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TRACTORS

Updated Claas Xerion 12 capable of semi-autonomous driving

A clutch of powertrain and digital technology upgrades are being released for the biggest tractors in the Claas range, including autonomous working – albeit with an operator in the driving…

TRACTORS

Challenger gets reverse drive conversion for tree pruning

After 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…

TRACTORS

Massey Ferguson extends 20-65hp compact tractor range

Massey 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…

TRACTORS

Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2026

The 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…

TRACTORS

Mitas creates Granterra tyre for low-speed, high-torque needs

A 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,…

TRACTORS

Nexat wide-span tractor sows 200ha per fill with 28m drill

German 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…

Tractor reviews and tests

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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…

TRACTORS

Driver’s view: 1997 Case-IH Magnum 7230

After a series of pricey breakdowns with newer tractors, Leicestershire contractors Leon and Simon Smith decided to try some older, simpler horsepower. The pair’s mechanical woes came to a head…

MACHINERY

Top-end tractor test: MF 8690

Verdict: 3.7/5 Good transmission and driving comfort. The Sisu engine kept up with the test averages. Easy working thanks to effortless shuttle change, roomy cab and SpeedSteer system. Computer controller…

TRACTORS

On test: New Holland T5.140 DCT

New Holland has added a double-clutch transmission to its T5 range, expanding the options for stock farmers who crave a slicker alternative to the basic 12-speed Utility stick-shifter. While simple…

TRACTORS

Video: John Deere 6175R Directdrive tractor on test

The John Deere 6175R’s spacious, quiet cab and well-thought-out controls made it a clear favourite among our test team. We also got on well with the Directdrive transmission, which is…

MACHINERY

Top-end tractor test: John Deere 8335R

Power 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…

MACHINERY

On test: Case IH Puma 175 CVX

The other tractors on test Fendt Vario 720 New Holland T 7.230 Valtra T 214 Direct Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna The Puma paid the price for being the smallest tractor…

MACHINERY

Video: Furse four tractor test: Fendt 718 Vario

The Fendt 718 is expensive, but it's a top-quality contractor's tractor, has excellent fuel consumption and has been the most reliable machine on test. The cab is a bit on…

TRACTORS

On test: Time-proven John Deere 6M 155 finally gets 50kph

Some tractors prove to be stinkers, others functional if unremarkable, and a very select few transcend an era. John Deere’s 30-series – the 6930 and 7530 in particular – has…

TRACTORS

Driver’s view: Case-IH Quadtrac 600

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…

MACHINERY

Video: Claas Axion 950

For 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…

MACHINERY

New Holland T5.95 on test

New Holland T5.95 Price: £59,041 RANKING: 4th   Cab New Holland’s six-pillar cab is trimmed with light-blue interior panels that have a habit of picking up dirt and end up…

Tractor guides

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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

New Holland T5.95 on test

New Holland T5.95 Price: £59,041 RANKING: 4th   Cab New Holland’s six-pillar cab is trimmed with light-blue interior panels that have a habit of picking up dirt and end up…

MACHINERY

Kubota M9960 on test

Kubota 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…

TRACTORS

Driver’s view: McCormick X6.413 P6-Drive

Fitted with a 4.5-litre FPT engine and an in-house six-speed semi-powershift transmission, the X6.4 is McCormick’s premium offering in the four-cylinder sector. This means buyers have access to a host…

MACHINERY

What to look for when buying a used tractor

Intro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Purchasing a used tractor can be a pitfall-laden process for even the most seasoned buyer, with a wide range…

TRACTORS

Video: 180hp tractor test 2019 preview

This 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.…

TRACTORS

On test: John Deere's 6R 185 tractor

As the UK’s most popular tractor, brands of all colours and creeds have long been gunning for John Deere’s 6R 155, but it might be some friendly fire that finally…

TRACTORS

6 simple, low-cost loader tractor options

In 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…

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…

TRACTORS

On test: John Deere 7R 350 tractor

Not long ago, 350hp was the reserve of tracklayers and equal-wheeled prairie monsters strictly employed on tilling and drilling duties, but a new breed of high-horsepower conventional wheeled tractors is…

MACHINERY

Valtra N163 Versu on test

Power Farming Verdict: 3.6/5 It’s the same old story with the Valtra – good test scores were let down by substandard ergonomics and an outdated cab. But once you work…

101-200HP

Video: John Deere 6120M Command Quad tractor on test

Last 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…

Tractor technology

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TECHNOLOGY

JCB's hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine examined

JCB is one of the first agricultural engine makers to successfully modify its conventional powerplants to run on compressed hydrogen, eliminating carbon emissions without any impact on performance. Its gas-fired,…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Tractor 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…

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…

Road legal

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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…

Tractor insights and practical advice

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MACHINERY

What to look for when buying a used tractor

Intro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Purchasing a used tractor can be a pitfall-laden process for even the most seasoned buyer, with a wide range…

TRACTORS

6 simple, low-cost loader tractor options

In 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…

TECHNOLOGY

JCB's hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine examined

JCB is one of the first agricultural engine makers to successfully modify its conventional powerplants to run on compressed hydrogen, eliminating carbon emissions without any impact on performance. Its gas-fired,…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Tractor 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…

TRACTORS

The inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractors

Most 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…

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

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…

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

Tractors: where are they made?

Long gone are the glory days when the vast majority of tractors used on UK farms were built in UK factories. Today, only CNH Industrial’s New Holland plant in Essex…

TECHNOLOGY

How technology that can control tractors works

If the idea of driving into a field, punching a few settings into a touchscreen and letting a computer take charge of key tractor and equipment controls sounds a bit…

TRACTORS

Machinery Milestones: Wood-fuelled tractors

It 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…

Video

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MACHINERY

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…

MACHINERY

Agritechnica 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…

TRACTORS

Video: 180hp tractor test 2019 preview

This 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.…

MACHINERY

VIDEO: Up close with Deere's most powerful tractor

Summary Engine & transmisson Cab & controls Lamma 2012 was the first UK show appearance for John Deere’s largest and most powerful 9R series tractors. The three-model line up ranges…