A Quick Guide to Agriculture Equipment Types

Despite technological advancements globally, farming is still the backbone of society. Without farmers, there would be no meat, fruit, or vegetables in our supermarkets and no naturally fibered clothing in our stores. There are, however, some advancements that have made it easier for farmers to produce more products more efficiently.

Agricultural equipment has come a long way in just a few short decades, providing more efficient ways to complete tasks in days now that would have taken weeks just decades ago. However, when looking at all of the different types of equipment available today to assist the farmer in completing their work, it can be slightly overwhelming.

Ag (Agriculture) Equipment Types

The agricultural business continues to thrive, and the development of new agricultural equipment gives farmers the ability to maintain and farm their fields with more time and efficiency. Farmers use new and innovative technology such as attachments, to do various tasks such as till, move, dig, weed-eat, mow, harvest, and more. There are four main types of agricultural equipment.

• Cultivation Equipment: These machines include plows, harrows, and cultivators. They help to prepare the ground for planting by loosening and turning up the soil.
• Tillage Equipment: These machines till the soil by cutting it into smaller pieces to break apart clumps and bring them closer together for a more refined surface. This is typically done after cultivation has been completed.
• Harvesting Equipment: These machines harvest crops from fields or from irrigated land that has been drained for this purpose. They can also be used with non-agricultural applications, such as harvesting grass in a golf course fairway before it’s mowed down with a riding mower.
• Planting Equipment: These machines prepare the soil for planting, measure and distribute seeds, and firm the ground after seeding.

When it comes to purchasing Agriculture (Ag) Equipment, there are two main categories: agricultural vehicles and agricultural attachments.

Ag Vehicles

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  Tractors – this is a broad category of vehicles. Tractors come in a variety of sizes to fit many farming needs. Their primary use is to pull other farm equipment; however, modern tractor models can be equipped with various attachments that can perform many purposes.

• Combines and Harvesters – used primarily by grain farmers to harvest crops efficiently. These machines use systems of belts, gears, wheels, and blades.
• ATV or UTV – All-Terrain Vehicles or Utility Vehicles are smaller vehicles that can move through rougher terrain more quickly. These vehicles can also be outfitted with attachments to assist with other tasks.

Ag Equipment Attachment Types

Each of these types of equipment will eventually need to have a part replaced. Due to the strenuous nature of agriculture, different parts and aspects of a machine can wear down over time.

• Plows – tractor attachments that use blades to loosen and turn the soil. This kills surface vegetation and begins preparing the ground for planting.
• Fertilizer Spreaders – spreads fertilizer across fields for quick, even distribution.
• Harrows – agitates soil, breaking clumps and distributing plants, manure, and fertilizer residue.
• Seeders – distributes seeds across large areas quickly and evenly.
• Balers – used for hay, corn stalk, and straw collection, these tractor attachments collect the material and bundle them into management bales.
• Cultivators – shallow tillers
• Transplanters – digging plants from one area, digging holes, and replanting them in another.

While the listed equipment is some of the most common, it is not by any means a comprehensive list of all the ag equipment attachments available today.

Heavy Construction Equipment For Farming

Farmers use skid steers, backhoes, dozers, excavators, and other construction equipment for earthmoving, maintenance, material transport, and more. To learn more about the construction equipment that farmers may use, check out our article on the types of heavy equipment. 

Top Brands for Ag Equipment

When it comes to Ag equipment, two brands lead the pack. As the leaders in their field, they are not only the most recognized names in agricultural equipment but are also the most prolific manufactures and consistent top sellers.

John Deere Ag Equipment

John Deere is possibly the most recognized domestic and commercial producer of agricultural equipment in the United States. Its iconic green tractors and lawnmowers are sometimes synonymous with rural, middle American farming communities. DMC Wear Parts is proud to provide a vast selection of aftermarket John Deere ag replacement parts and John Deere Undercarriage parts for dozers and heavy equipment.

CASE IH Ag Equipment

CASE was founded in 1842, producing agricultural machinery. Though its name and corporate entity have changed many times between then and now, its central focus on agricultural technologies is still essentially the same. Going from a local manufacturer to an international corporation, CASE has diversified and merged with many other entities over the years, broadening its reach in the agricultural industry. DMC boasts a wide range of aftermarket options for CASE ag machinery as well as CASE construction and heavy equipment.

Other popular ag equipment brands include: New Holland,

Aftermarket Ag Equipment Replacement Parts

Agricultural equipment is a significant investment, and the financial responsibility does not stop once the equipment has been purchased. There will be added costs of maintenance and repairs if the equipment is not under warranty. Most equipment manufacturers produce their own replacement parts, but third-party manufacturers also have replacement parts; these are known as aftermarket agriculture equipment parts. Aftermarket replacement parts are tailored to be a perfect fit for your equipment and often can perform at a higher level than Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts!

Replacement Parts for Tractors

There are many options for replacement parts for your tractor. Not only can you rely directly on the distributor of OEM parts for your tractor, but there are likely to be many different brands that will produce the same part for the aftermarket that will work the same or better. Therefore, most, if not all, of the parts you would need to replace on your tractor could be found from aftermarket distributors. This includes belts, filters, drive trains, and fuel pumps.

Replacement Parts for Combine Harvesters

Like a tractor, many of the parts you would need to fix your combine can be purchased as aftermarket alternatives. Aftermarket parts are available for nearly every aspect of your Combine, from feeder house to sprockets. With so many moving parts, finding replacement parts that are cheaper and of better quality can be difficult, but an aftermarket dealer can be a great way to keep your combine working great and save a little money at the same time.

Tillers, Balers, and more

Like your farming vehicle, the attachments you use will need care and maintenance. As with your Ag vehicles, your attachment equipment will most likely also have parts produced in the aftermarket, giving you a broader selection to fit your needs and budget.

Why Buy Aftermarket Ag Parts vs. OEM?

While equipment manufacturers endorse their own line of replacement parts and third-party manufacturers reproduce similar replacement parts, there are usually very few differences between the components.

OEM (or Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts are endorsed and labeled by the original manufacturer. While they carry the brand name or one approved by the manufacturer, they often come off the same lines as the aftermarket products. Typically, these replacement parts only come in options for what they are replacing, and you are limited as to where you can purchase these parts. In addition, though these parts may come with a warranty, or their quality is guaranteed, they also typically come with a substantially higher price tag.

Though aftermarket parts are manufactured to be compatible with existing manufacturer parts, many parts are potentially of better quality or have a range of selection to get the job done. Often there is an added bonus that with this added range of functionality and selection includes a lower price as well. That is why many farmers are trending towards companies offering aftermarket parts and advanced technology that can make their ag equipment types more efficient

Aftermarket Ag Parts Provide Added Value

Using aftermarket Ag parts has the potential to add value to your equipment. This value could come to you in performance or simply just the price tag of the part you bought! With the use of Aftermarket parts, you can boost the performance of your equipment while saving money on the purchase price of your replacement.

Broader Selection of Optimized Parts

The availability of aftermarket Ag parts from multiple manufacturers means a broader selection of parts. This means that there is the ability the obtain a wide range of optimized parts rather than the standard parts offered by the manufacturer. These optimized parts have the potential of allowing your equipment to operate more efficiently than ever before!

Contact a DMC Wear Parts Ag Equipment Types Specialist Today

When you’ve decided to invest significantly in a piece of Ag Equipment, the parts you choose to put into its maintenance are essential. You don’t want to pay more than you need to, but you want to ensure that you get the performance you need out of your equipment. Contact a DMC Wear Parts Specialist today to help you find the right replacement part that fits your budget and your equipment!

10 Types of Heavy Equipment & Machines

Heavy equipment and machinery are frequently used in projects for construction, earth-moving, road-paving, forestry, and more. Heavy equipment is often essential for construction projects, regardless of the scope of the project. Selecting the right heavy equipment for your project can make the process easier, faster, and less expensive. Below is a list of 10 types of construction and earth-moving heavy equipment and their most common uses.

1) Excavators

Excavators are a type of large machinery that consists of a hydraulic crane-like boom with a metal-pronged shovel on the end. The operator is typically located in a driver’s cab with a rotating platform that is mounted on wheels or tracks. The 360-degree rotation of the operator platform allows for increase maneuverability. Excavators can be fitted with additional attachments to increase the versatility of the machinery when needed for different job functions. Excavators are frequently used to dig, crush, lift, landscape, and demolish in medium to heavy-duty jobs. Mini-excavators can accomplish many of the same activities with a smaller footprint in light to medium-duty jobs. DMC offers a wide range of excavator undercarriage parts.

2) Backhoe (Backhoe Loader)

Backhoe loaders, often called backhoes, are a versatile piece of equipment that combines the utility of a tractor, loader, and backhoe into a single machine. The body of a backhoe resembles a tractor with an adjustable shovel in the front and a bucket in the rear. Although it is not considered small for heavy-equipment it is excellent for operations that need multiple functions within a limited space. Backhoes are often used for moving materials, backfilling, digging holes or trenches, and placing materials.

3) Dozers (Bulldozers)

Dozers are a type of heavy equipment that is commonly recognized for the large front blade. Bulldozers are often considered among the strongest and most powerful types of heavy equipment. Dozers can be wheel-mounted or track-mounted, depending on the application and environment, but track-mounted dozers are more common. The metal blade on the front of the equipment has many uses including, pushing, loosening, carrying, and condensing material. It is often used to move large quantities of material over a short distance. Check out DMC Wear Parts’ wide selection of dozer undercarriage parts.

4) Scrapers (Wheel Tractor-Scraper)

A scraper, also called a wheel tractor-scraper, is a style of heavy-equipment that can feature a sharp front edge for cutting, a hopper for collecting material, and a rear hopper with a sharp edge for flattening a surface. The two tools work together to clear an area and deposit the material into a hopper to transport it to a different area. Wheel tractor-scrapers are used to grade a surface, while also collecting the material that is loosened.

5) Motor Graders

Motor graders are an essential piece of heavy equipment used in road creation and maintenance. Motor graders are designed with an outstretched nose that allows the blade to be housed between the front and rear axles of the six-wheeled machine. The cutting edge can have a variety of blade profiles, including flat, curved, serrated, scarifier, and corrugated in order to break through the surface material. The equipment is often used to flatten a surface with a metal grader blade that evenly grades the area it passes over or transports small amounts of dirt over a surface.

6) Pavers & Rollers

Pavers are a style of equipment used to lay asphalt during road construction projects, it is often accompanied by a dump truck which provides the asphalt and followed by a roller. The paver machine contains a feeding bucket which is used to distribute asphalt evenly on the road surface before being lightly packed down. A roller is then used to compact and compress the asphalt. This fully flattened surface ensures that the asphalt is properly in place and smoothly finished.

7) Skid-Steers

Skid steers are a small and maneuverable type of heavy-equipment that is often used for a variety of jobs. The skid steer is designed to turn within its own footprint, making it ideal for confined spaces or areas of finished construction. The front of the machine, directly in front of the operator cabin, is an attachment area for different types of tools that can be used for digging, drilling, compacting, pushing, log grappling, snow blowing, lifting, jack-hammering, and other tasks.

8) Trenchers

As you may have guessed, a trencher is a type of heavy equipment used for digging trenches in the ground. While trencher models can range in size, it will have an outstretched arm in the front, similar to a chainsaw. This front arm is equipped with a heavy metal chain to cut into the surface and uses a conveyor system to move the loosened material. Trenchers are commonly used for ditches, pipe laying, cable laying, developing drainage systems, and excavating hard surface layers.

9) Loaders (Track & Wheel Loaders)

These two types of loaders often have an overlap with skid-steers and excavator style equipment. Track loaders are similar to a skid-steer, but have a larger footprint, larger capacity, and can be used on heavy-duty projects. Wheel loaders can tackle the same style of jobs, but are more maneuverable, making them comparable to backhoes minus the rear backhoe bucket. These two types of equipment are often used to load material onto dumpers or trucks, excavate raw materials, lifting, pushing, and moving materials around a worksite.

10) Feller Bunchers

Feller Bunchers are a type of heavy equipment that is used as a harvester in the forestry and logging industries. The machine is commonly built with a four-wheel base, multiple metal arms, and a cutting blade. A feller buncher is used as if it were a replacement for a lumberjack that cuts, harvests, and then carries trees.

Commonly Asked Question –  What Is Heavy Equipment?

Heavy equipment, also called heavy machinery, is a type of heavy-duty vehicles that are designed to perform moving, demolition, digging, or lifting tasks. The vehicle can either be moved using wheels or a track-type undercarriage and typically have an operator cab. It is common for these types of vehicles to have hydraulic extensions or attachments that can be used for specific activities. Heavy-equipment is often used in construction, road maintenance, earth-moving, and forestry-related industries.