Agricultural machines | Descriptions of equipment Farming Simulator 17 Guide
Last update: 28 November 2016
This chapter provides information on ploughs, cultivators and fertilizing equipment. It also provides you with description of their intended use, key characteristics, controls as well as the most interesting (or troublesome) models.
Ploughs
Ploughs are used to prepare soil for planting, they improve their characteristics and increase crops by 10%. Also, you can form new fields using them (you first have to confirm that you want to do that (Y)), you attach them at the back side of the tractor. To activate plough, you only have to lower it (V) - it is a passive piece of equipment. Larger models require to be extended first (X). In majority of cases, you have to use a weigh attached to the front of the tractor. The difference between individual models lies in plowing width.
Cultivators
Cultivators allow you to prepare soil for planting faster than a plough, but it does not provide you with a bonus to crops and also, (at levels other than easy) it does not supplant the necessity to plow every 3 harvests. Just like ploughs, it is passive, so It only needs to be lowered (V) and you simply have to cover the field to use it. Larger models have to be unfolded first (X). You attach them at the back side of the tractor.
Difference between individual models lies in working width. The only exception is Amazone Catros 6002-2, which allows you to spread manure over the field simultaneously, after it is attached to Zunhammer SKE Slurry spreader - however, it is recommended that you use the dedicated Zunhammer ZuniDisc, which you also find in Slurry spreaders category, because Amazone not always works properly. You can also find some other cultivators, of better capabilities, in Sowing Machines category.
Sowing Machines
Sowing machines drop seeds into the ground from which plants will grow. Before you can use them, however, you have to fill them: in Sosnovka there's a special tank used for seed and fertilizer filling - you have to purchase them in Goldcrest Valley, on pallets (filling (R)). Sowing machine is simply filled with "seeds" - you can select the type of sowing right before using it. To activate the device over a plowed field you have to lower the device (V) and activate it (B). Larger models require you to set them up (X) beforehand. You select the seeds with the (Y) key. Sowing machines are attached to the back of the tractor.
Note that the potato sowing machine can be filled with potatoes collected from the previous harvest - unload them and then put them into the sowing machine with the universal shovel.
Sowing machines can be divided into three categories:
- Used to plant wheat, barley, soy, sunflower, grass and radish;
- Used to plant soya, corn, sunflower and sugar beet;
- Used to plant potatoes.
In each category you will find models that combine two or three functions: cultivating, planting and fertilizing. In the case of grains you should save enough money to purchase Horsch Pronto 9 DC - the same goes for the second category. When it comes to potatoes, you only have access to two devices - only the more expensive Grimme GL 860 Compacta will allow you to plant and fertilize simultaneously. You should note, however, that the fertilizer used is always a chemical one - if you want to use your own, natural one, you have to use other machines without any additional functionality, or simply use it during the next fertilizing session with proper machines.
Sprayers
Sprayers were already mentioned in the chapter about fertilizing. Those machines use liquids, making them both the most expensive and most effective when it comes to crop fertilization. To use them you have to set them up (X) and activate (B) them. There are three models of sprayers available: the most basic Amazone UF 1201 (attached to the back or front of the tractor), Nicolas Caruelle Stilla 460 (which can be used even with a pickup truck as it is simply a trailer), or the self-propelled New Holland SP.400F.
A thing worth noting is the fact that the Amazone FT 1001 sprayer attached to a tractor will increase the amount of spraying you can carry with yourself and it's not limited to Amazone UF 1201 - it can be used with any device that uses spraying method.
Fertilizer spreaders
There are three vehicles available in this group, differing from each other with speed and fertilization surface. Those vehicles use solid, chemical fertilizers, which are also cheaper. However, those machines are less effective than sprayers. The first two devices are attached to the front or to the back of the tractor, allowing them to work with other devices at the same time. A sprayer can be lowered (V), but it can also function in the raised mode, after activating it with the (B) button. It allows slight stability control in cooperation with another machine attached to the tractor.
Manure spreaders
Manure is a natural fertilizer, as well as one of the cheapest (or even free) if you have cattle or herd. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of those machines is the lowest of all of the available methods of fertilization in the game. If you want to use them (B), you have to first fill them with manure with the help of shovel/fork.
Slurry tankers
Slurry is also a natural (and free) and a fairly effective fertilizer at the same time. You can also fertilize fields with compost with the help of those machines - it can be acquired after delivering silage to the Biogas Plant. The only difference between different models of slurry tankers is the operating speed, fertilization surface and capacity. However, the Zunhammer SKE 18.5 PUD model can fertilize and cultivate fields at the same time, provided that you attach Zunhammer ZeniDisc, or Amazone Catros 6002-2 (Cultivators category) to the sprayer. Unfortunately, the latter one sometimes does not function properly. It is also the only machine in the game that allows you to fertilize and cultivate your fields at the same time, using a natural fertilizer.
Additional devices available in the store are Garant FRC and Garant TSA 30000. The former can be used as a field tank, when the fertilized fields are located far away from the place you can gather slurry. The latter one, on the other hand, can't be used to fertilize directly - it's only a tank used to transport slurry around. It also requires a truck if you want to attach it to a tractor.
Note - if you want to sell silage to a biogas plant you have to use Garant TSA 30000 - it cannot be transported with a sprayer.
Weeders
Weeders are devices used to remove weeds from the field when the plants aren't too high (0-2 ripeness stage). After going through a field with a weeder you will get +1 to fertilizing, similar to when a regular fertilizer method is used, making it a great and free fertilization method. However, it can only be used during an early development stage of a plant. Additionally, it cannot be used twice (or more) on the same field during a single vegetative cycle. It's a passive device - you just have to lower it down (V) and drive through a field.
A better model, Einbock Pneumatisctar 900, lets you plant grass and oilseed radish. This in turn allows you to improve the quality of fertilizing twice using a single machine - but you have to do it before you plant the seeds.