylinder tractor fraternity gained a new member this year as Claas gingered up its compact Arion to deliver a mighty 180hp and 730Nm of torque. Better still, it… 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… 401+HPFirst impressions: Claas Xerion 12.650 takes on US articsTo the casual observer, Claas’ Xerion 12.650 looks like any other articulated crawler – just a Quadtrac, 9RX, or Versatile Deltatrack dressed in a different outfit. Yet it’s nothing of… 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… TRACTORSDriver's view: Kubota M6-132Kubota is now a respected player north of 100hp, having gradually introduced more four-cylinder models that have helped shed its reputation as an amenity and scraper tractor specialist. The most… MACHINERYVideo: Furse four tractor test: John Deere 6930Watch the video and read the full report below. We’ve been very impressed with the 6930 and it hasn’t had any of the problems we experienced with previous Deeres. It’s… TRACTORSDriver's view: Richard and Matthew Thomas's Zetor Proxima CL80Since Zetor tractors first arrived in the UK, they’ve been the tool of choice for Welsh hill farmers Richard and Matthew Thomas. The initial attraction to the Czech brand was… 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 Driver's view: New Holland TS135AIf 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… TRACTORSTaking your tractor test – all you need to knowThe Driving Standards Agency (DSA) tractor test gives budding farmers the chance to drive machines on the road at the age of 16, but it shouldn't be taken lightly. The… 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… MACHINERYTop-end tractor test: Fendt 939 VarioPower Farming Verdict: 4.1/5 A joy to work with. Great driving comfort right up to 60kph. Clear controls, lots of adjustments possible. Deutz engine and Vario transmission seem to work… A buyer's guide to choosing a nearly-new tractorTwo years ago, the euro was trading against the pound at €1.15:£1, making for a healthy UK export trade. In just 24 months the picture has shifted drastically and today… TRACTORSOn test: Valtra N134 VersuValtra’s recent N-series revamp has at last dragged it into the 21st century. The cab is spacious, the engine and hydraulics are strong, and a tight turning circle makes it… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Same Virtus 120Power Farming Verdict: 3.3/5 Lots of extra features should help it appeal to a wider audience, including the stop/go braking system and quick-steer wheel. But low lift capacity and limited… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: John Deere 6115MPower Farming Verdict: 3.3/5 Deere’s build quality and logical arrangement of controls has been the force behind its perennial success. It also had a strong engine, but being the smallest… 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… TRACTORSVideo: Valtra's new 135hp G-series tractor on testValtra recently unveiled a completely new 105-135hp tractor range, but its choice of components marks something of a departure from traditional Finnish form. Rather than using home-built gearboxes, the new… 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… MACHINERYVideo: Claas Axion 950For a mighty machine, it can feel like a relative mouse when driving thanks to its well-managed bulk, mid-mounted cab and short bonnet. It’s a simple tractor to jump on… Tractor technologySee all HEALTH AND SAFETYTractor cab filters: are you protected?Most operators and farmers will be well aware of the potential risks that working with agricultural chemicals brings, but with the right precautions, users will be kept free from any… TECHNOLOGYMulti Trac Tool confirms smaller electric tractorThe Dutch manufacturer of a large electro-hybrid carrier tractor called Multi Tool Trac has confirmed it is working on a smaller autonomous model. See Also: Analysis: Is electric technology set… MACHINERYHow alternative fuels are helping to reduce farm emissionsDiesel-powered transport and machinery have been under scrutiny globally for some time now due to their large environmental impact in the form of hefty CO2 emissions. Recent years have seen… 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 TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Wood-fuelled tractorsIt might sound a bit wacky, but tractors have the potential to be powered by wood – as proven by several farming inventions over the years. The tractor fuel produced… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2022The tractor guide listings for 2022 contain a significant number of changes. New and upgraded models having been introduced over the past 12 months, and the last tractors in our… TRACTORSBuying the right tractor: Part 3 - suspension and tyresIn 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… TRACTORSFendt tractors: Common problems and how to fix themIt might be the premium brand of choice for large-scale farms and contracting businesses, but just like any other maker, Fendt’s tractors can suffer the odd mechanical gremlin. Engine problems… TRACTORSWhat to look for when buying and fitting a tractor dashcamDrive a tractor on the road for any length of time and you are bound to see some form of reckless manoeuvre from an impatient motorist. Most of the time,… TECHNOLOGYVideo: Auto-tractor to revolutionise Canadian field workThe 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… 101-200HPHow to keep a four-cylinder Valtra N-series running wellValtra has long been a proponent of the pokey four-pot engine, but the introduction of its N174 in 2015 pushed the concept to new levels. Serving up 165hp from its… TRACTORSFarm machinery giants: The Fendt success storyVillage blacksmiths started many of the big-name companies in the farm machinery industry, but the family who founded Fendt buck that trend. Sylvester Fendt began his clock-making business in the… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Steam-powered tractorsBritain once led the world in developing agricultural steam power, with stationary engines arriving on farms in the 1790s, followed later by portable and traction engines as well as cable-operated… 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… 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… TRACTORSBest sellers: Our top 10 tractors of the noughtiesModern tractors are getting ever more complex, with layers of electronic controls, fancy touchscreens and a medley of soot-stifling gizmos to keep exhaust emissions in check. When the tractor is… VideoSee all MACHINERYAgritechnica 2011: Valtra biogas/diesel prototype[fwi_vidyard code="NA3J2VJ3XHBH25AOUN0Hgg"] Following several years of testing, Valtra’s dual-fuel biogas/diesel system is almost ready for sale. The Finnish firm had one of its T133 tractors on display at Agritechnica kitted… TRACTORSVideo: 400hp reverse-drive Valtra S-series on testValtra 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… MACHINERYFurse four tractor test: Landini Landpower[fwi_vidyard code="8qOu6xRxi3jTPc2R1xlF1Q"] Furse verdict Star Star Star Star Star The Landini is a really good all rounder and is perfect for running around jobs that don’t require sophistication. It is… Video: Tractors decorated in Christmas lights on paradeTractors festooned in Christmas lights have brought a bit of festive joy to the streets of a small town in south-east Ireland. A group of 15 tractors paraded around the…
