Farmers looking to bolster, upgrade and modernise their agricultural machinery in 2020 have a lot to look forward to. Manufacturers have made important revisions since last year — including vital engine upgrades to meet European Stage V emissions regulations. So how is the tractor market shaping up? Let’s take a look.
Technology for the future
Future proofing is a common theme this year, with many models seeing upgrades to make them more effective and efficient for modern agricultural tasks. Manufacturers are tailoring their products to meet the needs of more and more sectors of the farming industry, and that means there is a great variety for those looking for tractors to suit specific applications — or multiple applications at once. Let’s breakdown some of the important additions by manufacturer.
The thing to highlight with John Deere this year is the introduction of two brand new green tractors targeted towards livestock, dairy and hay producers. The 6230R and 6250R are designed with versatility, power and comfort in mind. Equipped with Infinitely Variable Transmission, both R models suit quick acceleration and dynamic control over speed and performance to suit the task at hand. With 230 and 250 horsepower respectively — and the 6250R capable of reaching up to 300 — these models make it easy to haul heavy loads with speed.
An exciting technological upgrade — curated from in-depth feedback from everyday farmers — New Holland recently unveiled the new T8 Genesis, designed to make life easier for farmers by designing the entire tractor around their working requirements. Major improvements within the cab — which has been wholly revamped — include a customisable control panel which uses an Intelliview 12 display. This allows the user to simply change their controls to suit their own needs and working method, making day-to-day tasks simple and intuitive to complete.
More impressive, however, is the integration of precision technology, using the New Holland Precision Land Management platform. This native integration means farmers can receive updates as and when they need, allowing them to analyse and respond in a timely, efficient manner. Updates are constant, and easy to share and use through a simple tablet interface. For farmers looking for a technological tool to aid with expansive crop farms, the T8 could be the go-to.
The 7700 S range of Massey Ferguson tractors have seen some power upgrades — as well as having been updated to meet the new Stage V regulations. What this means is, the MF 7716 S and the MF 7719 S have been boosted to 165hp and 180hp respectively for draft work. The 7718 S also sees a boost to 210 hp for pto and transport applications.
In terms of newcomers to the range, MF have taken an incremental step with their 7719 S. Horsepower is 190, boosting to 220, and the only other upgrade of note is the Dyna-VT stepless drive for smoother and finer control over speed, without traction interruptions.
Versatility is the name of the game for Kubota, and with the new additions to the M7 series, it will be easier than ever to handle varying tasks with just one tractor. “Designed to meet the ever-changing needs of farmers,” the new models for the M7 series include standard, deluxe and premium options — up to 130, 150 and 170hp respectively.
With upgraded semi-powershift transmission, the operator has greater control and choice when it comes to handling tasks of varying difficulty, ensuring a single Kubota tractor can cover a wide range of farming requirements.
We’d like to focus on a more entry level tractor with Deutz Fahr; the 5D Keyline series has a cabin designed around visibility, with 360 degree views thanks to the large, curved windows and wide doors. Ideal for livestock farms, small agricultural and part-time farming operations, the 5D Keyline series consists of four models, ranging from 65-97hp. This series promises to be a handy and reliable for smaller farms, but that’s not to say the features are lacking. Using FARMotion engines, specifically designed around the demands of agricultural vehicles, DOC exhaust gas filtration, and optimised power curve usage, the 5D Keyline offerings definitely pack a punch.
That’s just a quick look at what some popular tractor brands are offering in 2020. With so much choice out there, from proven manufacturers, any agricultural application can be covered to the highest possible standards.
If you’re in the market for a new tractor, you might also be looking for new tyres to go with it – at Treadfirst, we supply and install a wide range of agricultural tyres to suit your specific requirements. Need advice regarding the right tyres for your tractor? Simply contact our knowledgeable team and they will be happy to assist.
