Claas Square Baler

From meters that test the pH, sunlight and moisture levels to more complex kits that test for nitrogen and phosphorus, there are options for everyone, a far cry from the days when such simple tests didn't exist.

If nitrogen, potassium or potash is needed it is added prior to planting such as manure. Some farmers use older methods of farming that involve plowing fields, then running a disc, followed by a cultipacker over the field to smooth the dirt back out.

Since restoring vintage tractors is a popular country hobby and mechanical assistance is readily available, age isn't necessarily a liability when you buy. Why is the tractor for sale?

“Working up to 3 acres of crops or mowing 10 acres of hay with our mid- to upper-size two-wheel tractors is quite doable without wearing the equipment out,” says Dufour. Of course, they affect the list price and eventual resale value, too.

However, if a farmer chooses to use only one small tractor, a tractor must be purchased that can use the widest range of attachments possible. Tractors with live power take-off features, the tractor attachments can be operated even when the tractor is...

Hay bales are a common sight on farms, but they have more than one use and purpose.On a large piece of land, the amount of hay that can be gathered and baled by the farmer can be quite large.

(Just be careful not to overfill!) This simple example, using the simplest of machines, goes to show the importance of having the proper air pressure in tires. When spring arrives and you're ready to resume your favorite farming activities, don't forget...

As a hobby farmer, you know the value of a quality tractor. Compact Utility Tractor The pinnacle of small tractors is the compact utility tractor. Horsepower: approximately 25 to 65 This article originally appeared in the January/February 2017 issue of...

Rollover Protective Structure Most modern tractors of any significant size and power come equipped with a rollover protection structure to protect the driver from injury in the event that the tractor should roll or flip over.

Horsepower This is a numerical measurement of a tractor's power, and the only one of these tractor terms that doesn't describe a physical aspect of the machine. Joystick If you're purchasing a front-end loader to use with your tractor, you can opt to...

The long utility building against which I plant most of mine is sitting on almost pure clay.Here in Pennsylvania, I usually have to wait until late May to set them out.Since they tend to stall a bit during the hottest part of summer, by the time they...

They are good for heavier scraping jobs, including grading roads and shaping ditches, and they can drag soil or gravel for short distances. Compacts, also called estate tractors, are versatile and, at the top-end, might be appropriate for baling hay with...

Drawbacks To Draft Horses The most cited drawback to working with draft animals is speed. First, decide what you want to do with your horses, and then choose your implements and harnessing equipment accordingly.

It's not the easiest of tasks, but baling your own hay is a satisfying project that is—in my opinion—well worth the effort involved. I bale hay on my northern Wisconsin farm every summer , so here are a few tips to make the baling days proceed as...

A true walk-behind tractor shares the same durable, high-quality design one would expect in a traditional tractor: all-gear drive, automotive-style clutch, commercial gas or diesel engine, and shaft-driven implements.