Modern agriculture has long gone beyond simple manual labour. This is especially true for large agricultural exporters who work with thousands of hectares of fields and dozens of tonnes of produce per day. Their success depends not only on soil fertility and weather conditions, but also on the right choice of agricultural machinery.
Today, equipment is not just ‘iron’, but high-tech solutions that combine GPS navigation, sensors, automation and real-time analytics. That is why the choice of equipment is a strategic decision that directly affects the efficiency of the farm, its profitability and competitiveness in the international market.
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The role of agricultural machinery in agricultural production
Agricultural machinery is the driving force behind agricultural production, automating the main stages of field work — from pre-sowing preparation to harvesting.
Its use allows farmers to efficiently manage large areas, optimise resource consumption and increase profitability. Machines not only speed up the completion of tasks, but also guarantee consistent quality of work, which is especially important in conditions of unstable climate or limited time during the agricultural season.
Large export-oriented farms depend on high precision in technological operations, and it is modern technology that allows them to meet agricultural deadlines, reduce losses and minimise the human factor.
Thanks to satellite technology and GPS navigation, machines operate with minimal deviation, ensuring uniform sowing and accurate fertiliser application. This is especially important for preserving soil fertility and maintaining sustainable production.
At the same time, technology is becoming a tool for adapting to market challenges: in times of war, logistics problems or staff shortages, it allows farmers to remain efficient.
As a result, agricultural technology is transforming from an auxiliary element into a strategic resource, without which stable large-scale agricultural production is impossible.
Advantages of agricultural machinery
The use of agricultural machinery gives agricultural producers a number of strategic advantages that significantly affect the efficiency, costs and productivity of the farm. In large agricultural enterprises, it is not just a tool — it is the basis for stable and profitable work.
Key advantages include:
- Saving time and effort. Machines allow you to quickly complete tasks that previously took days or even weeks.
- Accuracy and consistency of work. Thanks to GPS navigation, sensors and automated control, the equipment ensures accurate dosing of seeds, fertilisers and plant protection products.
- Reduced labour requirements. One machine operator can perform work that previously required an entire team.
- Increased yield. Correct and timely performance of agricultural operations directly affects the end result — the quality and quantity of the harvest.
- Economic feasibility. Although the initial costs are high, in the long term, the equipment pays for itself through cost optimisation and increased productivity.
- Access to financing. Government support programmes, leasing offers and grants (e.g. from the EBRD) make modern equipment affordable.
- Sustainable development. Modern machines reduce the number of treatments, prevent soil compaction, reduce the use of chemicals, and help adhere to the principles of precision farming.
All these factors contribute to the growth of agricultural profitability and make agricultural machinery a key element of modern farming.
Main types of agricultural machinery
Depending on the size of the farm, farmers choose either multifunctional machines or highly specialised equipment with high precision. The use of innovative units that support automatic control and integration with digital platforms is particularly relevant.
Below, we will look at the key categories of agricultural machinery, each of which has its own characteristics and plays an important role in ensuring stable production.
Planting agricultural machinery
Sowing requires particular precision, as it determines the start of plant development, uniformity of germination and subsequent yield. Planting agricultural equipment ensures accurate seed placement in the soil, control of sowing depth and uniformity of row spacing. In large farms, where the area under cultivation reaches hundreds of hectares, the use of modern sowing machines is a critical condition for efficient production.
Planting equipment includes various types of seeders — grain, precision sowing, and combined. They are capable of working with variable sowing rates using pre-formed sowing maps, which is especially relevant in precision farming. This saves seeds, ensures optimal crop placement, and reduces competition for resources between plants.
Tukov seeders are a separate category, which apply fertiliser at the same time as sowing seeds, increasing the effectiveness of initial nutrition. Such units are actively used on small and medium-sized plots, where it is important to reduce the number of passes of machinery across the field. Seed and fertiliser spreaders with a combined system are also popular among farmers who want to achieve maximum effect from the sowing campaign without wasting time.
Modern units can be equipped with sowing control sensors, automatic section shut-off units and GPS navigation, which guarantees no overlaps or gaps. This is especially valuable for large exporters who seek to optimise yields per hectare, reducing costs and increasing stability.
Equipment for irrigation and water distribution
Irrigation is a critical component of modern agricultural production, especially in regions with irregular rainfall or drought risk. That is why irrigation and water distribution equipment is an integral part of the technical fleet of large agricultural enterprises. It allows for uniform soil moistening, avoids stressful conditions for crops and, accordingly, stabilises yields in each field.
Such equipment includes pumping stations, pipes, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, as well as multifunctional automated complexes with timers, humidity and temperature sensors. One of the most effective solutions for large areas is centrally driven irrigation systems, which provide uniform circular watering with minimal water loss.
The advantage of modern systems is the ability to precisely control the frequency and volume of irrigation, taking into account soil conditions, crop development phase and weather conditions. This avoids over-watering or drying out, increasing water use efficiency.
Special attention is paid to equipment for transporting water and liquid fertilisers, such as tanks, mobile distribution systems, and equipment for combined liquid application with irrigation. In some cases, it is advisable to use fire sprinkler systems that activate automatically when the temperature exceeds a certain level.
In general, investments in irrigation systems pay off through increased crop stability, water conservation, and the ability to maintain optimal agricultural conditions even in unfavourable years.
Equipment for fertiliser application and pest control
The rational application of fertilisers and plant protection products is one of the key factors in achieving high yields. The technology used for these tasks ensures uniform and accurate distribution of substances across the field, minimising resource overuse and reducing the impact on the environment. In large farms, where the area is measured in hundreds of hectares, this process is simply impossible without mechanised systems.
The main types of equipment include sprayers (self-propelled, trailed and mounted), mineral fertiliser spreaders, as well as specialised manure spreaders and tanks for liquid organic fertilisers. Sprayers ensure accurate dosing of liquid preparations — herbicides, fungicides, insecticides — with the ability to adjust the working width, supply pressure and spray frequency. This reduces product losses and lowers the risk of phytotoxicity.
Mineral fertiliser spreaders are used for dry application of nutrients. Modern units can adjust the application rate depending on the soil type or crop development phase, which helps to avoid excess or deficiency of elements in different areas of the field. This increases the efficiency of fertilisation while reducing costs.
Manure spreaders and tanks for organic matter are another important element, especially for mixed farms. They allow for the even distribution of both solid and liquid manure, increasing the natural fertility of the soil without chemical loading.
Mechanised application of fertilisers and plant protection products is not only convenient but also economically beneficial. Thanks to precise control of the rate, speed and trajectory of spraying or spreading, farmers can achieve high accuracy in their operations, which is particularly important for export-oriented enterprises that operate according to product quality certification standards.
Harvesting equipment
Harvesting is the final but extremely important stage of agricultural production. The quality and speed of harvesting determine the final losses, the profitability of the season, and the ability to transport products to elevators or for export in a timely manner. Harvesting equipment allows this process to be mechanised, significantly reducing dependence on weather conditions and human resources.
The harvesting fleet is based on combine harvesters, which simultaneously cut, thresh, clean and transport grain to the bunker. Combine harvesters are equipped with different types of reapers — for cereals, legumes, corn, sunflowers — depending on the crop. Specialised forage harvesters are used for forage crops, which can chop green mass during harvesting.
A separate niche is occupied by equipment for harvesting root crops — potato diggers, beet harvesters, machines for carrots, onions and garlic. They simultaneously dig up, clean and transport the produce, reducing mechanical damage.
Mowers — hand-held, mounted and trailed — are used for mowing grass and row crops. And for the initial transportation of the harvest in the field — reloaders, hoppers and belt conveyors. In many cases, such equipment is combined with accurate moisture sensors, GPS monitoring and real-time plot productivity assessment systems.
Automation of the harvesting process is especially important for large enterprises. It allows them to avoid downtime, respond quickly to changes in weather, reduce losses in the field, and ensure uninterrupted supply to markets. That is why modern harvesting units are a key link in the agricultural export technology chain.
What do large exporters choose?
Large export-oriented agricultural producers take a strategic approach to the choice of machinery: the key is not only the functionality of the machine, but also its long-term profitability, service support and cost-effectiveness in the face of growing production risks. The choice is made based on an analysis of agro-technological needs, the amount of cultivated land and available financing instruments.
Most often, large exporters prefer equipment that:
- has a universal application – for example, tractors with the ability to be combined with a wide range of attachments;
- enables precise dosing of inputs – variable rate seeders and sprayers;
- high productivity – combines with a large hopper, wide reapers and loss control sensors;
- is characterised by an optimal price/quality ratio – especially popular was the equipment imported to Ukraine before the price spike in 2022, which was purchased at pre-war prices;
- supports integration with digital management systems, which allows you to combine data from fields, analyse application efficiency and adjust technological maps.
The market is dominated by pre-sowing soil preparation equipment (disc harrows, deep rippers), grain seeders, fertiliser drills, sprayers and combines with adapted reapers. Strip-till technology is also in demand as an intermediate solution between conventional and no-till cultivation, which reduces fuel and time consumption.
Given the limited investment opportunities, exporters are actively using leasing and credit programmes, with up to 80% of machinery sales coming from bank financing. The most effective are the government’s 5-7-9% programme and support instruments from international organisations that compensate for part of the cost of machinery.
The impact of modern technology on agricultural machinery
Modern agricultural machinery is rapidly transforming under the influence of precision farming technologies, automation and digital control systems. In large-scale production, this process is no longer a trend — it is a production necessity.
Thanks to the integration of sensors, satellite navigation and analytical tools, machinery is becoming an intelligent assistant that not only performs mechanical work, but also analyses, adapts and helps make decisions.
One of the key areas is precision planting. Tractors equipped with GPS navigation ensure consistent row spacing and minimise overlap. Variable rate seed drills automatically adjust the amount of seed depending on soil conditions and field zoning, which increases the efficiency of seed use.
Automated irrigation systems allow for soil moisture, weather conditions and crop needs to be taken into account, avoiding water wastage. Data from built-in sensors help farmers make informed decisions about irrigation regimes, increasing the efficiency of water use.
During fertiliser and plant protection product application, variable rate technology (VRT) allows units to be configured to deliver the exact amount of substances to specific areas of the field. This not only reduces costs but also minimises the risk of environmental pollution.
During harvesting, equipment is equipped with moisture sensors, loss sensors, and product quality control systems. Combines can automatically adapt their operating parameters depending on the crop, weather conditions, or soil type.
Agricultural machinery is increasingly being connected to a single farm information system, transmitting data on the progress of field work, fuel consumption, and machine productivity. This allows agricultural producers to plan logistics and maintenance and even predict the economic feasibility of each technological operation.
Conclusion
Agricultural machinery is the main resource of modern agricultural production, without which it is impossible to ensure stable yields, efficient use of resources and competitiveness in the global market.
For large exporters, machinery is not only a tool for performing field work, but also an element of strategy that determines the profitability of the farm and its ability to adapt to new conditions.
The development of precision farming, automation, analytics and control systems opens up new opportunities for optimising every stage of the production process — from sowing to harvesting.
At the same time, the economic situation is forcing farmers to choose the most balanced solutions, focusing on multifunctionality, service availability, energy efficiency and financial programme support.
