Essential Equipment for Maintaining Farms

Running a successful farm is easier with the appropriate equipment. Innovative machines make it possible for farmers to manage hundreds of acres of crops. With countless machines on the market, choosing the right ones can feel overwhelming. Whether you’ve been farming for decades or are just getting started, you want the best farm equipment and tools with the greatest advantages. In this guide, we’ll discuss essential farming equipment and how it helps boost efficiency and profits.

Essential Farm Equipment and Vehicles

Running a farm is a labor of love that requires heavy-duty equipment. Many farmers rely on the following machines and vehicles to complete their daily operations:

1. Tractor

Tractors are an essential piece of farming equipment. Designed to handle farming tasks, they are extremely versatile and cost-effective. With the proper agricultural tools, tractors can plow, till and herd livestock. Tractors come in different sizes and configurations to meet your needs. Some of the most common farming tractors include:

• Wheeled: Wheeled tractors are all-purpose machines that are traditionally used on farms. They meet most farming demands like tilling, pulling and transporting materials.
• Track: Unlike wheeled tractors, this tractor is mounted on rubber tracks. Track tractors drive smoothly over rugged fields without tearing up the soil. The tracks provide a zero turn radius for navigating tight corners and thin rows. They’re also less likely to get stuck in mud and rough terrain.
• Compact: Compact tractors are smaller than traditional tractors but are equally powerful. They’re ideal for hauling materials and working in narrow spaces.
• Row crop: Row crop tractors are designed to make planting and fieldwork a breeze. They’re excellent for plowing, seeding, watering, weeding and pulling heavy loads.
• Orchard: Orchard tractors are designed to perform landscaping and maintenance between tight rows of trees.
• Specialty: Speciality tractors have unique functions for specific operations. Narrow, crawler and low-profile tractors are examples of specialty tractors. They are designed to work in environments that are too small or rugged for traditional tractors.

2. Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks are the primary vehicle that workers use on most farms. Farmers often purchase pickup trucks because they are rugged and versatile. With regular maintenance, a pickup truck will last through many years of wear and tear on the farm. The truck bed is useful for hauling tools, hay, animal feed and other supplies. It can also tow trailers carrying animals, produce and large equipment. Pickup trucks are also handy for running errands off the farm.

3. ATV or UTV

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or utility task vehicles (UTVs) are also useful for operating a farm. They are fast and compact, making it easy to drive around farms with lots of trees or tight paths. Though they aren’t meant to travel long distances, they are ideal for small to medium-sized farms.

Many ATVs and UTVS come with attachments like small trailers, spreaders and mowers that make them even more useful for farmers. You can use them to haul supplies, plant seeds, trim grass and complete other important tasks.

4. Combine Harvester

Combine harvesters, or combines, are large pieces of farm machinery used primarily to harvest cereal crops like wheat, corn and barley and other non-grain crops like flax and sunflower seeds. Combines cut and separate the edible parts of the plant through a complex mechanical process of reaping, threshing and winnowing. There are many different types of combines and attachments for various farming needs. Modern machines also track yield data so farmers know which areas of the field did well and which ones should be addressed to promote better growth next year.

Combines are a significant financial investment, but they harvest crops much faster and more efficiently. Buying a used combine can help save money. They process crops in a fraction of the time, which saves time and labor costs. Combines help reduce waste during harvest, increasing yield and profits.

5. Skid Loader

Many farmers invest in skid steer loaders because they are versatile and simple to operate. Skid steers are cost-effective because they can fulfill many needs with one machine. From livestock and agricultural management to brush clearing and winter maintenance, skid loaders can do it all quickly and efficiently. The front-load bucket can level dirt and haul heavy materials like feed and manure with ease. You can tackle many other tasks by swapping out the bucket with the following attachments:

• Backhoe: With a backhoe attachment, farmers can easily dig trenches, remove tree stumps, plant trees and dig areas for new building foundations.
• Hopper: A hopper or spreader attachment makes planting seeds and spreading manure over many acres much easier.
• Bale grab and spear: Whether you order hay to feed your livestock or grow and bale it yourself, a bale grabber or spear attachment makes it easy to transport heavy bales around your farm.
• Brush cutters and mowers: Farmers can use brush-cutting and mowing attachments to keep weeds and overgrown vegetation away from crops and travel paths.
• Tiller: Turning over the soil in between growing seasons is faster and easier with a tiller attachment.
• Trencher: A trencher attachment digs deep trenches if you need to install irrigation or electrical conduit on your farm.
• Auger: An auger attachment drills holes for fencing or structural posts in seconds without displacing large amounts of soil.
• Snow plow: Farms that experience heavy snowfall in the winter can use a plow attachment to clear snow from roads and pathways.

6. Backhoe or Excavator

Backhoes and excavators offer similar benefits to farmers. Like a skid loader, these machines can be fitted with attachments for a variety of projects. You can use them to clear land, dig trenches, build fences and lift heavy materials. Backhoes can be driven on roads and are easy to maneuver. They’re suited for small to medium-sized farms. Excavators are much bigger, making them ideal for large-scale construction on industrial farms.

How These Tools Can Make Your Farm More Efficient

The right small farm machinery can make your farm more efficient and have a positive impact on your profits. Farming equipment boosts efficiency in the following ways:

• Faster: Farming equipment can process acres of farmland in a single day. It’s much faster than planting and harvesting the old-fashioned way and requires less labor.
• Greater yield: Machines plant and harvest crops with greater accuracy to yield the maximum amount of profitable goods.
• Increased reliability: Machines are extremely reliable and able to perform tasks that humans might find repetitive or tiring.

Shop Affordable Farming Equipment in Great Condition

Farming equipment is an investment in the efficiency and profitability of your harvest. Chicago Industrial Equipment offers affordable farming equipment to keep your overhead costs low and profits high. We source high-quality used machines at extremely competitive prices. We have an extensive inventory of equipment for small farms and large commercial applications.

Browse our selection of farming equipment or contact us for more information! Call 815-744-8811 to speak with a representative or submit an online form.