Tractors are available in a range of sizes to handle small jobs right up to heavy-duty plowing, tilling, disking, harrowing, planting and other tasks. While standard fixed-wheel tractors can be found on farms far and wide, there are other speciality tractors available to complete particular jobs. This includes 'row crop' tractors with adjustable tread, tracked tractors for working in the wet, and utility tractors for general-purpose jobs around acreage properties. If you're looking for a new or used tractor, it's best to know what you'll be using it for and the scale of the work prior to purchasing. This will help ensure you get the right tractor with the right attachments and horsepower (HP) for the job.
Generally speaking, tractors are segmented by horsepower. The more horsepower, the more it can handle. For example, utility tractors are generally under 100 horsepower, as they are built to handle basic jobs (such as landscaping and mowing) around a large property. While heavy-duty row crop tractors can reach as much as 400 horsepower.
Though tractors are powerful on their own, it's really their many attachments that make them so desirable. Towed behind the tractor or mounted on the tractor itself, it's easy to turn a tractor into a dozer or backhoe with the simple connection of the right attachment. This makes tractors useful year-round, rather than being shut in the shed from season to season like other farming machinery and equipment.
As with any machine, there are different brands who offer a wide range of models, optional extras and attachments. And, while many tractor owners have their own preferences, each brand has their unique advantages and things to consider. The main thing is to do your research and know exactly what you need from your tractor now, and in the future.
Not only have tractors evolved over the years, they're also getting smarter thanks to GPS technology and on-board computers. This technology is generally used in modern precision farming and allows for automation, better fuel efficiency and easier crop tracking.
