Best Compact Utility Tractor

A tractor can never have too many features. This is important for the mower to make tight turns without damaging the tires, but in some circumstances, it can cause difficulty. It can seem like modern tractors have so many features and controls that it's...

Hydraulic power-­steering can make turning easier, while hydraulic power is also used for lifting attachments and powering implements such as backhoes and front-end loaders. This article originally ran in the March/April 2017 issue of Hobby Farms.

While they don't have quite the same horsepower as a utility model, compact tractors can be equipped with attachments ranging from front-end loaders to backhoes and everything in between.

Landscaping Whether you are building a fish pond, retaining wall or planting shrubs to beautify your home, you need a tractor. Backup Power Your tractor can serve as a mobile powerhouse.

Last but not least, a major benefit of walk-behind tractors is exercise. The big difference with a walk-behind is that it is smaller, only has a single axle, has a set of handlebars rather than a steering wheel, and, obviously, you walk behind it rather...

While topping a hill in western Washington state this summer, I saw before me a wheat field with harvest equipment circa 1930 and 1940. So here I found myself among machines that were, in some ways, superior or at least equal to the behemoths that crawl...

Your wallet and ears will thank you. As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of times when you absolutely need the full power of your tractor's engine. Even a simple lawn mower, running at full throttle, can quickly guzzle through a full tank of gas.

“The center of the road bed should be about 3 inches higher than the shoulder of the road,” says Perry Oakes, state conservation engineer with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Auburn, Ala.

For the most part, mowing grass isn't very complicated—you just mow in circles or rows until all of the ground has been covered, right? Even the time of day that you mow can make a difference.

Tags agriculture , Italy Lamborghinis are also known for the amount of gears, as many as 80 or 90 on a single tractor when all of the forward, reverse and hi-lo gears are counted. Modern Lamborghini tractors are produced by the Same Deutz-Fahr group,...

It can take a bit of effort to get the tractor and implement into exactly the right position so that the three points of attachment can be made—getting two of them secured tends to be easy enough, but I find that the third one can be quite stubborn...

As spring and summer gain momentum, it's important to give a little love back to the tools and machines used so heavily when things are green and growing. The cartridge filter can have one or more O-rings, depending on the style.

Fortunately, grading a gravel driveway is a task that can be accomplished (at least with some level of success) by any farmer with a large tractor and the right equipment, with the “right equipment” being the key.

Sealants If you prefer a tubeless tire—and many farmers do—sealants can help hold in the air. That being said, if you can see the tube through the tire, then the tire should probably be replaced.

Start as Early as Possible To anyone who has ever baled hay, this is obvious but it bears repeating—the process is slow and can't be rushed. Baling hay is a satisfying and worthwhile effort, but it's challenging.

That's perfect for pulling wagons and even raking hay, but when it comes to harder tasks such as baling hay, Little Mo falls short. Little Mo shows her age a bit with some rust and worn paint—actually, she was repainted at some point in a shade that...

Even with both of us tugging on the post, it refused to come out of the ground. Work the soil with a digging bar and wiggle the post back and forth to free it from the ground before you let the tractor do the lifting.

Mowing Grass Move over, riding mower: ATVs and UTVs are entering the lawn care market. In addition to helping you cart supplies and tools to and from the building site, if you're installing wire fencing, you can use a rear-mounted wire unroller to let...

It needs to be large enough that the objects you'll be moving won't fall off, and it needs to be strong and thick enough to support heavy weights while being pulled by a tractor. Fortunately, a simple piece of wood can save the day! By wrestling or rolling...

Replace the chain when it starts to show wear or sagging. Use Block Heaters: Installing an electric engine-block heater in your tractor can help keep it ready to run after an extremely cold night; it works great for your vehicles as well.

Keeping the ice under control can be a season-long battle, so arm yourself with tools such as a digging bar, a snow shovel and a digging shovel to carefully break up and remove patches of ice.

If fluid levels are low, refill with distilled water and recharge. Fall is an especially good time to change oil in cold climates, where a lighter-weight oil may be recommended for winter use.

Use the infographic below to figure out what piece of farm machinery will help you complete your springtime chores. The right tool saves time and effort, making cleanup easier and more fun to do.

Starting at $50 at Garden Tool Co. 8. Cast Iron Dishes Comfort foods taste even better when served out of cast iron cazuelas, which keep food hot long after it's taken from the oven.

Mattock If you want to dig out a stump the old-fashioned way, a mattock is the tool for you. But these methods and tools should help you get started in your quest to remove tree stumps from your property.

Whether it's a bunch of small ones that complicate planting gardens or crops, or giant boulders that jut out of the ground and threaten to break any machine that inadvertently crosses their path, rocks of all shapes and sizes can be troublesome.

With a little forethought, you'll avoid expensive rebuilds and the inconvenience of a tractor in the shop. Maintenance checks also serve as an early warning system to catch small problems before they become big problems.