Not Your Father’s Tractor

Color photo of several utility tractors and their attachments.
Several utility tractors with various attachments.

With a dazzling array of creature-comfort features offered on today’s compact tractors, sort out your basic needs from what you can’t live without.

Article by Jim Ruen, a freelance writer based in Minnesota.

Reprinted with permission from Hobby Farms
magazine and Sarah E. Coleman, October, 2006.

You’ve decided to buy a tractor? Great! That was the easy part. Now comes the fun part if you’re a shopper or the challenge if you’re not. Today’s tractor market offers more brands, styles, sizes, options and accessories than you can throw the proverbial stick at. And nowhere is this more true than in the 25 to 50 hp, compact tractor arena. Where there were half a dozen common brands in the United States 20 years ago, today there are dozens, with more showing up every year.

North American heritage brands John Deere and Massey Ferguson have been joined by AGCO and New Holland. The latter two are relatively new by name, yet trace their lineage to heritage U.S. brands Allis Chalmers and Ford, respectively. Some, like Fendt, Ferrari and Mahindra (reported as the fourth largest tractor maker in the world), claim a proud heritage in their home countries and continents, and are building similar reputations here. Kubota has been an active brand in the U.S. for more than 30 years, while others like Montana, Branson and FarmPro are relatively new. FarmTrac, though only in the U.S. for a few years, has a 70-year history of tractor production and already claims more than 300 dealers.

Figuring out where a tractor is built and by whom can get confusing to say the least, and is less important than how well the tractor is built. Mahindra, an Indian company, recently bought a Chinese tractor factory that makes tractors sold under several brand names in the U.S. Montana is built by Korean conglomerate LS Cable and draws on the expertise of Eaton hydrostatics and Mitsubishi engines. John Deere compacts feature JohnDeere PowerTech and Yanmar engines, and Branson tractors are powered by engines from Indiana-based Cummins, which has six factories in China.

Color photo of two different utility tractors and the New Holland IntelliView monitor.
Branson and John Deere utility tractors and the New Holland IntelliView monitor.

So how do you choose? How do you find the tractor that is right for you? Perhaps the best place to start is with a careful look at your budget. Prices vary, generally from $12,000 to $25,000, with some considerably less and at least one considerably higher. “If you’ve never changed oil on a car, go buy a Kubota,” says John Nelson, Nelson Equipment Corp. He and his wife sell Chinese-built Jinma tractors still in the crate over the Internet. He makes no bones about what his customers should expect from the 25- to 35-hp tractors starting at $5,900. If nuts, bolts or grease fittings are missing from a crate, he expects the customer to pick them up himself. He describes these tractors as “basic 1960s technology.” If you assemble one yourself, you can save as much as 50 percent of the retail price, suggests Nelson.

Beyond Price

Whether you assemble your tractor yourself, order one with all the bells and whistles, or get something in between, it has to be able to do the various jobs you have in mind. That’s where tractor buying starts to require a bit of crystal-ball viewing. You may think you want a tractor to mow the back 40 and move snow in the winter, but what about a box blade to fill driveway ruts or a backhoe to clean out old ditches? How many horsepower do you need? How much lift capacity? At what height do you want your loader to lift? What about safety and convenience? Do you want a cab or is a rollover protective structure (ROPS) good enough? Will you need power take off (PTO) capability mid-mount for underslung mowers as well as the standard for rear-mount and pull-type implements? What kind of transmission: standard, power shift or hydrostatic?

So many questions and so many answers that run the gamut of budgets, features and options. If Nelson’s Jinma is at one end of the spectrum, the German built Fendt 206V has to be at the other. It has front and rear 3-point hitch for mounted implements; front- and rear-mount PTO; mid-mounting point for additional implements, and front-axle suspension and road speeds of up to 25 mph. Technically not a compact, this 50 PTO hp tractor is ideal for multi-tasking in a private-label vineyard. With a $46,000 base price, this tractor is most certainly not designed for weekend mowing of the yard and of road ditches.

“You can buy cheaper tractors that will do some of the jobs, but not all the jobs you can do with this tractor,” says Tom Weir, general marketing manager, Fendt and AGCO compact tractors. “Versatility is what makes it attractive.”

If versatility attracts the high-end customer to Fendt, design and reputation attract customers to Ferrari tractors. Priced comparable to major brand compacts, Ferrari’s specialty is its low profile, narrow designs that hug the earth. Their four equal-sized wheels provide 50/50 weight distribution front to rear, true four-wheel drive and its very low center of gravity offers extra stability on steep slopes.

Ferrari makes both rigid-frame and articulated (two half-frames that pivot in the center) tractors from 30-hp on up. The 35-hp and 46-hp rigid-frame models are also available as bi-directional models with the driver module capable of turning 360 degrees. This reversibility feature gives the operator greater visibility and control of rear-mounted loaders and attachments such as snow blowers and mowers.

“Safety is usually the thing that brings customers to me,” says Eugene Canales, the lone importer and seller of the Italian-made Ferrari, as well as a dealer for Antonio Carraro, another Italian made specialty tractor. “Customers will say they have turned other brands over or have just been scared driving on hillsides. The second factor is functionality and the third is reduced soil compaction. Most of my customers are organic or biodynamic growers, so weight distribution for reduced compaction is important.”

While many of Canales’ customers may never set eyes on him or his dealership, most tractor buyers, especially first-time buyers, are more comfortable working with a local dealer. Dealers can help you determine which tractor and which options are right for you. They can explain the implements and the attachments you need to do the jobs you have in mind and help “crystal ball” future needs as your acres and your interests evolve. Perhaps most important, especially for first-time buyers, local dealers are nearby if questions rise or problems develop.

“We can have the best product in the world and a great price, but ultimately it falls on the shoulders of the dealer,” says Steve Barcuch, general marketing manager, Massey Ferguson compact tractors. “If the dealer doesn’t perform, we can’t sell the product.”

He advises taking time to evaluate a dealer as well as the tractor and to ask for references. “Look around the dealership,” says Barcuch. “If there is a good selection of equipment, odds are they have sold a lot of equipment. Ask to speak with someone who bought the same or a similar model to one that interests you. That person can tell you not only about the tractor, but also about the dealership.”

Color photo of a utility tractor with front loader and rear mounted mower.
Kubota utility tractor with front loader and rear mounted mower.

Color photo of two utility tractors showing ROPS.
Kioti and New Holland utility tractors shown with ROPS.

Parts, Service and More

Ask about parts and service, suggests John Ryan, product manager for 18 to 30 hp Kubota tractors. “You want to see the service department and the parts department. Ask about parts availability and look at what they have in stock,” he says. “You want to be sure they can support you, are technically certified, and keep a clean and organized shop.”

Cleo Franklin, strategic marketing manager, Large Property Owner Customer Segment for John Deere, agrees that the dealer relationship is key. “When you make the investment in a tractor, the dealer component should be a big part of the decision,” he says. “If you are looking at a tractor, you want to look beyond it. What’s the opportunity for me to go back to the dealer and meet the needs I didn’t realize I had when buying the tractor?”

As you identify current and potential needs, explore how specific tractors meet them. If you’ve identified rear-mounted implements for frequent use, how do they connect? John Deere recently introduced the iMatch quick hitch. It allows attaching or detaching any 3-point hitch implement from the operator seat. Other companies also claim ease of attachments. How do they compare in use and in price? Ask dealers to demonstrate connecting to mounted implements too heavy to move easily by hand. Then try it yourself.

Front End Loaders

The ease of mounting and removing a front-end loader (FEL) is important, as is ease of switching various buckets, blades and other attachments. That assumes you will be getting an FEL; industry wide, at least 75 to 80 percent of all compact tractors are sold with loaders. Today many are designed for fast removal and when purchased with a tractor, are sized appropriately. Too big of a loader may make a tractor unstable or damage its front end. The former is dangerous and the latter can be costly, especially on front-wheel drives (FWD).

Since FWD is even more common in compact tractors than loaders (New Holland estimates that 90 percent of their compacts are sold with FWD) proper sizing for the tractor is indeed vital.

Comparing load capacity of two tractors, whether on the loader or at the 3-point hitch, can be frustrating if common measuring points such as “lift pins at full height” aren’t used, warns Massey Ferguson’s Barcuch. Equally important in the case of loaders is to ask if the weight of the 500 lb. loader bucket is included in lift capacity or not.

Color photo of two utility tractors with front end loaders.
Agco and Mahindra utility tractors with front end loaders.

Hydraulic Lift

“Evaluate the hydraulic system of the tractor,” Barcuch advises. “Compare hydraulic flow, which provides speed of lift, and hydraulic pressure, which determines lift capacity.”

Ease of control for loaders and other attachments is also important, he adds. “We offer a factory-installed joystick to run the loader and we can install up to seven sets of remote hydraulic valves on our compact tractors.”

Extra remotes can prove helpful, even if you don’t think you will need one when the tractor is purchased. Barcuch notes that the recent hurricanes have caused demand to explode for loader-mounted grapple forks (requiring their own remote) in Florida and the southern coastal areas. Add new uses and you may need more power. Get enough lift capacity and power and then some, suggests Paul Willits, product training specialist, Compact Tractors, New Holland. “It makes sense to have a little more lift capacity and horsepower than you need, rather than to spend a substantial amount of money and still not have enough tractor to get the job done,” he says. He also advises making sure that the tractor being considered has separate hydraulic pumps for steering and for lift. “When the operator steers the tractor, it shouldn’t rob flow from the loader or the 3-point hitch,” warns Willits.

Turning radius

Ease of steering under load and simple turning radius are also important considerations when comparing tractors. FWD is very helpful under load, as it pulls the temporarily higher-weight end through the turn. It also increases tractive ability and stability. However, it can increase turning radius.

Compact tractors are, by their very nature, maneuverable. Even so, there are differences in design. Fendt offers a “wasp waist” design that allows the front wheels to turn extra tight, while Ferrari’s articulated designs can practically turn on a dime. More importantly, rear wheels follow the exact track of front wheels, providing greater precision to steering. New Holland has introduced a unique steering system, SuperSteer, that combines articulation in the front end with a traditional compact design. The SuperSteer front-wheel drive axle articulates 21 degrees when the wheels turn.

“SuperSteer results in a turnaround diameter about 50 percent smaller than competitive compact tractors,” says Willits.

Another New Holland feature, Sensitrak (automatic FWD), comes standard with SuperSteer. It engages front-wheel drive only when it’s needed for better traction. Other brands offer similar automatic activation features, while still others rely on the operator to determine when and where to activate FWD. Using FWD when it’s not needed simply adds unnecessary wear and tear, and reduces fuel efficiency. If used when making a sharp turn, it can damage the FWD.

Cabs are hot … or cool as need be

One of the hottest trends in compact tractors today is the factory-installed cab. What had been a seasonal accessory for Snow Belt compact tractors is rapidly going mainstream in all climates. “Kubota came out with the first factory-installed cab in the 30-hp market with heating and air conditioning,” says Ryan. “In two years, other manufacturers will begin offering a factory-installed cab, making this market very competitive.”

Like most things about a tractor, evaluating a cab requires getting in and getting a feel for it. Is it roomy enough for your physical and psychological comfort? What about visibility and ease of entry and exit? How quiet is it? How fast does it cool down or warm up?

John Deere claims a 30-degree temperature shift in five to 10 minutes in its new cabs. “Part of that is from how our new ComfortGard cab is totally sealed up with very little leakage,” says John Arthur, product manager, Compact Utility Tractors. “It keeps out noise and dust, and our exclusive the 4-post design contributes to a sense of roominess.”

Whether comparing cabs and creature comforts, placement of controls or attaching and removing loaders and mounted equipment, the same rule of thumb applies. If you can drive one, do so. Take advantage of ride and drive opportunities at farm shows and at lawn and garden shows. Even if ride and drive isn’t available, climb on and sit a spell. “Everybody is there for you to check out,”says Barcuch. “Our booths are often right next to each other, so it’s easy to compare features.”

Gearing Up, Down or Not At All

Picking the transmission that is right for you and the work you will be doing may be the key to picking the right tractor. While some compacts are still available with standard or geared transmissions, hydrostatic and power shift transmissions are increasingly common, especially on compacts under 40 hp.

“Hydrostatic drives are more popular because of their effortless forward and reverse for loader and mower work, and also their infinite speed settings. The disadvantages are higher cost, lower fuel efficiency and lowered durability,” says Dick Parish, professor, Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University Ag Center. “Old, mechanical transmissions can hold up for many thousands of hours. I doubt you will see that on hydrostatic transmissions, at least without maintenance.”

Of course, the options don’t stop there. Within geared transmissions you have non-synchronized, where you have to depress the clutch, stop the tractor and change gears; fully or partially synchronized, where you clutch and shift without stopping; and power shift, where you shift gears without either stopping or clutching. Non-synchronized transmissions are ideal for jobs with minimal changes in speed or in direction, such as tillage. Partially and fully synchronized transmissions allow easier changes of speed and direction. Power shifts retain the durability and the power to the ground efficiency of geared transmissions while more easily allowing speed and direction change. “You lose a little power, engine RPM and some hydraulic flow going from manual to hydrostatic transmissions,” says Tom Weir, product manager, AGCO compact tractors. “But for jobs where you want to keep RPMs up and be able to vary ground speed, hydrostatic works well.”

For novice tractor users, ease of use is key and one reason hydrostatic transmissions are so popular, says John Ryan, compact tractor product manager, Kubota. “A lot of novice operators want their tractor to be easy to operate,” he says. “Our hydrostatic is like automatic in a car. Just press down on the HST pedal, and it goes forward.”

Hydrostatics are popular with female buyers and users, and manufacturers are discovering that compact-tractor operation by hobby farmers is a “husband and wife thing,” suggests Steve Barcuch, compact tractor manager, Massey Ferguson. “At a customer focus meeting of husbands and wives, we found that a high percentage of wives used the tractor more than their husbands did,” he says. “Women may be our fastest growing buyer and user segment, and we have an increasing number of women selling tractors as well.”

With hydrostatics too, there are options and competing features--like John Deere’s electronic control systems on its hydrostatic transmissions that automatically adjust the transmission or throttle as needed. “We offer LoadMatch, SpeedMatch and MotionMatch on our 3000 and 4000 Twenty series compacts, says John Arthur, product manger, compact utility tractors. “LoadMatch may be the most beneficial. It senses engine load and automatically matches the transmission speed to prevent the engine from stalling.”

Picking the right transmission is a personal decision. Try the various options. How smooth is the shuttle? How does a partial or fully synchronized system move through the gears? Do you like the feel of the hydrostatic transmission foot pedal? Some brands have one pedal that you step forward and back on for direction of travel. Some have two pedals. Which feels most natural for you? The only way to really know is to drive one.

Tractor Resources

AGCO (770) 813-9200 AGCO Corp.	Kioti (877) GOKIOTI Kioti	Montana (800) 872-1910 Montana
Branson (877) 734-2022 Branson Tractor	Kubota (888) 4KUBOTA Kubota	MTD Products/Cub Cadet (330) 225-2600 MTD Products/Cub Cadet
Farmtrac (877)639-5194 Farmtrac	Landini USA, Inc. (877) 669-7905 Landini USA, Inc.	New Holland (888) 290-7377 New Holland
Fendt (770) 813-9200 Fendt	Lenar North America (903) 640-5000 Lenar North America	TYM America (888) 357-5105 TYM America
Ferrari Tractors CIE (530) 846-6401 Ferrari Tractors CIE	Mahindra (800) 887-2286 Mahindra	Ventrac (866) VENTRAC Ventrac
John Deere (800) 537-8233 John Deere	Massey Ferguson (800) 767-3221 Massey Ferguson	Zetor North America, Inc. (877) 469-3867 Zetor North America, Inc.

Equipment Resources

Agri-Fab (727) 728-8388 Agri-Fab	Bush Hog (334) 874-2700 Bush Hog	Vermeer (888) VERMEER Vermeer
Buhler Farm King (204) 661-8711 Buhler Farm King	Hesston (800) 767-3221 Hesston	Westendorf (877) 734-2022 Westendorf

This Compact More Than Earns Its Way

Jim Miller got more than he bargained for when he bought his Massey Ferguson 1429. He was looking for a replacement for a large garden tractor. What the Brooksville, Fla., hobby farmer got was a do-all tractor. Equipped with an MF 1466 loader with bucket and forklift, it is in near constant use.

“I bought it mainly for my wife Connie and I to use in the hay barn and stable where it was hard to maneuver our bigger tractors,” says Miller. “I didn’t realize how handy it was going to be and the savings I would realize in fuel. With the synchroshuttle transmission, we can go back and forth at the push of a lever without clutching. Between my wife and me, that little tractor runs a lot.”

No stranger to tractors, Miller grew up on a Vermont dairy farm, but made a 37-year career in Tampa, Florida law enforcement before buying his 26-acre hobby farm 10 years ago. With other larger equipment, he produces 1,000 square bales and 400 4-ft. x 4-ft. round bales, much of which he sells. However, the compact tractor more than does its share, fluffing and raking hay, dragging pastures, spreading manure and spraying fields for pests.

Color photo of Jim Miller driving his utility tractor.
Jim Miller driving his Massey Ferguson utility tractor while hauling a big round bale with the front end loader.

“With the forklift attachment on the loader, I can carry round bales, stack them two high in the barn and drop them in the back of hay customers’ pickups, “says Miller, though he cautions readers to drive with care when moving heavy loads. “The forklift also comes in handy for moving training obstacles in the arena.”

Both Jim and Connie are sold on the handy compact. “She really likes that little tractor, and I do too, but for me it’s a tool,” says Jim. “For her it’s something special, and she likes me to wash it when it gets dirty.”