Tractors & Farm Equipment
How to Grade a Driveway
Add to Favorites Learning how to grade a driveway on the farm or homestead is not all that difficult, but some basic concepts and tips will make the process easier. …
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Minimizing Fire Risk on the Farm
Flammable materials are abundant on every farm and homestead. Barn and coop fires are an unfortunately common issue, but there are a few critical things we can do to avoid a catastrophe.
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Nominate a Homesteader for the I Am Countryside Feature
Add to Favorites Know a homesteader who inspires others? Want to see them featured in Countryside & Small Stock Journal? Nominate them (or yourself!) and we’ll tell their story in the …
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Chainsaw Safety Gear to Get the Job Done Right
Chainsaw safety gear, albeit costly, is a necessary addition to any operator’s collection of farm tools and equipment. Unfortunately, farmers tend to be prone to disregarding safety devices, safety equipment and user warnings.
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Picking the Best Tractor for Small Farms
Buying the best tractor for small farm work requires searching for the right tractor for the job. Tractors can be used for many reasons.
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The Best Small Tractor Hacks
Life is different when you own a tractor, so much so I don’t really know how I would function without one. Even with the best small tractor, there are situations that call for ingenuity and specialty add-ons to turn your tractor into a rolling Swiss Army knife.
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Top 10 List of Farm Tools and Equipment You Didn’t Know You Wanted
Over the years of setting fence posts, fixing barns, and repairing equipment, I’ve built a little collection of specialty tools to make my life that much easier.
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Buying a Chainsaw? Which One?
Buying a chainsaw can be a frustrating experience. What brand should I buy? What size bar should I get?
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The Best Way to Loosen Rusted Parts
Is there a best way to loosen rusted parts on the farm? I’m sure there is, but I’m more inclined to say; there’s the best way for each situation.
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Grease Zerk Fittings to Keep Things Running Smoothly
When and how to grease Zerk fittings is something many of us don’t think of often, but regular greasing is a crucial part of routine maintenance for your tractor and other critical equipment.
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Driveway Graders For Small Farm Tractors
A driveway grader implement is one of those often forgotten but surprisingly useful compact tractor implements. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have homesteads with any appreciable amount of acreage can agree; long dirt driveways can be challenging.
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In Old Small Farm Tractors, Lubrication is Key
Call me sentimental, but I have a soft spot for old small farm tractors and here’s why. Just a couple of weeks ago, my wife, Becky, surveyed my latest acquisition, a nearly four-foot diameter by 10-foot oak log that I had salvaged from a residence in town after it had died and a tree service company cut it down.
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Baling Hay On The Homestead
Baling hay is a staple of livestock farming. The very act of harvesting hay has been the lifeblood of farmers for centuries, which is why it’s become the most iconic farm chore right next to milking the cows or collecting eggs.
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Diesel Injection — When Even the Best Small Farm Tractor Fails
Click Click, Click Click … I’ve come to really hate that sound this year. Our 15-year-old John Deere 5105 (one of the best small farm tractors) has been causing us a lot of grief lately, including leaving me hopelessly stranded in a pile of snow last winter and dying on me when I was mowing a field a good mile away from my tools.
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Decoding Tractor Tire Sizes
Different sized tractors call for different tractor tire sizes, and styles for that matter. Understanding the gibberish printed on the sidewall of your tires is your first step to understanding what you need to buy to properly shod your mechanical workhorse.
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