I’ll be honest, the topic of tractors and farm equipment is not one I’m particularly versed in. One resource I found quite educational, however, was Cherry Hill’s book Equipping Your Horse Farm. Hill grouped tractors into four categories according to size and purpose: Lawn and garden, compact, utility, and farm. And then there’s the additional utility vehicle category that encompasses motorized wagons, “Gators,” Smart Carts, etc.

But with all the different options out there, I can’t seem to settle on a happy medium to recommend. I think vehicles such as the John Deere Gator are great for daily farm chores and hauling manure, shavings, etc., but it seem for nearly the same price (or less) you can purchase a tough garden tractor plus hauling attachments. Once you start purchasing numerous attachments, however, it becomes more practical to just opt for a more powerful compact tractor. What types of machines and attachments have you found to be necessary investments for good farm management?

Read more about farm equipment, plus some more good advice from Cherry Hill, in this article.

Another question: Would you or have you shopped for equipment at a farm equipment auction? Some people are really stretching their dollars and finding bargains at auction, but I think there are some pros and cons to this method. First, buyer beware: What you see is not often what you get. Make sure to inspect the equipment before putting money down on it. Also, make sure you know what to look for, and stick to reputable brand names Ð they are well-known for a reason! But on the whole, don’t be afraid to save money on a fixer-upper that just might need a little work. Read more about farm equipment options here