Tractor debut
Author: American Vegetable Grower

Equipment

McCormick introduces its mudder tractors at the World Ag Expo.

MCCORMICK International U.S.A. chose the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA, to introduce the company's line of "mudder" tractors. This was appropriate since California is the largest market for this type of tractor. A mudder tractor, as it is known in California's Salinas Valley, the largest fresh vegetable production district in the world, is basically a row crop tractor with mechanical front-wheel drive, a transmission with creeper gears to allow very slow travel speeds, and narrow, large diameter tires front and rear to increase the clearance underneath the tractor. The main use of these tractors is for harvesting. The mudder name comes from their ability to pull harvesting equipment and loaded produce trailers through wet and muddy fields without getting stuck.

Designed For The Dirty Work

The McCormick mudder tractors are available in four models: the C 100, and the MTX 110, 125, and 140. Horsepower (hp) ratings range from 100 to 147 engine hp, and all of the tractors use Perkins engines with a four-cylinder unit in the C 100 and six-cylinder engines in the MTX tractors.

The C 100 Vegetable Special, as it is called by McCormick, features a 16-- speed forward, 8-speed reverse creeper transmission; 290/90 R38 front tires and 320/90 R54 rear tires to provide ground clearance over tall vegetable crops such as broccoli and cauliflower. The model is equipped with a Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) and is not available with a cab. It is available with a special three-point hitch which provides the correct height of the lift points so the tractor can also be used for planting and cultivating.