Having a small holding, or just a rural property, often involves a much greater variety of jobs than imagined. Grass has to be cut, gravel moved, driveways kept clear, fallen trees and branches cleared, and the onset of winter presents a whole different set of jobs. Outbuildings, gardens and livestock also create their own particular demands.
The first step in selecting the most appropriate equipment is to define those jobs instead of purchasing the largest piece of equipment for every single piece of work. Items to consider when a property owner evaluates farm equipment in Ontario are acreage, topography, current equipment, access, seasonal need, and regular use. Equipment that meets the requirements of one 10-acre property may be entirely inappropriate for another.
Start With the Jobs You Actually Need to Complete
Before starting to compare machines or attachments, list the tasks that routinely occur on the property.
This could be general jobs around your property such as mowing, moving dirt, managing gravel, maintaining the driveway, hauling firewood, clearing brush, managing the area for animals, snow removal, digging, or maintaining trail systems. List jobs that are performed regularly and those that are performed sporadically.
This can save you money. If you use an item on a regular basis (e.g. a weekly basis) then it makes sense to buy it. If you only need it once a year or every two years, then renting would be more cost effective.
It also enables any equipment to be recognized that is capable of doing several of the once daily jobs. The aim is not to have a wide array of attachments, but to maintain a realistic array of equipment to the way in which the property is managed.
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Acreage Is Only One Part of the Decision
Property size does matter, but… just the acres of land is not the sole consideration for the equipment needed.
Ten acres of largely level, open terrain is a world apart from ten acres of woods and hills, with livestock yards, paths, houses, and gardens. The former may require a lot of mowing and simple material handling. The latter is a smaller machine that can operate in tight spaces.
Consider the proportion of the farm that will require constant attention. For example a 30-acre countryside property may have only a few acres that are maintained, whereas a much smaller farm could be required to work most of the land!
Selection of equipment on workload basis rather than on the basis of acreage can lead to a far more practical result.
Pay Close Attention to Terrain
The terrain has an impact on how the equipment performs as well as how safe it is to use.
Uneven ground, slopes, muddy areas, ditches, and tracks through woods may influence what machines are safe to use. Ontario farm-safety advice lists uneven ground and slopes as causes of tractor roll-overs. They also recommend caution when working on uneven, slippery or muddy ground.
Walk or drive around the property and locate places where machinery will frequently operate. Observe slope, turning space, ground conditions, drainage, obstructions and overhead clearance.
A good machine for an open field may be unsuitable for working among barns or tight woodland tracks. Choose your machine according to the most difficult areas where you will actually be working.
Consider What You Already Own
Many landowners can do a lot more than a single task with just one machine.
Having existing equipment, such as tractor, skid steer, excavator, ATV or UTV, suitable attachments can enable that equipment to perform tasks it wouldn’t otherwise be capable of. Choosing the attachment, though, involves more than just checking to see that you can still plug it in.
The attachment should have the capacity to be operated safely with the machine. Hydraulic requirements, lifting capacity, weight, hitch configuration, power requirements and manufacturer specifications.
Ontario also cautions that farm vehicle accessories added to an already existing farm vehicle may present severe risk if the two have not been developed to operate together.
Always confirm the machine and attachment specifications, don’t just trust the connection systems to look similar.
Think About Material Handling
Transporting farm products is perhaps the most widespread farm-related task on farms and rural properties.
Soil, mulch, gravel, manure, feed, logs, fire-wood, fencing supplies and rubbish may all be moved around the farm. If this happens regularly, material-handling capability may become a priority.
Contemplate what will be transported, its weight, the rate of operation, and the destination of the material.
If the property is consistently using bulk material; it may require different equipment than if the materials are only being moved once in a while for landscaping purposes.
Distance is an important consideration too. We need to consider not just transporting material a couple of metres around a small garden but also moving loads between far-flung areas of a larger rural estate.
Plan Around Livestock Requirements
Adding livestock is another type of work coming from properties.
There could be a need for equipment for spreading feed, manure handling, fencing maintenance, bedding handling, accessway clearing or pasture maintenance. The needs are very likely to be very specific to the animals and the layout of the property.
The ease of access becomes even more critical in the vicinity of barns, gates, pens and enclosures. A machine that can be used easily in a wide open area may be too wide to negotiate through and around existing buildings and fences.
Consider where equipment is being transported to before deciding on the size.
Grassland areas for cattle may also include animals and humans in proximity to working machinery. Operators may have specific work procedures and keep bystanders away from operating equipment where appropriate.
Do Not Overlook Woodland and Brush Management
A large number of rural properties in Ontario have wooded portions that require the occasional or frequent maintenance.
Branches blown down might need to be cleared, overgrown trails, scrub may invade usable areas, firewood may need to be moved or cut.
Before investing in any forestry related equipment, consider how often you really do this type of work. A heavily wooded property maintained all year might make a lot of sense to have dedicated equipment, a small wooded boundary might not.
Differentiate further by separating ‘fairly manageable’ property work from more skilled work. Tree felling and other dangerous forestry operations can be highly hazardous, especially in unstable trees, in proximity to overhead hazards, on steep slopes and when using powered cutting tools.
Ontario Winters Need to Be Part of the Equipment Plan
In Ontario, equipment selection for work should not be limited to spring and summer periods.
A country driveway that is simple to get around in July can turn into a huge maintenance burden following heavy snow fall. There may also be a need to access barns, workshops, pens, storage sheds and other high-use areas of the farm.
Consider the length and width of areas to be cleared, normal snow conditions, available storage and the machine to power the snow equipment.
Traction and visibility may be further affected by snow and ice. Snow and ice increase hazards in and around machinery and work areas. In the Ontario farm-safety guidelines, instructions were given to:.
Contemplating winter in the early stages of equipment planning will lessen the rush to buy things on short notice once that first heavy snow falls.
Decide Whether a Tractor, Skid Steer, ATV or UTV Fits the Work
Different machines have different strengths and a small property doesn’t necessarily need a certain type.
A tractor can be used to accomplish a variety of farming and property-maintaining chores with mounted and towed implements. A skid steer may be appropriate in places where maneuvering and dealing with material are more important. An excavator is more suited to the more dedicated digging needs, and an ATV or UTV would be relevant to transportation and lighter tow-behind work.
Rather than “which machine is best in general”, one should prefer “which one is most suitable for the majority of my recurring usage”?
Tools already on hand are also relevant. Where a power pack is already at hand, it may be easier to incorporate matching attachments, rather than another machine which has to be stored, maintained and learned how to operate.
Check Gate Widths and Working Space
Equipment dimensions can easily be overlooked during purchasing.
Measure gates, barn entrances, trails, storage buildings, and other restricted areas where machinery needs to travel. Also consider the turning radius and the additional width or length created by attachments.
Overhead clearance can matter around buildings, trees, and utility infrastructure. Ontario’s tractor-safety guidance specifically notes that equipment dimensions can create difficulties in tight spaces, gates, narrow roadways, and areas with limited overhead clearance.
A machine that cannot comfortably reach the area where it is needed has limited value, regardless of its performance specifications.
Taking a few property measurements before buying equipment can prevent a surprisingly expensive mistake.
Storage Should Influence What You Buy
There must be an appropriate place in the farm to put the equipment when it is not needed.
Some attachments can be stored away for long periods of time. Seasonal use means attachments are stored out of season, snow equipment over summer, mowing equipment over much of winter etc.
Think about the amount of covered or secure storage there is and whether equipment is conveniently available when required.
Store items in a manner where they are secure and can be left safely and maintained. Keeping attachments in awkward places will result in hard work to connect them up. It can also increase their exposure to the weather or accidental damage.
If space is at a premium, then it may be less economical to buy several specialized attachments rather than to hire some tools to do the occasional job.
Buying and Renting Can Both Make Sense
Not all useful equipment has to be owned.
Frequency of use. Comparing purchase to rent/lease can be one of the simplest when looking at the frequent use of the equipment year-round. If the equipment is needed multiple times a year, it may be wiser to buy, so it will be readily available as needed.
Particularly, equipment that is specific to one project or infrequently maintained could be more appropriately rented.
Consider maintenance, storage, transportation and depreciation also, instead of only comparing rental charges with the purchase price.
One handy tip is to keep record of the repeating jobs in the first year of maintaining the property. This may show what rented machines or attachments are required so often that it might be time to buy your own.
Think About Maintenance and Parts Before Purchasing
Ownership of equipment continues well beyond purchase.
Filters, fluids, hoses, cutting edges, bearings, tires, hydraulic components, and other wear items may get to the point that they need attention depending on the equipment. Think in advance about how readily replaceable components are available and if reasonable service support can be obtained.
Downtime can be quite significant when equipment fills an important seasonal role. A snow attachment that is unable to work during a substantial snowstorm or mowing equipment that is not available during prime growing season can be real issues.
Ontario farm equipment guidance strengthens working and staying in spec. safety devices.
Parts and service availability should therefore be considered during equipment selection and not after failure.
Do Not Treat Safety as an Optional Feature
Farm and rural equipment may involve rotating parts, hydraulic pressure, points of cut, pinch points, crush hazards and large loads in movement.
Shields, guards and operational instructions and the use of proper training and safe maintenance procedures are all important no matter how large or small the property is. Ontario guidance suggested using the equipment solely for its designed purpose as directed by the manufacturer and to maintain shields and guards as recommended.
Hydraulics should be treated with extra caution as they have high quantities of stored energy. High pressure and hydraulic leaks can result in serious injury, hence they should not be checked with bare hands.
Smaller farms do not imply that there are less serious implications when equipment is used inappropriately. Operator experience and prudent operating practices should determine suitability of equipment.
Build Your Equipment Collection Gradually
It can be tempting to equip a new rural property for every imaginable task immediately.
In practice, equipment priorities often become clearer after living and working on the property through different seasons.
Start with the jobs that occur most frequently or create the greatest operational need. Mowing, material handling, driveway maintenance, snow clearing, or livestock work may rise to the top depending on the property.
Less frequent jobs can initially be handled through rentals or other arrangements. After a year or two, patterns become easier to identify, making future purchases more informed.
This approach can also prevent money and storage space from being committed to equipment that rarely gets used.
Match the Equipment to the Property
Choosing farm equipment Ontario owners can use effectively is ultimately about matching machinery to real working conditions. Acreage matters, but so do terrain, access, existing machines, seasonal weather, storage, livestock, woodland, and the frequency of individual jobs.
The largest or most powerful equipment is not automatically the most useful. A smaller machine that can comfortably move through gates, operate safely on the property, accept the right attachments, and handle frequently performed tasks may provide far greater everyday value.
By starting with the property and its annual workload, owners can build an equipment setup gradually. The result is a collection based on actual needs rather than assumptions about what a small farm or rural property is supposed to have.
