Choosing the Best Equipment for Your Farm

Category: Equipment and Solutions

The people who make it possible to feed the world should be equipped with the best tools for the job. Whether you work with livestock, poultry, crops, orchards or some combination of these agricultural subsectors, you want reliable equipment built for the job at hand that offers a lot of added value to your operation.

Stick around to learn more about what goes into selecting agricultural equipment and how Cat^® farming equipment supports the farmers of the world.

Types of Farm Equipment

Before we get too far into selecting the right kind of equipment for your farm, let’s discuss your options. You might need material handling equipment to move hay bales, feed, crops, fencing and fertilizer, along with equipment for digging out trenches, mowing, cleaning, removing stumps and accomplishing many other tasks on the farm.

While some larger operations have no problem buying multiple pieces of equipment, small farm businesses are often better served by tools that can accomplish many tasks, like skid steer loaders and backhoe loaders. Even bigger farms can benefit from the exceptional value that these kinds of tools have to offer. Keep in mind that many machines are compatible with attachments, with can vastly expand the capabilities of a piece of equipment.

So, what types of equipment might you see on a farm? Here’s a farming equipment list of some popular machines:

• Skid steer loaders: Skid steers are some of the most versatile machines you can get. They even got their start in agriculture, as the first skid steer loader was designed to help a farmer clean manure from a turkey barn. Today’s skid steer loaders usually have a bucket attachment and can use an array of attachments to help with other jobs. Skid steers have a unique way of moving, as each side of the machine is steered independently using differential steering. This steering method allows for a sharp turn radius that helps skid steers become exceptionally maneuverable in tight spaces.
• Compact track loaders: Compact track loaders for farm use are similar to skid steer loaders, offering versatility, power, and maneuverability. One important difference is that they have high-flotation rubber tracks that provide a smooth ride, even on rough or sensitive surfaces. Its built-in design is excellent for earthmoving tasks, and it also pairs well with many attachments.
• Backhoe loaders: The backhoe loader is another tool that’s incredibly versatile. It features a boom bucket on one end and a blade on the other, designed to dig up earth and move it around. Backhoe loaders work well with hydraulic attachments such as breakers, hammers and augers.
• Multi-terrain loaders: Multi-terrain loaders are similar to compact track loaders and offer extremely low ground pressure. Wear-resistance is not prioritized in their design as much as their light weight, so they can require more maintenance and aren’t appropriate for harsh environments. Still, their lightweight design makes them more suitable for applications that require reduced ground disturbances. They also make for a smoother, somewhat faster ride, thanks to a suspended undercarriage.
• Mini hydraulic excavators: Mini excavators for farm use offer enough power for most agricultural tasks along with valuable maneuverability. They have a sturdy arm on one end and a blade on the other, like a skid steer. However, the entire construction is hydraulic, including the slew and propulsion system. Part of what makes them so maneuverable is that they have a small size and a zero-tail swing. The zero-tail swing prevents the housing from extending over the tracks so the excavator can work closer to other objects. Mini excavators also have low ground pressure and can work on various ground conditions.
• Dozers: Small dozers are great for a range of earthmoving tasks, like demolition, digging, leveling and pushing. They have a large flat blade and use tracks that are good on rough terrain. Farmers can use them to clear a space, grade a surface, load a truck and push items around the site.
• Telehandlers: Telehandlers, short for telescopic handlers, can lift and move materials at heights. In farming, they’re commonly used to move hay, and they can be used for just about any material that you need to move up high with cherry-picker functionality. Common attachments include pallet forks, sweepers, lifting jibs, snowplows and even work platforms.
• Compact wheel loaders: Compact and small wheel loaders are also used for lifting and moving materials. They’re similar to a compact track loader, except they have wheels. Caterpillar makes wheel loaders suitable for work in various environments. The wheels offer better traction on hard, smooth surfaces such as concrete. They’re also suitable for handling curbs and obstacles and minimize damage to the ground. They have a large bucket on the front and usually use articulated steering to maneuver in tight spaces.

Other tools used in agriculture might include sprayers, utility vehicles, trucks, trailers and irrigation systems, alongside your main tools like harvesters, balers and plows. Caterpillar makes farm tractors such as wheel tractor-scrapers that work well for earthmoving in agriculture. The equipment needed to start a farm will vary widely based on your setup.

Attachments

Most of the above machinery is compatible with a wide range of attachments. Cat farm equipment attachments include:

• Augers: These attachments are used to bore through various types of soil.
• Bale grabs: Bale grabs can pick up hay bales with rounded, claw-like bars.
• Bale spears: These attachments are used to pierce into a bale of hay to move it. They come in single-spear and dual-spear models.
• Brushcutters: Keep vegetation in control and cut it into a coarse product with the help of a brushcutter attachment.
• Couplers: Quickly change attachments with hydraulic or mechanical couplers.
• Buckets: Choose from heavy-duty, light-material, material-handling, multi-purpose and general-purpose buckets to fit your needs.
• Material handling arms: Move oddly shaped materials with a swiveling arm attachment.
• Pallet forks: These attachments can transport palletized materials.
• Rippers: Ripper attachments can tear up terrain and break through dirt.
• Snow pushes and plows: Choose from sectional and straight snow pushes and snowplows to clear your land of snow.
• Silage defacers: Loosen up compacted silage without damaging the material.
• Thumbs: Pair a thumb attachment with a bucket for sturdy grabbing power.
• Utility grapple forks: Use these attachments to pierce bundles of straw and hay and hold them tight to the curved upper jaw

Choosing the Right Farm Equipment

When it’s time to select a piece of equipment for your farm, you’ll need to consider many factors related to the type and size of farm you run. Getting the right equipment is key to optimizing your work and ensuring your machinery can perform the work you need. You’ll also need to consider where you plan to go in the future. Small farms have a trickier task ahead of them, as they need to balance current requirements with future growth.

Before buying a piece of machinery, take some time to map out answers to the following questions.

1. What Do You Need It For?

First and foremost, you’ll need to make sure your equipment is accomplishing the task you need it for. Is the machinery going to be appropriate for the job? In the next section, we’ll go over the various aspects of machinery that you should consider before buying. Make sure they line up with both your intended purpose and your environment.

Make a list of tasks around the farm that you could use heavy machinery for, and consider whether attachments could offer more value. Say you’re eyeing a telehandler to help you move materials around. A skid steer for agriculture with the right material handling attachment could accomplish the same job and offer added functionality with a bucket that could help you plow snow, among other tasks. By considering multiple uses, you can maximize the value of your investment and minimize future purchasing requirements.

2. What Size of Equipment Do you Need?

The size of your operation plays a significant role in what size machinery you need. Many farmers like to consolidate their machinery by buying small farm equipment that doesn’t require much space or fuel. You want to fit your machinery to the job at hand — not too large, not too small.

Equipment that’s too small might require more passes or trips and can significantly slow you down, limiting the value of your machinery. Equipment that’s too large, on the other hand, will have operating costs that are higher than necessary and may not even fit between rows of crops or other small spaces on your farm. It needs to physically fit in the right locations but have enough power to do what you need it to, like lifting heavy loads.

3. What Do Your Soil and Driving Conditions Look Like?

Think about your future use environment. Abrasive types of soil call for more heavy-duty machinery and buckets, while lighter soils are less demanding. As for driving conditions, think about the ground. Will you be working on sensitive ground that needs a lightweight, low-pressure machine? Will you primarily be driving on hard, smooth surfaces that could use extra traction? These conditions play a role in choosing tracks and wheels and the type of machinery in general.

4. Do You Plan on Using Attachments?

Is your equipment strictly for one purpose, or will you be using attachments for multiple tasks? Consider tasks across the farm, from daily tasks like feeding and snow removal to more project-based tasks like landscaping, construction and waste management. Remember to factor in the cost of attachments if you plan on getting them right away. If you plan on using one piece of equipment for many different tasks, it may make sense to invest in a coupler that lets you easily switch between attachments.

Factors Affecting the Selection of Farm Machinery

Farming machinery can come in a wide range of configurations and options. Consider these factors when comparing types of farm equipment:

 

• Weight: Equipment weight is often tied to power, and it can also affect potential ground pressure and maneuverability. Make sure the equipment’s weight and size are suitable for your application. Often, you want small agricultural equipment for small farmers, and operational needs can vary.
• The cab: If you work long hours with your equipment, you want to make sure it’s comfortable. While a nice, comfy cab isn’t as big of a deal to everyone, it certainly makes the job more enjoyable. Cab comfort can even play a role in operator safety. Sturdy cages and safety features offer clear advantages, while heat and air conditioning can keep drivers in safe temperatures during seasonal extremes in summer and winter. Visibility is also an essential part of operating machinery, so the cab’s position can help there, too.
• Tracks vs. tires: You may have an option between tracks or tires on your equipment. Generally, tracks offer less ground disturbance and greater lifting capabilities, and they’re best suited for softer surfaces. Driving tracks over hard surfaces can cause early wear and increased maintenance needs. If you have many paved surfaces on the farm, wheeled machinery offers better speed and traction in those areas. The type of ground you’ll be driving on will primarily determine which is best for your compact farm equipment.
• Reliability: Not all pieces of equipment are created equal. Do some research on the brand and the specific model you’re looking at. Brands like Caterpillar are trusted for long-lasting performance. Make sure you’re working with a reliable brand and machine that can offer value for longer.
• Maintenance requirements: Similarly, some machinery requires more maintenance than others. Maintenance is essential for the ongoing performance of your equipment. Harsh environments wear out machinery faster, as does poor care. Research maintenance requirements for your chosen piece of equipment and make sure they are within your means.
• Availability of spare parts and repair services: No matter how good your equipment is, you’ll likely come to a point where you need replacement parts or repairs that require service from well-trained professionals. Some manufacturers don’t have many dealer locations, so if you’re in a rural location like most farms, you might not be able to get the equipment care you need. Cat dealers are all over the world and never too far away. NMC Cat has locations throughout Nebraska and western Iowa to deliver the support you need for Cat farming equipment.
• Resale value: If you plan to sell your equipment when you’re done with it, you’ll want to consider its resale value. After all, that’s a big part of the machine’s total value. Cat agriculture equipment is known for holding its value well and can help your investment continue to work for your farm even when you’re done with it.

Be sure to look at the whole picture of your farming equipment to find the right machinery for your farm.

Purchase Farm Equipment From NMC Cat

From soil to supermarket, farmers and their equipment keep America’s food supply moving. NMC Cat has been supporting farmers for years with trusted machinery from Caterpillar and other manufacturers. Browse our selection of new agricultural equipment perfect for many farming applications. We also have used and rental equipment available, along with genuine Cat parts and a team of highly trained technicians to conduct shop and field services.

When farmers need quality equipment to get the job done, they turn to the experts. In Nebraska and western Iowa, those experts are NMC Cat. Ready to find the right piece of agricultural equipment for your farm? Reach out to one of our knowledgeable representatives today at 800-628-6025 or find your nearest location.