The wide-swing drawbar which rotates around the centre of the tractor allows him to turn sharper. The Thackers grow wheat and regular and hybrid canolas as well as peppermint, spearmint, dill and catnip. Growing these special crops means seeding shallow and compaction is a big concern. Before, even with triples, which spread the weight and keep the p.s.i. low, we would see tracks. With the 9400T we can't see where the tractor has travelled.
Dale feels they have to be careful on their light land, especially on the irrigated acres.
The tractor is equipped with 36-inch tracks which help to reduce the compaction. Thacker says they don't have to worry about mud like on the heavier clay soils. They pull 62 feet of cultivator when working the land and seed with 40 feet of air seeder. The 9400T meets all the needs of their operation. Cat Challenger Olaf Cordes has been operating Cat Challengers for five years on his 4,000-acre farm at New Norway, Alta.