Modern farms wouldn’t be nearly as efficient without motorized vehicles. Diesel parts and engines are used throughout the global food supply chain, from harvesting crops and planting seats to irrigation. They maximize reach and minimize labor costs to help feed the world. Learn about the vehicles powering today’s farms and how to maintain them.
Types of Farming Equipment
- Tractors
Tractors are used for tilling, seeding, fertilizing and harvesting. They often have hitches for attaching plows, mowers, planters, spreaders, sprayers and harrows to break up the soil. They come in all sizes and have large tires with thick tread patterns or tracks for driving off-road.
- UTVs
Utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) are handy tools for getting around the property. They’re often used to haul trailers and wagons across the field, and farmers use them to survey large sections of land quickly.
- Combines
Combines have a row of spinning blades on the front to cut and thresh grains, including wheat, barley, corn (maize), oats, rice and rye and seeds.
- Balers
Balers are slow-moving vehicles that gather hay, straw and stalks. The rear bundles the materials into a round or square shape.
- Cultivators
Cultivators are modified tractors with sharp metal teeth that prepare the ground for seeding.
- Forklifts and Loaders
Forklifts and loaders have large forks or plows for picking up objects and materials. Forklifts move palletized goods onto trucks while loaders collect loose items.
Maintaining Farm Equipment
Agricultural vehicles work long hours during the harvesting, planting and growing seasons. Farmers can’t afford to delay the planting process or let their crops sit idle when they’re ripe. They need to know their machines can plow through the mud and dirt from sunup to sundown. Preventive maintenance keeps these vehicles in the field and out of the shop. It also maximizes torque and acceleration to help farmers move heavy objects from rest.
Farming vehicles need thorough inspections at the end of winter to ensure they’re ready for the busy season. Visually inspect the gears, tires, battery and radiator for damage. Wash off dirt and debris and lubricate moving parts before testing them. Change the oil and coolant and flush the system to remove debris, soot and carbon buildup. Replace your fuel and oil filters after your first ride of the year to avoid spreading debris.
Equipment fluids are subject to extreme temperature changes throughout the year. Water can separate in the tank during winter, leading to corrosion. The fuel can spread debris through the fuel injectors, which pressurize the fuel before firing it into the combustion chamber as a fine mist. Replace the diesel fuel injectors if efficiency and power decrease during the first month of operation.
Oil and fuel also gel in cold weather, limiting lubrication and depriving the engine of fuel. Fuel and oil additives reduce gelling to improve the flow. Schedule regular tune-ups and inspections throughout the season to avoid losing resources when you need them most. Replace aging factory components with Xtreme Diesel Performance products that can withstand seasonal changes for less frequent repairs.
Storing Farm Equipment
When it’s time to close up shop for the season, store your farm equipment indoors whenever possible. Rain, sun and other extreme weather can cause rust and degradation. Keep your fluids at room temperature to prevent gelling and water separation. Cold weather can also reduce battery output. If your equipment isn’t stored in a climate-controlled interior, remove the battery and store it indoors or install a warmer on it to prevent wear and tear.
Remove attachments from the machine to clean and inspect the hitch or attachment mechanism. Check for pests throughout the winter and install traps if rodents and other critters tend to run rampant on the property. They can damage electrical wires and nest inside passageways, leading to a difficult start to the new year. Deter rodents by placing peppermint-oil-soaked cotton balls around engines.
Advances in Farm Equipment
Extreme heat further limits how long workers can be outdoors, increasing the agricultural industry’s reliance on these machines. The global market for this equipment is expected to be worth $189.42 billion by 2030.
As more farmers rent their land, more are leasing farming equipment to reduce their initial investment. As new models and varieties enter the market, equipment manufacturers are shifting away from sales and toward equipment-as-a-service. The growing homestead movement has also spurred a range of small, independent farms. Some use modified pickup trucks instead of investing in a fleet of machines.
Modern farming vehicles feature advanced sensors for monitoring output. Machines with slower completion times are automatically called in for repairs to prevent further delays. Farmers are also using GPS locators to monitor the location of their equipment in real time to monitor employee activity and limit theft and tampering. Owners can also use geotagging to locate missing machines after a severe storm.
The latest farm equipment is geared toward maximizing efficiency and helping farmers turn a profit in an unpredictable industry. Without these vehicles, there would be even less food to go around.
