Compact Tractors: An Illustrated Guide and History

Compact Utility Tractors, or CUTs, are cute little cutters! As farming became more refined so did the needs of tractors. The answer was a smaller, more maneuverable and fuel-efficient tractor with a variety of implements and attachments. With this focus on special needs, attachments became available such as plows, disc harrows, mower decks, cultivators, spreaders, snowblowers, and more. They have become a necessary utility for farmers, orchards, small construction jobs, and landscaping/maintenance for estates, parks and golf courses. At the forefront of this evolution was the Farmall Cub and John Deere Model L. Then came the Japanese invasion; a new kind of tractor by companies such as Yanmar and Kubota. These four-wheel drive machines were rugged and tough and used a variety of hydraulically powered attachments. American companies like John Deere, International Harvester, and Massey Ferguson built their own their own four-wheel versions. Today’s compact tractors, such as the Kubota BX series, Massey Ferguson’s GC series, and the John Deere 3000, offer an even larger selection of implements for special purposes.