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With the many types of farm equipment out there, choosing the best one for your farm can feel challenging. Here’s a comprehensive farm equipment guide to help you pick the best machines for your applications.
Cat® equipment might be known for its place in construction, but it also has plenty of uses on a farm. Agricultural operations have many responsibilities to manage, and a good portion of their day goes toward these responsibilities.
Most farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers put in more than 40 hours a week. Since agriculture is seasonal, some times of year may require double that time per week to get every task done. With the help of Cat machines for the following functions, farmers can stay on schedule even as their to-do list grows.
Digging is a big part of running a farm for multiple reasons. You have to dig to plant crops, make enclosures for animals and start construction processes like building fences. Some digging jobs require precision, while others demand high capacity. You might be able to rely on one machine with various attachments for these jobs. You can also keep a few key machines for the different types of digging responsibilities.
Material handling can cover several responsibilities on your farm. You might need to move pallets of feed from a truck to your barn. You could transport hay bails to different locations in your field, or unload mulch for laying. Whatever your material handling needs may be, the right equipment can make the tasks easier and more efficient.
Your material handling demands will vary based on the size of your farm and the number of people you employ. With a well-designed fleet, you can have your team manage all the moving parts on your farm with reliable Cat machines.
Crops can make up a large percentage of your farm’s income, and your machines can help you manage them. You can use farming equipment to sow seeds, apply fertilizer and insecticides, irrigate your fields and harvest your crops.
All of these processes are critical to the success of your farm, and handling them manually can make it challenging to keep up with responsibilities on your land. Many of these responsibilities can go to a tractor, but there are plenty of versatile machines to choose from to support your crop management needs.
Whether you’re preparing your land for planting crops or you need to clear snow after a big storm, farming machinery can help you get the job done. Machines with buckets are best for this job. You can cover a significant portion of land in a short amount of time, helping you stick to any strict timelines and check one more chore off your to-do list.
There are plenty of machines that can help, especially when they’re compatible with attachments. Specialized work tools like brushcutters and stump grinders make the land-clearing process much more efficient.
When you have livestock and other farm animals, waste management is a big part of the job. While your machines with heavy-duty buckets can help with land clearing, you can also use them for cleaning waste out of animal enclosures.
With all the Cat equipment for farming on the market, choosing the best machine for you might feel like a challenge. When you’re ready to purchase a new machine, consider the following factors to find the equipment most suited to you and your agricultural operation.
The first step for choosing the best equipment for your farm is understanding where you need support from a machine. A farm that grows crops is going to have different needs than a dairy farm. Take the time to run through your responsibilities and consider what tasks could be more efficient with a machine.
For example, if you’ve been moving hay bales from one place to another manually, the process requires much more time than it would take with a machine. Manual processes may also lead to body aches and back pain. A machine can put a stop to physical strain and make the task much easier.
If you have a well-established farm, you likely won’t need to consider these gaps. When you have a developed fleet of machinery, you’ll want to consider how well your machines meet your needs, and if you could use an upgrade or a different piece of equipment to better fulfill them.
Knowing the capacity your machines will have to manage is critical for your equipment selection. Buying a machine that is too small for your capacity demands can pose a safety issue. Purchasing a machine that’s too big costs you more money than necessary and will come with more challenging storage requirements.
Determining capacity requirements will depend on the task and the machine. For instance, skid steers are not typically used for high-capacity jobs, but there are still sizes to choose from. A small frame model will be limited compared to a large frame.
Think about the size of your farm, the density of the work you do each day and how strict your timeline is. High-capacity machines are helpful when you need to work fast because you can carry more at one time. If you have limited storage space, opt for a smaller, low-capacity model.
The conditions a machine has to perform in will play a critical role in the model you need. Will the machine operate primarily outside? How dense is the soil? Cat agricultural equipment that works outside should have the right tires or treads for the terrain. If the soil isn’t very dense, a lighter machine won’t sink like a large-capacity one will.
Your machine might have several purposes based on its design, but work tool attachments make your machine even more adaptable. Farm equipment, like a skid steer, has plenty of Cat attachments that can diversify your abilities. Think about how many tasks you want your machine to handle and if the equipment that supports attachments is the right option.
Working long hours in a machine means you’ll spend a lot of time in your equipment cabs. You’ll want to choose the machines that support your comfort during these long hours. Modern Cat machines are typically equipped with plenty of beneficial features, but the more advanced models offer additional perks. Think about factors such as seat comfort, air conditioning and noise dampening.
Caterpillar carries a wide range of machines that suit agriculture applications. Understanding your options can help you find the best machines for your fleet and achieve the productivity you need on your farm.
Mini hydraulic excavators have a sturdy arm on one side and a blade on the other. The arm often has a bucket attachment, but these machines support an array of work tools to complete your farm tasks.
One of the major benefits of these machines is their maneuverability. The small size makes it easy to operate, and the system has a zero-tail swing. This swing means the housing does not extend over the tracks, giving the operator room to get close to other objects. Mini excavators also perform well on many ground conditions, given their high traction and low ground pressure.
Skid steer loaders are among the most versatile machines in the Cat catalog. The first skid steer was designed for farming needs, and it continues its legacy in the industry. These machines have a unique steering mechanism called differential steering. This means each side of the machine operates independently from the other for a better turn radius and excellent maneuverability.
One of the reasons skid steers are so versatile is their compatibility with work tools. While a bucket is the most common attachment, there are many other tools available that can diversify the equipment’s capabilities.
Much like the skid steer, backhoe loaders are known for their versatility. This machine has a blade on one end and a bucket on the other for digging and moving earth. They’re basically a combination of a loader and an excavator, so you can enjoy the functions of both. These machines are also compatible with many valuable work tools.
Backhoe loaders are typically bulkier than other loaders, but the high-capacity sizes are optimal for your biggest jobs. Cat backhoes feature dig depths from 14 to 17 feet and offer efficient and reliable powershift transmission.
A telehandler — short for telescopic handler — offers the material handling capabilities of a forklift with an extended reach. In agriculture, these machines are valuable for moving hay bales or other materials that need to be lifted up high. If you have a loft in your barn for storage, a telehandler can help you place and retrieve items from the area.
Caterpillar designs their telehandlers with all-around visibility to ensure safe operation in every environment. Choose from various lift heights and load capacities to get the machine that reflects your needs.
Compact loaders typically feature a large bucket on the front, but they’re compatible with work tool attachments, too. These loaders can feature wheels or tracks, which offers benefits based on the terrain you intend to use them on.
Wheels offer excellent traction for hard and smooth surfaces like concrete. They can also navigate over curbs without damaging the ground. In contrast, track loaders can move over uneven or slippery terrain. Both machines can handle a wide variety of material-handling tasks.
Multi-terrain loaders have a similar design to compact track loaders, but Caterpillar prioritizes a lightweight design for these machines. In agriculture, these machines are ideal for applications where you don’t want to disturb the ground. When you have delicate crops to work around, this can be a major benefit. The lightweight design and suspended undercarriage also allow these machines to move a little faster than their track loader counterparts.
It’s essential to note that multi-terrain loaders do not have the same durability as track loaders since being lightweight is the priority. There may be more maintenance demands for this machine compared to others.
While you might not need a massive bulldozer on your farm, small dozers can be excellent multi-purpose machines. From digging and leveling to pushing and demolishing, these machines can help you achieve a wide range of tasks. Many farmers use them to load trucks, clear space in their fields and level land before planting crops.
Cat work tool attachments make your machines more versatile, so even a small fleet of machines can get you further. Explore some of the popular attachments for agriculture.
Augers are drill bits that can extract soil and create holes in the ground. Cat work tool attachments include standard, industrial, tree and bolt-on rock head bits to offer strength for all types of ground. Use them for loaders like skid steers, backhoes and compact wheel loaders. They’re also compatible with mini excavators.
Bale grabs and bale spears are specifically designed for handling hay bales, making them excellent for agricultural applications. Bale grabs feature tubular metal arms that wrap around the hay bale to pick it up. The design prevents damage to the wrapping or bale by clasping around the entire piece. Bale spears feature one or two spears that can remove or place bales in a stack.
The Cat brushcutter attachment has a sharp blade under a protective metal housing. Navigate the attachment around vegetation and brush to create a coarse byproduct for easy cleaning. When you’re prepping land for crops, this tool is the key to efficiency. Use this attachment with your skid steer or compact track loader.
Many of the Cat machines feature buckets as their standard tools, and for good reason. These attachments are highly versatile, supporting earthmoving and digging applications around the farm. Cat attachments include various types of buckets. General purpose models work well with mildly abrasive materials, and heavy duty buckets can handle harsh soils with minimal wear.
Light material buckets can handle more in a single scoop, and material handling buckets have a purpose-built shape for loading and unloading. The multi-purpose bucket can fill the job of many tools, with grading abilities, spill guards and a clam design.
Rippers are hook-shaped attachments that can cut through dense ground and rocky soil. This attachment can also rip through a frost layer on the ground to reach the soil. Get the control you need with this work tool attached to a mini excavator.
At Blanchard Machinery, we carry new and used Cat equipment to suit your agricultural needs. You can also turn to our team for rental machinery. With locations throughout South Carolina, we can serve your operation anywhere in the state. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we support your farm’s success.
