ANSI/ASAE S390.

4 JAN2005
Definitions and Classifications of Agricultural Field Equipment

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ANSI/ASAE S390.4 JAN2005
Approved February 2005 as an American National Standard
Definitions and Classifications of Agricultural Field Equipment
Proposed by the Engineering Policy Committee of the Farm and
Industrial Equipment Institute; approved by the ASAE Power and
Machinery Division Standards Committee; adopted by ASAE March
1978; reconfirmed December 1982; revised February 1984; reconfirmed
December 1988; reaffirmed December 1993, December 1994, December
1996, December 1997, December 1998; revised January 2001, June
2001, January 2005; approved as an American National Standard
February 2005; periodic review extension for two years approved July
2009.
Keywords: Classification, Definitions, Equipment, Machinery
1 Purpose and scope
1.1 This Standard provides classifications and definitions of agricultural
field equipment† designed primarily for use in agricultural operations for
the production of food and fiber.
1.2 This Standard is intended to establish uniformity in terms used for
agricultural field equipment in standards, technical papers, specifications
and in general usage.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions that, through reference in this
text, constitute provisions of this Standard. At the time of publication, the
editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to revision, and
parties to agreements based on this Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the
standards indicated below. Standards organizations maintain registers of
currently valid standards.
ASAE S203.13 JAN01, Front and Rear Power Take-Off for Agricultural
Tractors
ASAE S217.11 JAN01, Three-Point Free-Link Attachment for Hitching
Implements to Agricultural Wheel Tractors
ISO 6165, Earth-moving machinery-Basic types-Vocabulary
3 Definitions
3.1 agricultural field equipment: Agricultural tractors, self-propelled
machines, implements, and combinations thereof designed primarily for
agricultural field operations.
3.1.1 agricultural tractor (ATR): A traction machine, intended primarily
for off-road usage, designed and advertised primarily to supply power to
agricultural implements. An agricultural tractor propels itself and provides
a force in the direction of travel and may provide mechanical, hydraulic
and/or electrical power to agricultural implements to enable them to
perform their intended functions.
3.1.1.1 two-wheel drive tractor: An agricultural tractor with traction
power provided only through the rear tires. The front tires are smaller
than the rear and typically use a profile type with no traction capability.
3.1.1.2 two-wheel drive tractor with front assist: An agricultural
tractor with primary power provided through the rear tires and assist
†
Other terms commonly used are farm machinery, farm implements, implements of
husbandry and agricultural machinery.
‡
Maximum ground speeds are based on the nominal design capability of the
machine and advertised capability of the machine with any tires offered as
original equipment. This will be the largest diameter drive tires on tractors and
self-propelled machines but not necessarily on towed equipment. A particular
towed machine may be in one or more classes based on optional equipment.
ASABE STANDARDS 2009 ANSIÕASAE S390.4 JAN2005
power through the front tires. Front tires are generally larger in rolling
radius than a two-wheel drive tractor and use a tire profile that will
transmit traction capability.
3.1.1.3 four-wheel drive tractor: An agricultural tractor with equal sized
wheels and having equal and full time power to all wheels. Steering is
accomplished by articulation or a rigid frame with all wheel steering.
3.1.1.4 track-laying tractor: An agricultural tractor with the primary
interface for traction using even multiples of belted or link drive tracks.
Belted units in this definition may have either a positive, friction or
combination positive-friction drive. Belts that fit over regular tractor tires
are not included in this definition.
3.1.1.5 compact utility tractor: A small agricultural tractor equipped
with a 540-rpm rear PTO (ASAE S203) and a three-point hitch designed
for Category I (ASAE S217) implements only. These tractors generally
have a mass less than 1800 kg (4000 lb.); have less than 30 PTO kW (40
hp) and are primarily designed and advertised for use with mowers and
light-duty material handling equipment. Tractor mass is the mass of the
unloaded tractor in operating order with tanks and radiators full, including
protective structure with cladding and any wheel equipment or additional
front-wheel drive components required to support the tractor static
weight. The operator, optional hitch equipment, optional ballast weights,
additional wheel equipment, and other special equipment are not
included.
3.1.1.6 utility transport tractor: An agricultural tractor that combines
the primary functions as described in clause 3.1.1 with the capability to
transport materials in conditions requiring greater maneuverability of
equipment. For transport functions, in addition to offering the feature of a
drawbar or three-point hitch, this tractor can utilize load-carrying devices
to transmit portions of a towed load onto the tractor chassis. This
provides for closer coupling of the tractor and trailed implement for
improved maneuverability. Configurations may include mounted boxes or
tanks for transport of materials.
3.1.1.6.1 utility transport tractor (type 1): A tractor as defined in clause
3.1.1.6 with the provision for only the operator.
3.1.1.6.2 utility transport tractor (type 2): A tractor as defined
in clause 3.1.1.6 with the provision for an operator and additional
personnel.
3.1.1.7 low profile tractor: An agricultural tractor optimized for low
clearance operation and advertised for use in orchards and low
headroom applications. It is usually configured with the following
characteristics:
• On wheeled tractors, the front wheel spacing is equal to the rear wheel
spacing, as measured from the centerline of each right wheel to the
centerline of the corresponding left wheel.
• The clearance from the bottom of the tractor chassis to the ground does
not exceed 460 mm (18 in.)
• The highest point of the hood does not exceed 1525 mm (60 in.)
3.1.1.8 orchard tractor: An agricultural tractor for operation in orchards
incorporating shielding to minimize the snagging of branches, to provide
protection for the operator and to minimize damage to fruit. It is usually
configured with narrow hoods, and with hood height and steering wheel/
column height under 1525 mm (60 in.), which are design features to
address these requirements.
3.1.1.9 vineyard or narrow profile tractor: An agricultural wheeled
tractor with a narrow overall width. The minimum track width is less than
1150 mm (45 in.)
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 Table 1 – Agricultural field equipment ground speed classes

Ground Speed (km/h‡)

Agricultural Field Equipment Group Symbol 25 40 50 65 ⬎65

Agricultural tractor ATR ATR25 ATR40 ATR50 ATR65 ATR65 Plus

Towed implement ATI ATI25 ATI40 ATI50 ATI65 ATI65 Plus
Rear mounted implement MER Not Applicable
Front mounted implement MEF Not Applicable
Rear semi-mounted implement SMR SMR25 SMR40 SMR50 SMR65 SMR65 Plus
Front semi-mounted implement SMF SMF25 SMF40 SMF50 SMF65 SMF65 Plus
Self-propelled machine SPM SPM25 SPM40 SPM50 SPM65 SPM65 Plus
Bulk carrier/agricultural trailer ABC ABC25 ABC40 ABC50 ABC65 ABC65 Plus

3.1.1.10 mudder tractor: An agricultural wheeled tractor having a higher
crop clearance than standard tractors. Clearance under the front and rear
axles exceeds 500 mm (20 in.). Higher clearance is usually achieved by,
but not limited to, using taller section tires. These tractors are equipped
with Front Wheel Drive Assist to operate in adverse field conditions such
as irrigation or crossing of irrigation ditches. These tractors are typically
advertised for use in mature vegetable crops. A prime use is in harvesting
of the crop requiring lower ground speeds than provided on standard
agricultural tractors.
3.1.1.11 high-clearance tractor: A two wheel drive agricultural tractor
designed for operation in vegetables, cotton, rice, tobacco or other
specialty row crops requiring high clearance to avoid crop damage.
High-clearance tractors are typically characterized by the addition of
extended length axle spindles for front axles with rear axle modifications
that provide an axle output significantly below the centerline of the rear
axle trumpets. They are normally equipped with large diameter, narrow
width tires to minimize crop damage. Typical drawbar to ground
clearance exceeds 450 mm (17.7 in.)
3.1.1.12 agricultural scraper tractor: An agricultural tractor, either
wheeled or track laying, adopted and advertised primarily to pull one or
more tow behind scrapers as defined in ISO 6165.
3.1.2 agricultural implement: An implement that is designed to perform
agricultural field operations.
3.1.2.1 towed implement (ATI): An implement that is pulled by a tractor
and is usually equipped with wheels required for transport.
3.1.2.2 mounted implement:
3.1.2.2.1 rear mounted (MER): An implement that is mounted directly
on the rear of the tractor and is fully carried by the tractor during
transport.
3.1.2.2.2 front mounted (MEF): An implement that is mounted directly
on the front of the tractor and is fully carried by the tractor during
transport.
3.1.2.3 semi-mounted implement:
3.1.2.3.1 rear semi-mounted (SMR): An implement that is partially
mounted on the rear of the tractor and partially carried on wheels during
operation and/or transport.
3.1.2.3.2 front semi-mounted (SMF): An implement that is partially
mounted on the front of the tractor and partially carried on wheels during
operation and/or transport.
3.1.3 self-propelled machine (SPM): A machine designed with an
integral power unit to provide mobility, tractive effort, and process power
for performing agricultural operations. Definitions for some self-propelled
machines follow. Agricultural tractors are excluded.
3.1.3.1 self-propelled beet harvester: A self-propelled machine that
digs and conveys sugar beets to an attached bin or into an
accompanying truck or wagon.
3.1.3.2 self-propelled combine: A self-propelled machine for
harvesting a wide variety of grain and seed crops. Normally this machine
also gathers the crop.
3.1.3.3 self-propelled cotton harvester: A self-propelled machine for
selection and collecting cotton from open bolls on cotton stalks consisting
of picking heads equipped with revolving spindles or other picking
means, a conveying means, and a bin for carrying the picked cotton.
3.1.3.4 self-propelled forage harvester: A self-propelled machine that
gathers and chops forage crops. The machine usually has a discharge
that loads the chopped material into an accompanying wagon or truck.
3.1.3.5 self-propelled forage baler: A self-propelled machine that picks
up and compresses loose forage into compact secured bales. Bales are
discharged to ground surface or to an accompanying conveyance.
3.1.3.6 self-propelled high clearance sprayer: A self-propelled
machine that carries a supply tank, pump, and spray heads for spraying
crops that require high clearance. Crop clearance of the machine is
usually over 1220 mm (48 in.).
3.1.3.7 self-propelled windrower or mower conditioner: A
self-propelled machine that cuts and gathers standing forage, grain
crops, or seed crops into windrows for drying and pickup. In forage
operations, the machine normally includes a crop conditioning
attachment.
3.1.3.8 self-propelled telehandlers: A self-propelled machine designed
and advertised for both the mobility and handling of agricultural materials.
These machines are equipped with telescopic boom lifts for material
placement. A drawbar may also be provided for light towing applications.
3.1.3.9 self-propelled automatic bale accumulator: A self-propelled
machine that picks up, accumulates, stacks and deposits bales of forage
that have been deposited on the ground.
3.1.4 bulk carrier equipment (ABC): An agricultural trailer whose
primary purpose is to transport agricultural products (examples include
but are not limited to livestock watering and waste hauling systems, bulk
grain and fertilizer carts, forage wagons, and the associated running gear
for any of the aforesaid.)
4 Classifications
4.1 Ground speed classes. Agricultural field equipment is divided into
5 ground speed classifications (Table 1) based on their nominal
maximum ground speed in an original equipment configuration as
designed and specified by the manufacturer.‡
Equipment which is classified includes:
— Agricultural Tractors (ATR),
— Towed Implements (ATI),
— Rear Semi-Mounted Implements (SMR),
— Front Semi-Mounted Implements (SMF),
— Self-Propelled Machines (SPM), and
— Agricultural Bulk Carrier Equipment (ABC),
The term xxx in the classification represents the abbreviation for a
specific defined equipment group. (Example: Class ATR40 represents
agricultural tractors (ATR) where maximum ground speed is greater than
25 km/h (16 mph) but not exceeding 40 km/h (25 mph).)

2 ANSIÕASAE S390.4 JAN2005 ASABE STANDARDS 2009

4.1.1 Class xxx25: Maximum ground speed up to 25 km/h (16 mph).‡ 4.1.4 Class xxx65: Maximum ground speed greater than 50 km/h (31
4.1.2 Class xxx40: Maximum ground speed greater than 25 km/h (16 mph) but not exceeding 65 km/h (40 mph).‡
mph) but not exceeding 40 km/h (25 mph).‡ 4.1.5 Class xxx65 Plus: Maximum ground speed above 65 km/h (40
4.1.3 Class xxx50: Maximum ground speed greater than 40 km/h (25 mph).‡
mph) but not exceeding 50 km/h (31 mph).‡

ASABE STANDARDS 2009 ANSIÕASAE S390.4 JAN2005 3