A full year has rolled by since Massey Ferguson claimed victory in the 2015 Top Tractor Shootout, and now the quest is on to find the best-value-for-money tractor of 2016.
After being held in New Zealand last year, this year Farms and Farm Machinery magazine and TradeFarmMachinery.com.au are bringing the prestigious event back to Australian soil. Proceedings this year will take place at Werribee Park Mansion, one of Victoria’s most iconic agricultural locations.
Over two days in late July the judges will scrutinise six tractors in the 80 to 100-horsepower bracket. The tractors will be pitted head-to-head against each other with the eventual winner awarded best-value-for-money tractor of 2016.
Representing New Zealand on the two-man judging panel this year is Jaiden Drought, technical editor of NZ’s Farm Trader Magazine, and joining him is his Australian counterpart, our own technical editor Tom Dickson.
They have decided to put on hold any lingering trans-Tasman rivalry, agreeing that the tractors will remain the focus of their attention for the duration of the event!
Jaiden Drought
Jaiden is a massive fan of all types of farm machinery both large and small. He loves nothing better than getting his hands on, and testing, any new piece of machinery.
His great sense of humour and natural storytelling gifts make his reviews an entertaining read.
Born and bred in Taranaki New Zealand, Jaiden grew up on dairy farms and is now juggling his Farm Trader technical editor role with sharemilking, farm management and a contracting business.
While admitting that the hardest thing about his role as a tester is writing up entertaining articles for readers every time, he is the first to admit that he genuinely loves his job as it involves driving some of the latest farm machinery on the market.
Not to mention gasbagging to machinery dealers and farmers around the country.
Tom Dickson
Tom accepted the position of technical editor for Farms and Farm Machinery magazine in 2013 after 30 years’ experience farming in South West Victoria.
He relishes testing and preparing honest appraisals of new and used tractors and farm machinery. When asked to describe his role and responsibility he says, “I’m just a farmer giving a farmer’s opinion to other farmers.
“My reviews are of a non-technical nature; they’re more of an explanation of what a machine is like from behind the wheel and a look at the things you won’t find in the manufacturer’s brochure.”
Tractors and scoring
The field consists of a Case IH Farmall 95C, Deutz 5105.4G, Massey Ferguson MF5609, New Holland TT4.75, John Deere JD 6105M and — a manufacturer making its debut appearance in the Top Tractor Shootout — Kubota with its M100MX.
Each tractor will be assessed on its standard features as well as manoeuvrability, visibility, comfort and user-friendliness. Timing the tractors as they complete a course of loading hay and moving bark chips will expose the one most suited to front-end loader work.
The total score for each tractor will multiplied by 1,000 then divided by its price. The result will give it a value-for-money score, with the highest number winning. For example:
Tractor 1
250 score x 1,000 = 250,000. Divided by $90,000 (price) = 2.777 (value for money score)
Tractor 2
295 score x 1,000 = 295,000. Divided by $95,000 (price) = 3.105 (value for money score)
With a higher score of 3.105, Tractor 2 is better value for money than Tractor 1.
At the conclusion of the testing we will reveal how the tractors scored in each particular area.
Our readers will be able to see the strengths and weaknesses of each tractor in the competition and therefore judge for themselves which one would best suit their particular operation.
Let the games begin!