To be profitable and participate in a very competitive market you need to have the right tools for the job. Depending on the type of farm, there is an overwhelming range of farm equipment to choose from that can make your life easier.

This article will provide some broad guidelines to consider when shopping for farming equipment.

Your needs

The first factor to consider, is what you expect the machinery to do. There will be obvious differences between the needs of a crop farmer and that of a poultry farmer. Here are examples of some questions you should ask yourself:

  • Are you farming with crops or animals?
  • What animals, if any, will you farm with?
  • If you plant crops, what type of crops will you grow and how big is the area that you will be cultivating?

Once you have established the above, you will have a good idea of what you may need. But no matter which type of farming you are engaged in, there are certain equipment that you will not be able to farm without, the first being a tractor.

The tractor

The tractor is a versatile machine that can be used for many different purposes. Every farm needs a tractor to move heavy loads, or for hitching implements for various purposes. When choosing a tractor, the farmer is once again confronted by a wide range. These machines come in all shapes and sizes and, important, at a price! On a small farm you should be able to manage with a compact, multi-purpose tractor in the range of 15kw to 50kw.

Many different sizes and types of tractors are available on the market. You can find the one that best suits your farm’s needs.

Cultivating implements

Implements are the machinery that really does all the work. Without them, the tractor’s functionality is very limited. Most popular implements include mowers, loaders, tillers, planters, ploughs, hay balers, manure spreaders and more. Once again you will have to decide which implements you need to facilitate your farming actions. Also, remember to buy the correct size that will suit the ability of your tractor. Tractor power output should always be kept in mind when buying implements.

Photo: pexels

Harvesters

These machines can be extremely expensive. They also come in different forms. A harvester can be self-propelled or towed behind a tractor. Once again you as the farmer need to make sure what you need before you buy a crop harvester. If you only have a small patch of land you can consider hand-harvesting and threshing afterwards, or contracting a professional harvester rather than buying a machine.

The all-important pick-up transporter

The versatile nature of the humble pick-up truck makes it a necessity on any farm. The ground clearance makes it easy to navigate the rough terrain of farms, and the loading bay allows the transporting of almost any load.

Livestock Equipment

Livestock requirements can range from water supply to shelters and feeding equipment. Depending on how many animals, and what type of animals you keep, you will need various types of equipment. Proper fencing will always be one of the most important requirements. Good fences will ensure that the animals are kept safe. Electric fencing can be considered if affordable and essential.

Photo: Kanna Industries

Things to consider

No matter what type of mechanical equipment you consider buying, the following questions should always be kept in mind: Price; the machine’s performance and power delivery; will it comply with your needs? Also, consider affordability and spare parts availability for maintenance. The product support offered by the supplier will have an important impact on your choice.

The good news is that you do not need to go far to find good quality farming equipment. www.agri4all.com is a website that you can visit to find any type of farming equipment
you will ever need. With a wide range of new and second-hand implements that are guaranteed to suit your needs and your pocket, you will walk away as a satisfied customer.