Tractors are some of the most useful agricultural machinery available in the markets. If you're thinking of venturing into agriculture or farming, you will find yourself in need of one. However, a tractor can also be a costly investment, and as a first-time buyer, you can easily make mistakes in your selection that could prove quite costly. With so many options to choose from, you need to consider some things first before you invest in a tractor for your farm. Here are some of the crucial things to remember when looking to purchase a tractor.
Think About What You Need the Tractor to Do
Tractors can be used for a wide range of agricultural products, including grading, mowing, removing snow, haying, tilling, planting, and moving materials. Knowing what your tractor should do beforehand is imperative because switching to a different one later will be costly.
Tractors are usually categorised into four distinct categories. Compact utility tractors are the first type of tractor you will find. They are generally smaller in size compared to their counterparts and are often suitable for small farm applications such as nursery work.
Utility tractors are the next category and are usually slightly bigger and more powerful than their compact utility counterparts. If you need a tractor to work with your livestock for haying or excavation purposes, consider this type of tractor. They usually come with attachments that make it easy to use for such applications.
If you are looking for something to help you in crop production, row crop tractors are the ideal solution. Their wheel widths are adjustable to suit the spaces between your crop lines. They can also haul implements such as ploughs that are significant for preparing land for crop production. However, for heavy tilling and planting implements, go for articulated four-wheel-drive tractors.
Consider Its Horsepower
The horsepower on the tractor you are buying can make all the difference when it comes to the efficiency of its performance on different farm applications. The size of your farm or land will guide you on how much horsepower your tractor will need. Generally, you need a tractor with more power if you have a considerably large farm to ensure it doesn't strain over the expansive area. The kind of attachment or equipment you will be adding to the tractor will also help you choose the right horsepower. For instance, if you'll be adding a cutter, a smaller one with a shorter arm won't need as much power as a larger one would.
The terrain on your farm will also determine the amount of horsepower you need. Softer soils generally require less horsepower compared to rocky soils that will call for much more power to break through when ploughing.
To learn more, contact a company like Mirco Bros.
