Farm Tractors, Used Tractors - Heavy Equipment Resource

Tractors manufactured in North America Since the mid eighties are fitted with a ROPS canopy or role over protection system. Statistics show that roughly 60% of deaths related to tractor accidents are in a role over. Tractors typically are well built and designed to last many years the result is probably about 50% of tractors in use today are older and not equipped with a ROPS canopy.

If you are the proud owner of one of these old tractors or are looking at buying used tractors and are concerned about the safety of yourself or anyone who maybe operating her which also in many farming operations could be a family member no worries, since there are many factory built retro fit systems available for practically all makes and models. These systems are engineered and tested to government standards and also include installation of a safety belt.

You may not know that various incentive programs probably exist through your local government and farm associations. To qualify for the retro fit system you purchase, it will have to meet all your local and federal government and engineering standards so building your own or purchasing a used system that may not qualify could end up costing more and be inferior. 

How to find out about Tractor ROPS incentives

Your local tractor dealer should have information on a retro fit for your particular make and model. Local government or farm associations in your area should have information on incentives available to you. So be safe and consider a ROPS canopy retrofit and hey it gets hot out there and most offer shade as well.

Mahindra Tractors produced by Mahindra USA received the highest rating for overall satisfaction among tractor manufacturers. Mahindra USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the M&M group under their FES (Farm Equipment Sector). NAEDA, The North American Equipment Dealers Association conducted the survey.

This is no surprise as FES is the only tractor manufacturer to have received the Japan Quality Medal for excellence for TQM or Total Quality Management. The Medal was awarded by the Deming Prize committee on behalf of the Union of Japanese Scientists.

Tractor Company Background

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) of India has worked on joint ventures with International Harvester back in the sixties, where it helped develop the famous B444 and B275 tractors.

Tractors made by FES are exported to the United States, Chile, Spain, Nigeria and Australia to name a few of the countries. The company has assembly plants in the towns of Tomball, Texas and Calhoun, Georgia. As well as plants in Australia and China.

Resource for article: Sify and Mahindra USA

Back in 1999 Case (Case IH Tractors) started work on developing a hybrid tractor. By taking a diesel engine and linking two electric motors/generators through a continuous variable transmission or CVT for short. The beauty of the CVT is there is no gear shifting to achieve different gear ratios for different speeds.

A gearless propulsion system like this makes it much simpler to incorporate electric motor power. With the diesel engine topping out at about 160hp there is ample power to generate enough electric power as well as conventional drive power required at higher speeds. The large battery mounted up front stores energy and acts as a counter weight as well. This energy stored will result in huge fuel savings. The two electric engines/generators are able to produce and store power generated from braking also.

Tractor attachments like mowers and ploughs could also be run on electric power.
With the high price of fuel these days pushing up the price of our food grown on the farm hopefully the Hybrid Farm Tractor will soon come to be the norm.

Labor negotiations between Brant Tractor and the Local 115 Union of Operating Engineers broke down in towards the end of May resulting in a strike that started on June 11. The Strike affected Brant Tractor’s B.C. sites, however as of July the 2^nd two days before the U.S. Fourth of July and a day after Canada Day the strike has come to an end.

The employees will receive a 22 percent wage hike that is spread over four years, and a raise in their boot and tool allowance, Pensions, meal allowance and shift premiums. For workers that where brought on between the end of July of 2004 and June 10, 2008.

Rest assured we can continue to count on Brant Tractors to produce their great lineup of products that work with new farm tractors and used tractors alike.

Original News Source: Prince George Citizen

After testing his equipment on nine farms Darrel Carlisle, who is a grain framer from Manitoba, plans on producing and selling his environmentally friendly exhaust harvester. So far Darrel and a partner from Alberta have about 50 units throughout western Canada. Essentially it collects the exhaust and re-uses it in the air seeding process reducing the tractors emission by 95% while enriching the soil with carbon dioxide that is normally replenished through the use of fertilizer.

According to Darrel the results so far are quite positive. Meanwhile they continue to monitor the farms performing tests such as soil tests and tissue tests for any toxic nutrients. According to Darrel they are not depleting anything in the soils.  

So what is the cost for retrofitting your farm tractor? Approximately $50,000 however Darrel estimates that you can recover your costs with the savings on fertilizer. IF you have a 600 hectare farm you could recover the costs in one season.

 We wish Darrel and his business partner well as a breakthrough like this can help reduce emissions while reusing your used tractors exhaust to reduce the amount of fertilizer and lower your costs. Sounds like a win-win situation that is environmentally sustainable.

Original news source: CBC News

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