They might only have been in the country for about two years, but JCB’s Fastrac tractors have already made a major splash in the Australian market
When trying to create the dream tractor for Australia’s demanding broadacre conditions, farmers would most likely nominate a few of the same features.
The grunt and power to pull the heaviest of implements with ease; the speed to travel long distances between faraway paddocks quickly; a host of technology to improve functionality and simplify operation, plus the comfort to know the operator can work long days with minimal fatigue.
While some of this might appear like a pipedream – particularly managing seemingly contradictory interests such as heavy towing power along with excellent speed – the reality is that such a tractor exists, and it is already changing the game for Australian farmers.
JCB’s Fastrac iCON 8330 is the tractor in question.
Its speed is a headline-grabbing feature, capable of reaching 70kmh at its peak.
A modified Fastrac also earned the title of ‘world’s fastest tractor’ in 2019, but its real-world speed is not just about attracting attention.
It is making a significant difference for Australian farmers, who have the constant challenge of moving between paddocks and properties which are sometimes hundreds of kilometres apart.
Australian farmers who Farms & Farm Machinery have spoken to are reporting considerable time savings when using the Fastrac 8330 iCON, cutting their lengthy travel time between one-third and half.
“Some instances [of moving machines] could take six hours or more to get one machine and move it on to the next person, and I’ve almost halved it – or definitely taken off one-third of the time,” one Queensland farmer said last year.
Another South Australian farmer, who previously spent about three and a half hours travelling to a separate farm with a spreader on the back of a tractor, said the Fastrac covered this distance “probably one-third quicker than what we could with any other tractor we’ve got on the farm”.
Time equals money for Australian farmers, and this additional speed offered by the Fastrac can reduce labour costs of employing tractor drivers, while also enabling more free time at the end of each day.
Power packed
Where this speed becomes even more impressive is in the context of the power it also offers.
Being able to get between paddocks quickly is of little benefit if the tractor cannot handle the demands of daily farm operation.
JCB’s Fastrac iCON 8330 has a powerful 348hp (260kW) engine, while it can produce 1,450Nm of torque.
Its rear lift capacity of 10,000kg is another standout feature, showcasing its ability to handle even the most demanding of implements with ease.
There is also a 50-50 weight distribution which JCB says helps to optimise the tractive performance in the field.
Dual-line steering, twin-caliper ABS disc brakes and a full-length rigid chassis provide high levels of safety, while anti-roll bars and an advanced suspension system offer improved stability at high speed.
This stability and comfort are also making a difference for Australian farmers.
One contractor, who operates in Victoria and New South Wales, chose the Fastrac due to its in-cabin comfort when spreading for between 18 and 22 hours per day during the busy season.
Another operator, who is the farm manager of a cropping operation across Queensland and New South Wales, said operators were fighting over who could drive the Fastrac as “you spend a full day on that and you’ve still got a spring in your step”.
The South Australian farmer who highlighted his time-saving experience also previously gave Farms & Farm Machinery a glowing endorsement of the tractor overall.
“I’ve driven a lot of tractors, but it’s by far the most comfortable tractor we’ve ever had on our farm,” he said.
Modern additions
Travelling quickly, towing heavy implements, and operators still remaining comfortable even after a long day in the cabin might already seem like a great trifecta – but it is still not telling the entire Fastrac story.
The tractor’s full name is the JCB Fastrac 8330 iCON, and the iCON aspect of this is another significant feature and is where the tractor stands out from previous iterations of the Fastrac.
It relates to a technology-packed control suite which is opening new opportunities for farmers.
A new armrest console and 30cm touch-screen display is the first part of this, along with fully integrated ISOBUS connectivity.
JCB has put considerable time and effort into ensuring iCON is an intuitive, easy-to-use system which farmers can get maximum benefit from.
Simplified operation of the joystick is one example of this, with the tractor speed now increased by pushing the joystick forward rather than tapping it to the right-hand side.
Five configurable buttons and a roller thumb control feature on the main joystick, with another four with a rocker switch on the second joystick.
Its overall layout will be familiar to previous Fastrac users, JCB says, but this new level of practicality – such as being able to create a bespoke experience by allocating virtually any function to each of these buttons – takes the operator experience to a new level.
The existence of iCON is another element which Australian farmers are singing the praises of.
“It’s very user friendly and very easy to configure the controls to each implement that you hook up to it,” one farmer said.
“Once you work out your configurations and how you want to run the machine and control layout, it’s just far easier to use than other tractors.
“Everything’s one or two clicks away instead of needing to dive into the screen and go through five, six or seven steps to find out how to do something.”
This user friendliness is an area which cannot be overlooked, particularly when farmers might be employing additional staff who need to get into an unfamiliar tractor and quickly learn how to get the best out of it.
Extra offering
While the Fastrac 8330 iCON is undoubtedly the jewel in JCB’s crown, it is not the only model available for Australian farmers.
The manufacturer also offers the Fastrac 4220 iCON, which provides a 235hp (175kW) engine and offers 1,000Nm of torque.
Many of the standout features – such as the iCON technology suite – are still present.
The clearest difference is the presence of four-wheel steering on the smaller 4220 model, something which JCB says makes it more agile for row cropping and vegetable farming, where it is more commonly used and where turning sharply is more important.
Fastrac iCON tractors are distributed in Australia by JCB CEA’s extensive dealer network. To find your nearest outlet visit JCB’s website or phone 1300 522 232