| [Image: older offset vegetable tractor] |
| [Image: Newer offset vegetable tractor] |
| [Image: High-clearance vegetable tractor] |
Vegetable growers have many choices in tractors, ranging from older, smaller tractors to large, new tractors. Many are designed specifically for vegetable work.
Small, Offset Tractors
The traditional vegetable tractor is high-clearance, small and offset for increased visibility when cultivating. Older tractors of this type are still in common use (Figure 1). Other versions of this design were made into the 1990s (Figure 2), and many are still in use. These small, high-clearance offset tractors are still readily available on the used tractor market and are a good choice for small growers and market gardeners. They offer more versatility for work in vegetable crops than most of the new compact utility tractors in the same horsepower range, but do not offer some of the more modern features.
High-clearance FWA Tractors
Larger vegetable growers often use mid-size tractors with front wheel assist (FWA) and high clearance (Figure 3). The high clearance can be obtained with drop axles or tall tires – or both. Tall, narrow tires work well in vegetable crops and provide good traction and flotation as well as clearance. These tractors can be equipped with a creeper transmission – needed for transplanting or use with harvest aids. They often have rice and cane tires.
Basic Ag Tractors
Many vegetable growers use basic ag tractors of various sizes for tillage and planting operations. Both utility and row-crop models are used for vegetable work. Neither has the clearance to work over the top of many vegetable crops, but they are readily available new and used and meet the needs of many growers.