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.
This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Hobby Farms.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Hobby Farms.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Meet Li Schmidt
At Cultural Roots Nursery, in Winters, California, Li Schmidt grows more than 100 Asian-heritage vegetables, herbs, fruit and trees on 1⁄4 acre.
A DUCK FOR ALL Seasons
Care for ducks throughout the year with this seasonal guide.
Turkeys for the Home Table
Raise your own birds for a tastier and healthier holiday meal.
FLERD is the Word
Explore the benefits and barriers of multispecies pasturing.
raise STRONGER CHICKENS
Look around your kitchen, and you'll likely find some natural poultry supplements.
Winter's Last Stand
Early warm weather followed by a late frost can easily ruin an orchard harvest.
FOWL FACTS
Let's explore some random poultry facts ... from a possible bird brain!
Pumpkins & Gourds
Tyler Swafford’s enthusiasm for raising pumpkins and gourds is contagious. The lifelong farmer, himself the descendent of a lifelong farmer, makes his home on Dayton Mountain overlooking Tennessee’s Sequatchie Valley.
Climate-Resilient Crops
Farmers operating large commercial outfits and smaller, hobby growers alike are facing new challenges season after season.
WHEN THE Queen Abdicates
Without a queen to rule, your hive can't survive.