In the sweltering summer of Qilu (the ancient name for Shandong Province), across thousands of mu of fertile farmland, brightly colored tractors trudge forward at a steady pace, pulling agricultural implements behind them. The turned-up soil emits a fresh, earthy fragrance, while seeders attached to the tractors precisely sow seeds of hope. From traditional farming to smart agriculture,
farm tractors have long evolved beyond being mere "plowing tools"—they have become the core power supporting efficient agricultural production, playing an indispensable role in the entire chain of plowing, sowing, management and transportation.
At Xingyu Family Farm in Bancheng Town, Lanshan District, Linyi City, FOTMA Agricultural Machinery FM3004 new energy tractor is demonstrating its strong capabilities. "This 'iron ox' can finish plowing 157 mu of land in just 4 hours, which is 30% faster than the old machines we used before," the farm manager said, pointing to the working tractor. Li Wenlong, an engineer, provided more convincing measured data: traditional tractors consume 200 liters of fuel per 100 mu, while this new energy model only uses 120 liters. Calculated based on a daily operation of 500 mu, it can save about 2,000 yuan in costs a day.
During plowing, the
tractor uses its stable power to turn the soil to a depth of 25 centimeters, creating optimal conditions for the growth of crop roots—an efficiency and quality that manual farming can hardly match. This kind of performance not only reduces the labor intensity of farmers but also lays a solid foundation for subsequent crop growth, reflecting the transformation of agricultural production from labor-intensive to technology-driven.
In the sowing process, the precise coordination ability of tractors has become increasingly prominent. At Luyuan Planting Cooperative in Xiangyin Township, Ningyang County, Tai'an City, two tractors equipped with GPS positioning systems are pulling precision seeders to carry out the intercropping of soybeans and corn in 200 mu of farmland. "In the past, with manual work plus ordinary agricultural machinery, sowing 200 mu of land would take 5 days. Now we can finish it in just 2 days," Zhu Luning, the cooperative's manager, said.
After the tractor's automatic driving system plans the route, the seeder can accurately control the amount of seeds sown. This not only reduces seed waste but also ensures uniform plant spacing, creating favorable conditions for high yields in the future. The integration of digital technology and tractors has broken the limitations of traditional sowing methods, making agricultural production more scientific and precise.
Beyond plowing and sowing,
tractors are also the "main force" in field transportation. In the tobacco-growing areas of Ruzhou, Henan Province, Bai Mengtao, a farm machinery operator, has 5 YTO tractors that are always busy. "After harvesting the tobacco leaves, the tractors directly transport the bundled tobacco leaves to the curing barns, saving us the trouble of hiring people and vehicles," he said.
Bai calculated that these tractors cultivate 5,000 mu of tobacco fields and more than 1,000 mu of wheat fields a year, bringing in over RMB400,000 just from farming services. From plowing and ridging to transportation, the versatility of tractors connects all links of agricultural production seamlessly, greatly improving the overall operational efficiency of the farm.
As modern agriculture continues to develop, tractors are constantly upgrading. From traditional fuel-powered models to new energy versions, from manual operation to automatic driving, they are evolving in the direction of energy conservation, environmental protection and intelligence. These "iron oxen" galloping across the fields are not only witnesses to the modernization of agriculture but also the reliable partners of farmers, injecting strong momentum into the sustainable development of agricultural production and the realization of food security.
