This is the beginning of a new series on Cultivator Tractors

Written by Joseph M Hannan , Production Instructor 
Center for Arkansas Farms and Food 
03.07.2025

Edited by Luke Freeman

Introduction

Weed management strategies for very small scale and large scale production systems are fairly well understood and supported with resources, guides, equipment, and specialists. However, weed management strategies for vegetable farms in the 2 to 50-acre range are much less understood and supported, especially here in Northwest Arkansas. Despite the fact that there are companies like Tilmor supplying new specialty crop cultivation implements, adapters, brackets, and specialized tractors, the reality is that most of us will be working with a combination of old tractors built 30 to 60 years ago, old cultivation equipment, and new cultivation equipment. This comes with navigating the complexities of used equipment and modernizing old tractors to use with new implements and toolbars for today’s modern production systems.

Getting started with the right tractor and setting up your bed systems are the most critical steps towards successful cultivation strategies on a small farm. In this series I would like to focus on those vegetable farmers working on 2 to 50 acres and talk about what it takes to find an old tractor that will meet your needs, get it up and running for reliable daily operation, and outfit it to today’s cultivation standards.

In the coming series, we’ll talk about the different tractors available for small farms and the advantages and challenges of each. We’ll discuss basic repairs and maintenance needed to bring a used tractor back to life and make it dependable for everyday use. Then we’ll talk about modernizing these tractors and adapting them to work in today’s systems with modern cultivation and seeding equipment.

This should be a fun yet informative series that will play out over the next few months and hopefully get a few of you to scale up to something a bit more mechanized.

Part 2: Tractors

There are four aspects to successful cultivation of weeds in a vegetable field: the tractor, the bed design, the cultivation implement, and timing. The first part of our story will focus on the tractor. Everything you do and every decision you make fundamentally starts with the tractor. The tractor dictates bed width and types of equipment for planting, cultivating, and harvesting that can be used.

There are 4 key characteristics to successful cultivation on an organic vegetable farm: bed design, cultivation tools, timing, and the tractor. All four aspects must work together harmoniously for successful cultivation. Three of those 4 are largely in your control…timing unfortunately is often dictated by mother nature. When you are building or designing your production system for medium scale tractor production, the tractor and the harvest equipment dictate bed design which then dictates your cultivation tool selection. I would like to start off this long weed management discussion with an in depth discussion on tractors and ultimately, over the next several parts, get to where we can focus on taking the right tractor and modernizing it for today’s production systems and make it reliable enough to be used everyday. In part 2 of this series, I will be focusing on tractors for cultivation, divided into the three generations of offset tractors, the Allis G and similar models, and the standard high crop tractors.

Can a 40 to 60 year old tractor have a place on a modern small vegetable farm? Let’s explore!

What Is An Offset Tractor?

An offset tractor is similar to a typical row crop tractor of about 25 hp. So fairly small but still a commonly sized tractor found on small farms and acreages today. However, a cultivator frame is mounted underneath, the tractor is 2 to 6 inches taller than a typical row crop tractor, and the operator sits off to the right side. All of these small changes allow the operator to look down onto the crop and bed and see what they are doing when cultivating rather than looking behind them. This increases precision and minimizes destruction when cultivating.

There are 3 generations of offset cultivator tractors with each generation receiving slight improvement over the previous.

Offset Generation 1

The Farmall A is the original cultivator tractor. Its essence and influence can still be seen in vegetable production today, 85 years after its introduction. The early Farmall cultivator tractors are gasoline powered with about 18 hp. Later versions, the Super A, 100 and 140 received a power increase and are closer to 25 hp. While having only 25 hp on the later versions, the tractors do not feel anemic. The long piston stroke provides have plenty of power for basic seeding and cultivation needs. They are also capable of pulling a single bottom plow or small disk. They use gas, not diesel, so they do require premium, non-ethanol fuel but overall they are generally fuel efficient for general cultivation usage.

The Farmall Cub is a smaller variant of the Farmall A. It has a meager 10 hp and is slightly underpowered. The cultivator frame is also different from the larger A model so implements are not compatible between the two tractors.

The early Farmall cultivator tractors, starting with the Super A and later the 100 and 140 (aka International 140) and the smaller Cub, have a unique hydraulic system called Touch Control. The Touch Control is an early hydraulic system designed to make it easier for the operator to lift and lower tractor-mounted implements. The system has its issues, like any early hydraulic system, but can be rebuilt and made to operate like new. It’s not an easy repair, but can be done. Parts however are limited if major repairs are needed.

If you are looking to buy a Farmall cultivator tractor, the later model Super A, 100, and 140 are good buys today. Prices for a reasonable, functioning tractor run about $3,500 to $5,000 for the tractor and cultivator. When purchasing a tractor, be sure the mid mount cultivator is intact. Buying a used mid mount cultivator frame for one of these tractors will cost about $1000 and are not the easiest parts to get. Parts for these tractors are readily available making service and repair possible. Nearly every nut, bolt, and critical component can be purchased used, new old stock, or manufactured new by a 3rd party. The tractors are very easy to work on with basic hand tools and there is tremendous community support for these tractors. You should never come across something that someone else has not already dealt with. Finally, Tilmor offers an adapter to easily go from older style Farmall toolbars and implements to todays modern equipment. It is VERY easy to mount modern equipment to the Farmall Cultivator. More on that in a later segment but suffice it to say, this is a KEY factor to consider when looking at a cultivator tractor.

During this same time period, Oliver made the Super 44 and 440 offset tractors. However, these tractors are rare and parts availability is limited. The Oliver tractors may not be good buys for daily, reliable use because of parts availability and community support. To be frank, I have never seen one actually in use on a farm…only as collectors items.

Ford offered their 2000 in traditional row crop, offset, and offset high clearance. The high clearance version gave the tractor an extra 4 to 6 inches of height, providing greater clearance over the crops…a feature offered across most offset tractors though not very common until later generations. The extra height is provided through taller spindles on the front axles and taller rear tires. As with the other tractors of this generation, it is gasoline powered. The cultivator frame on the 2000 is unique. Some of the bars, implements, and clamps may cross over from other brands but the cultivator frame components will not. The Ford 2000 is very rare; I have only driven 1 in the past 20 years and I am not sure I have ever seen another in person. While a great tractor, the lack of parts and support hinder it from being a daily, reliable tractor on today’s small farm. Furthermore, because of the unique cultivator frame, mounting modern equipment to it requires custom, one-off fabrication.

For full disclosure, CAFF has a Farmall 140. While it is a nice piece of equipment, it is not our daily preferred use offset tractor. Our Farmall 140 is very worn out and requires significant repairs to bring it up to daily reliability. However, it certainly could be used daily and likely will be as we expand production! It starts and runs very well, is very easy to drive, and for the most part is very easy to repair.

So of the generation 1 offset tractors, the Farmall 140 is an excellent buy.

Pros

• They start easy and are very easy to work on
• They are a dime a dozen! There are a lot of parts and pieces available
• The wheels spread wider than the Kubota L245H (coming up next)

Cons

• They are gas-powered…so harder to drive the clutch
• They don’t have a 3-point hitch. Running modern implements and seeders off the back is challenging.
• If you have the 1-point hitch, it sits low. (We will probably take ours off but we also don’t have the cultivator arms for out back so we are limited to midmount implements only…once we get the hydraulics repaired.)

JTwes and farmallfanatic on YouTube have excellent content on operating and maintaining a Farmall 140.

Offset Generation 2

The introduction of the Kubota L245H, a 25 hp diesel powered tractor, starts what I consider the second generation of offset tractors. The Kubota L245H, fundamentally, is the same tractor as the generation 1 Farmall variants with a few key exceptions. The Kubota came equipped with a fuel-efficient diesel engine. The mid-mount cultivator frame was lowered and lifted by a standard hydraulic spool and cylinder and a standard category 1 three-point hitch was equipped in the rear. The upgraded hydraulics make the tractor easier to maintain by getting away from some of the issues (clogging of springs and seals) with the Farmall Touch Control, and the diesel engine offers comfortable, smooth operation in the field.

Introduced in the late 1970’s, the Kubota L245H introduces a more advanced electrical system and safety switches. At 40 years old, it should be expected that these parts will need to be replaced. However, these parts are replaceable, and available, or can be largely eliminated. They are not necessary for the core function of the tractor. That said, the Kubota L245H is significantly less common than the generation 1 Farmall tractors. Replacement parts, specifically those related to the offset structure of the tractor, such as the drop axles, are much more difficult to find; but since there are other variants of the Kubota L245, basic parts or rebuild kits for hydraulic pumps, fuel pumps, etc should be available. Community support is limited as there just was not that many Kubota L245H and variants manufactured and Kubota was still fairly new to the US market at the time. Good luck trying to find offset and high crop variant-specific service manuals.

The Kubota cultivator is different from the Farmall version with two key exceptions. The Kubota mid-mount cultivator uses different clamps and bar sizes that are unique to Kubota. However, it uses the same implements as generation 1 Farmall implements so you can mix and match implements (cultivators shovels, hillers, spiders, or whatever you have or find for use on Farmall tractors) on your Kubota mid-mount cultivator. And, the actual mounting points for the Kubota cultivator are nearly identical to the Farmall cultivator mounts. So, if you do not have the Kubota cultivator or wish to standardize bars and clamps across a variety of tractors, you can mount a Farmall Super A, 100, or 140 (and similar) mid-mount cultivator to a Kubota L245H with almost no modification. It is nearly direct plug and play. No welding or drilling required.

The Kubota L245H is a good buy, if you can find one in the price range of $5,000 to $7,000, in good condition, with the mid-mount cultivator intact. In excellent condition, prices can be as high as $8,000 to $10,000. In addition, Tilmor offers adapters making for easy upgrades to today’s modern cultivation equipment.

Full disclosure, CAFF has a Kubota L245H, in fair condition, that has been sitting for 10 years prior to us receiving it. As we get it serviced and issues repaired, we are preferentially using it over our Farmall 140. It has typical 40-year-old diesel tractor issues that we are currently sorting out.

International Farmall responded to the Kubota L245H with the upgraded International (IH) 274. The IH 274 is essentially a Farmall 140 upgraded with a diesel motor, 3pt hitch instead of the 1pt fast hitch, and does away with the Touch Control hydraulic system in favor of more traditional hydraulic valves and cylinders, such as what is found on most modern tractors including the Kubota L245H. Aside from those few upgrades, the IH 274 uses the same, or similar, mid-mount cultivator, bars, clamps, and implements found on generation 1 Farmall tractors. Supposedly, the IH 274 was not manufactured by International nor was the motor made in-house. Unlike the Super A, 100, and 140, this causes the IH 274 to suffer from broader parts availability due to lack of use across the International lineup. If you have engine problems with the 274, repairs may be more challenging than the Kubota or Farmall previously mentioned.

The IH 274 was offered as an offset tractor as well as a high crop variant, again providing the tractor with an extra 4 to 6 inches of height. The extra high variants are rare but the standard height tractors are reasonably common in this area.

Either the Kubota L245H or the IH 274 would make great, daily use tractors on the farm. However, specialty parts are a bit limited for both models. It would not be a terrible idea to have a parts tractor on hand to source harder to find parts or expect that you will need to manufacture or modify parts down the road as repairs are needed. Both tractors can regularly be found in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Which offset generation 2 tractor would I choose? While I love International tractors, I would chose the Kubota L245H. The 3 cylinder Kubota diesel engines are a dime a dozen. There are millions of them out there powering refer trailers. The motor will likely outlast everything else on the tractor. There is a minimal electrical system that is very easy to work on or bypass and ultimately the tractor itself is easy to work on and comfortable to operate.

Offset Generation 3

The final generation of offset tractors, offered from the late 80’s to early 90’s, included the Case IH 265, the Ford 1710, and John Deere 900 HC. New offset cultivator tractors, by this point in time, were declining heavily in popularity. Older tractors were still running well and the vegetable industry as a whole was moving towards larger, multi row equipment so production numbers for each of these tractors are far fewer than any other offerings. If you can find one of these tractors in good operational condition, you can expect to pay $15,000 to $25,000+ for one. I don’t have significant time behind the wheel of any of these tractors, but have significant time behind the wheel of similar, standard (non offset), Ford and John Deere tractors of this era.

Ford offered a huge lineup of XX10 series tractors. Many of these tractors are still functioning today as they are well built, solid machines. Basic parts for the Ford 1710 offset tractor should be relatively available due to cross platform parts sharing. Furthermore, the mid-mount assembly is a clone of the mid-mount cultivator found on the generation 1 Farmall cultivator tractors (Super A, 100, 140, etc). The mount, toolbars, clamps, etc all look to be exact clones. This means it should be very easy to outfit this tractor with older cultivation equipment using Farmall standards or new cultivation equipment made by Tilmor.

The Case IH 265 is their (Case IH) version of the International 274 (which is really just an upgraded Super A, 100, 140 etc). The Case IH 265 comes with a modern, for its time transmission, ROPS, and a Mitsubishi diesel engine. While it is a newer, more modern version, it is basically just an improved Farmall Super A, with the exact same mid-mount cultivator, bars, clamps, and implements. The tractor itself is not super common and is somewhat difficult to find within the mid-south region. The Case IH 265 was offered in a standard height and extra high variant.

Finally, the John Deere 900 HC is an interesting option, though like the others, it is rare. The John Deere XX0, X50, and X55 series tractors are absolute workhorses. They are well built tractors, with Yanmar diesel engines, whom John Deere still has a partnership with today. Many of the tractors from this generation are still widely in use today and not that dissimilar from economy tractor offerings on the market today. The Horticulture Department has a 900 HC, extra high, and the size or height difference in comparison to our Farmall 140 and Kubota L245H is noticeable and advantageous for taller crops. The mid-mount cultivator frame on the John Deere is a fair bit different than what is offered from other manufacturers. The cultivator frame terminates to what is essentially a Tilmor 2 inch mod-bar. The John Deere 900 HC essentially is plug and play into modern specialty crop cultivation implements. The other tractor offerings all have adapters to connect to modern 2 inch toolbars. However, the John Deere 900 HC offers an easier pathway and perhaps greater flexibility for incorporating modern equipment.

If you can find one, you will pay a premium for a John Deere 900HC. However, they are comfortable, easy to operate, durable, and reliable. The only reason to pass over a John Deere 900HC, is if you are also running any other cultivator tractor on this list so far with modern cultivator equipment and wish to be able to swap equipment back and forth. The connections are too dissimilar to easily move a cultivator from one tractor to the John Deere 900HC and back again. More on that later under standardizing equipment. The John Deere 900HC is not common in Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, or Mississippi but can be found in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Full disclosure, CAFF has access to the Horticulture Department’s 900HC. It will likely see increasing use on the farm.

In case you are not keeping track, the Farmall Super A, 100, and 140, IH 274, Case IH 265, and Ford 1710 all use the EXACT same cultivator frame and the Kubota L245H can mount the Farmall cultivator frame with zero modifications needed. This is extremely important when standardizing equipment on a farm with multiple different offset cultivator tractors and being able to swap cultivators from one tractor to another quickly and easily! If your farms grows to have multiple tractors, this is a critical component to standardization.

The Allis G and Tilmor 520

Allis Chalmers took a completely different approach to crop cultivation with the Allis G. The Allis Chalmers model G moved the motor behind the operator, which left a clear field of vision over the entire middle of the tractor. With the engine at the back of the tractor, the operator could see both sides of the row while cultivating as opposed to a blind spot on the operator’s left side with an offset tractor. The 10 hp gasoline motor seems anemic under load but it is reliable, rebuildable, and is even a good candidate for EV conversion. The Allis G used completely different toolbars than any of the offset tractor offerings, though the implements used essentially the same shanks. This means you could mount Allis- or Farmall-based implements (hillers, cultivators, etc) to any of the previously discussed tractors with ease. Today, there are simple adapters, made by Tilmor, that allow for modern seeding and cultivation equipment.

There are many Allis G tractors still around today; both functional and nonfunctional. New and used parts are abundant and an Allis G can often be purchased for $3,000 to $5,000. There are three downsides to the Allis G, however. First, the 10 hp gasoline tractor means you will not be using it for much more than planting and cultivating. Don’t expect to pull any heavy wagons with it. Second, the operator station is very open. There is no platform separating the operator from the mid-mount cultivator. Third, the Allis G sits quite low so might be best focused on shorter crops like carrots, beets, and greens. Those challenges aside, even a non-running Allis G can be a good purchase for the right price.

The Tilmor 520 is the modern day Allis G. It is bigger, safer, and equipped with a modern, Kubota-supplied 22 hp diesel engine (probably very similar to the one in the Kubota L245H). Pricing for the Tilmor 520 starts at $35,000. However, with just a few add-ons, the tractor can be setup as a seeding and cultivator workhorse. The tractor is designed to quickly and easily swap out mid-mount and rear mount implements. Farms that operate older cultivator tractors will often simply buy more tractors rather than swap out mid-mount components or to reduce risk from a breakdown. The Tilmor, however, can be equipped with an onboard crane making it easy to install and remove mid-mount implements, eliminating the need for multiple cultivator tractors.

I have not had the opportunity to really work with one of these tractors, but if I were in the market for a quality seeding and cultivating tractor, this would be high on my list. I just don’t have real time behind the wheel of one of these to offer much insight. Also, they are quite expensive compared to other options.

The Allis G gets the advantage here simply due to the cost of the Tilmor. Frankly, they are cheap enough that if you need to move setups around frequently you can just buy two! Also, the greater visibility compared to offset tractors is a huge advantage of the Allis G.

Standard Row Crop and High Crops Tractors

For larger farms, traditional row crop tractors manufactured from the 1950’s through early 1980’s with mid-mount cultivators could be suitable options on a farm. Many tractors from this era have become collectors items so finding something in reasonable condition, at a fair price, can be challenging – but they are out there. Fortunately, because so many were made during this time, parts and community support are widely available. So the tractors themselves are not a bad choice. Finding a mid-mount cultivator for one of these tractors, however, can be challenging. Realistically, you will be custom-making something if you want a mid-mount cultivator on an older row crop tractor or you will be limited to 3-point-hitch-mounted setups.

Like the offset tractors already discussed, many row crop tractors are also available in high-crop variants. John Deere seems to offer the most commonly available options and anything they offer is directly based on their popular row crop tractors, so parts and community support are widely available! You cannot go wrong with a John Deere High Crop tractor! Anything from their 3 series, such as the 720, the new generation 10 and 20 series tractors (3020, 4020), and the 50 and 55 series tractors (2755 and 2955 series) can be great options. That is assuming you can find something in good working order. About any high crop tractor from this era, built on a row crop tractor chassis, should work. John Deere continues to make high crop variant tractors (you can buy a brand new one today) but that’s getting beyond our scale of production scope.