As the days get warmer, jobs in the fields become more and more a part of our daily lives again. Tractors big and small can be found rumbling up and down the dirt roads as they go about their various tasks. From the subcompacts that works around the farmyard to the massive four-wheel-drive behemoths steadily working up the ground in the field, our machines make life easier every day. As farms and homesteads alike continue to grow year after year, so do the size of the jobs needing done, as thus our reliance on our tractors, big and small.
While they can certainly be more efficient than our great-grandfather’s team of work horses, they still can’t be ignored all year in the shed and then pulled out just in time to use again. Keeping your machinery in tiptop shape through regular maintenance and timely repairs can help avoid major expensive failures in the future, keep your work schedule running smoothly and even increase your resale or trade-in value later down the road.
MAINTENANCE IN MIND
If you’re planning to purchase your first tractor or upgrade to a newer one, take a little extra time and study the machine you intend to buy more thoroughly. Do some research on your specific model through online ag forums and groups.
Will the maintenance or repairs required be something that you’re capable of completing or will you need to find a dealer or qualified mechanic nearby to take it to? Is there such a place within a reasonable distance?
If you’re considering an older machine, are parts still available to be bought when it comes time to make a repair? Make sure to ask some questions, and research before you make a large purchase such as this.
Denne historien er fra May - June 2023-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May - June 2023-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
Be prepared to see increasing changes in weeds we fight, such as poison hemlock and poison ivy, and in the crops we grow.
LIVESTOCK Health
Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.
CUT FLOWER Farming
If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.
WINTER Survival
Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.
Preconditioning CALVES
Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.
Soil Conservation
Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.
Barn Improvements
Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.
