A tractor for a farmer - what it should be
The tractor was, is, and will remain the main power tool in agriculture for a long time to come. Farm owners cannot do without mechanized work. Today, any Ukrainian farm cannot fully function without a tractor.
Buying a new tractor is one of the most responsible decisions for a farmer, because themodel range of low-power tractors is quite wide, and therefore it is quite difficult to make the right choice. The question of how much tractor power is needed is largely determined by the needs of the work equipment and the working conditions and production situations in which it works. Recently, Ukrainian farmers, especially owners of small farms, have become more and more interested in low-power tractors of almost all leading world manufacturers. Thanks to their versatility, they become indispensable assistants in the household.
Every farmer dreams of having a tractor on his farm that would meet the highest quality standards, be durable, productive and reliable, easy to use, and, of course, work flawlessly for a long period of operation. Simplicity and reliability, functionality, versatility and efficiency must be combined in a tractor that would withstand heavy workloads and, very importantly, be affordable. In addition to all this, the tractor should be of a simple design, so that maintenance and current repairs could be carried out by oneself.
In order not to make a mistake in choosing a tractor, a farmer must take into account a number of factors that determine the parameters and characteristics of the "steel horse". So, let's start our recommendations with the most important parameters.
Access to the underhood space
First of all, if the farm is oriented towards crop production, it is necessary to take into account the amount of cultivated land and the technologies by which crops are grown and harvested, in order to perform all agrotechnical operations on time. It will depend on the power of the tractor that will satisfy the farmer, and this will dictate the price of the machine.
It is also necessary to take into account the characteristics of the working tools that the tractor will aggregate. When evaluating the prospects of purchasing a tractor, it is worth considering the fact that over time, under certain circumstances, in order to perform work on the available area more quickly, new working machines and implements with a larger working width may appear on the farm, and the tractor must cope with these units. It is also possible that the area of the farm may increase. Only those farmers who know the requirements of their equipment can determine how much power they need. This especially applies totillage equipment.
For example, if the farm practices fallow plowing - a tractor should be chosen based on the calculation of 30-40 hp. for one bodyplough. If it is planned to carry out disk cultivation or continuous cultivation, then for each running meter of these tools, you need to have 30-35 hp in reserve. The given parameters are averaged, because they depend on the type and condition of the soil, the depth of cultivation, the topography of the field, previous cultivation, the presence of plant remains on the surface, etc. It is necessary to consider that the tractor driver feels more comfortable if the tractor has a certain reserve of power when working with the equipment in order to be able to cope with its tasks under more difficult conditions.Choosing the optimal tractor is largely determined by the needs of the equipment and the situations in which it will work. For example, if the tractor is used for work in buildings (livestock farm,grain warehouse, etc.), then the question of kinematic and maneuvering characteristics is important. In this case, it is better to choose a tractor with a small wheelbase and dimensions. Conversely, if the tractor will work mainly in field work with heavy attached and trailed equipment, then a longer wheelbase and a wider track will provide better stability of movement. The width and turning radius of the wheels is also important, because the tractor must remain manoeuvrable, that is, it is easy to switch from straight to curved movement and turn around.
Compact tractor for livestock and communal farming
It is also important to consider what work equipment should be on the tractor. We are talking about the power take-off shaft (PTO), the front and rear suspension systems and the hydraulic system of the working equipment. GDP is the main working element that drives machines with active working bodies. The rotation speed of the GDP should be 540 or 1000 rpm. The implements that are driven by the GDP must be "under the power" of the tractor, so to speak, so that it can work with maximum efficiency - usually with an engine crankshaft speed of 1700 - 1850 rpm. If the engine power is not enough, and the crankshaft will have to develop a frequency of 2200 rpm, then this will lead to excessive fuel consumption. So it is better to choose a tractor with a certain reserve of engine power.
All wheeled tractors are divided into four-wheel drive (4K4 wheel formula) and rear-wheel drive (4K2). The essential difference between them is that the four-wheel drive tractor, in which the front and rear axles are driven, has more weight and develops more traction force. Rear-wheel drive tractors (driving only the rear axle) have a significantly higher ground clearance and allow you to adjust the track width of the front wheels. Considering this, a four-wheel drive tractor is better suited for the operations of basic tillage, sowing, etc. If the intended use of the tractor is mainly for inter-row cultivation, or for technological operations of crop care (spraying, fertilizing, etc.), the best option will be a rear-wheel drive tractor.
Hydraulic system of the tractor
It is necessary to pay attention to the hydraulic system of the tractor. If it is planned to use hydraulics only for raising/lowering the rear hitch of the tractor, or to periodically use one or two pairs of hydraulic outputs to control the operation of hydraulic cylinders on an aggregated working machine, then the hydraulic pump, which is included in the basic configuration of the tractor, will easily cope with such a load. But in cases where the tractor will work, for example, with a pneumatic seeder, then in this case the tractor must be equipped with a constant-flow hydraulic pump in order to ensure the drive of the air injection system.
It will not be superfluous to pay attention to the operator's working conditions and the level of comfort in the tractor cabin. The minimum equipment of the cabin should be a chair with shock absorbers, an adjustable steering column and an air conditioning system, and all control elements should be easily accessible, conveniently located taking into account ergonomics.
Not making a mistake in the choice optimal tractor model, the farmer's work in his fields will be not only effective, but also easy and pleasant!