Tools and Equipment You Need For a Small Farm

Big farms may require big farming equipment. But if you are a small farmer who runs or own a small farm, then you just need few significant tools or farm equipment to maintain your farm or land, and you would not need large-scale agriculture equipment as it does not make sense. Big equipment would be hard to store on your property and too advanced as per your needs. Purchasing too much tractor in your budget is not needed to maintain a small farm.

There are lots of other farming machinery or equipment options to own, and each is designed to fit the need of your hobby farm or land, and for a small-scale operation.

Essential Farm Equipment for A Small Farms

The equipment needs for your farm or land depend on the kind of produce and its season. For example, if you’re raising animals then you would not need any harvesting equipment or hay equipment for vegetable farming.

But there are some essentials implements or equipment that every farm needs, no matter what the size is, no matter the type of harvests, to get the multiple jobs done. These are

Compact Tractor

Compact Tractor is mainly used for pushing and pulling agriculture implements and tools in farming. Tractors are the most significant farm equipment used in farming. It’s a fixed tool for any farm, whether you plan to cultivate crops or herd livestock.  To run even a small farm, you would require a compact utility tractor. Comparing to a traditional tractor, compact utility tractors are smaller in size yet have the horsepower to perform heavy lifting.

Tractor Implements

The attachment that works with the compact tractor is- mowers, seeders, sprayers, loaders, tillers, hay balers, manure spreaders bucket on the front, a mower, aerator, box blade, box scraper, mulch finisher, a rear blade on the back. This equipment can accomplish a variety of tasks easily. Select the right implements as per your need to add versatility and flexibility to your tractor.

Harvesting Equipment

Contemporary harvesting equipment lets farmers save their precious time and employment costs during harvest season. To increase the efficiency of a farmer, it is essential for them to have quality farm machines so that they can perform specific farming activities on time. Main harvesting equipment contains combine, potato, forage, beet and flax harvesters. 

In the last few years, these machines have improved in power and size, so the prices have also risen to approximately half a million dollars. To justify their purchase, a farmer should use his harvester for more than at least 300 hours a year. But for a small farmer, should this not be the need. So the more cost-effective choice includes buying or renting a used combine harvester.

Pick-up Truck

A pickup truck apparently cannot replace a tractor but it can be said a remarkable transportation substitute for farmers.  Focus on your real needs and the most common activities you need a truck for, and make a decision.

Livestock Equipment

If you are herd livestock farmer, then you would need animal feeding equipment which includes feeders, feeder platforms, feed buckets and hay racks. Watering systems, water bowls and nipples are equally important to supply herds, flocks and broods with hygienic water. Livestock trailers can be said must-have equipment that to give you an easy moving of your animals from a place to another. With this fencing will also be required for your animals.

Tools

There are some basic tools that every farmer needs for farm or even a garden that includes a shovel, hoe, rake, digging fork and wheelbarrow, that is used for everything around the farm.

Finally, always keep in mind, it is not essential to spend a lot or purchase too much farm machinery initially or in the starting of your business.

If you do not have any farming experience, then the most sensible step is to ask fellow farmers. Talk to the farmers operating at a similar scale farm about the drawbacks and advantages of the machines you want to purchase.

Find out if you can hire equipment on rent, as being a small scale farmer it would be cost-effective option and help you save money.