5 Pieces of Small Farm Equipment

Starting a small farm can be a big decision. And maintaining one is no easy task. It often requires consistent work like bush hogging fields, clearing roads, and fixing fences when livestock or fallen trees cause damage to your land. Whether you’re starting a farm for profit, as a hobby, or both, it’s well worth the work when you begin to experience the fruits of your labor. And there are a few fundamental tools to get you started that will also help with upkeep around the farm in the future.

First and foremost, you’ll need a small tractor or a skid steer. A tractor, such as a compact utility tractor, is a good choice because there are more attachment options. This type of tractor can handle front- and back-end attachments for getting various types of work done. But don’t rule out a skid steer; they can be just as valuable depending on your needs, and attachments for skid steers have multiplied in recent years. Regardless of your machine preference, both can handle your small farm equipment. Let’s take a closer look at what those tools are.

Bucket

As mentioned previously, a front-end loader attachment such as a bucket is essential for a small farm whether you have a skid steer or a tractor. A bucket can serve many purposes including scooping and moving material like loads of dirt, manure, gravel, or firewood. This attachment can also help with minor driveway repairs. With a bucket, you can back-drag a driveway after filling in potholes, making for a smooth ride in and out of the farm.  

A front-end loader attachment such as a bucket is essential for a small farm whether you have a skid steer or a tractor.

Bush Hog

More than likely, the land you’re turning into a farm is overgrown with weeds and other brush. A bush hog is an important attachment you’ll need to clear tall grass, shrubs, and light brush that can take away from the pristine look of your farm and usefulness of the fields.

Auger Drive and Bit Combo

Fencing or gates are crucial to most farms, especially if you’re dealing with livestock. To install fence posts deep enough in the ground to withstand livestock, storms, and other potential accidents, you’ll need an auger drive and bit combo (typically known as an “auger”). For most farmers, time is money. And so an auger is useful when installing fence posts because it saves you time and takes the extra work out of digging holes with handheld post hole diggers. An auger is also useful for quickly digging holes when building a small barn or shed for tools and equipment – another staple for any farm.

An auger is useful when installing fence posts because it saves you time and takes the extra work out of digging holes with handheld post hole diggers.

Fecon Head

A fecon head is great for creating paths or trails through your farm, mainly in grown-over areas such as young forest or thick briar patches. This is a useful tool because it can crunch and grind debris and shrubs to make a cleared pathway. Pathways are crucial for a farm for ease of access to different areas around your land. A fecon head is a fairly recent innovation and is generally used as a skid steer attachment. 

Tiller

Chances are, if you’re starting a small farm, you’re probably planning to have a garden or a food plot. Having a tiller that attaches to the rear of a tractor or the front of a skid steer is great for conveniently and efficiently tilling dirt to plant crops. A tiller loosens topsoil so plants can grow more easily, allowing the roots to extend deeper into the ground. A tiller can also work fertilizer, lime, and other soil amendments into the ground. And it sure beats a handheld garden hoe. 

Although starting a small farm can be a lot of work, it’s well worth the investment. There’s nothing like the sense of satisfaction you feel when you see livestock grazing in a bright green field surrounded by  fence posts you set up yourself, or toting a bushel of fresh tomatoes and squash in the summer that came from your own garden. If you have these five pieces of small farm equipment in your arsenal, you’ll certainly be set up for success.