In many agricultural operations, the tractor represents one of the largest investments made by a farm. The purchase of a modern machine can exceed €120,000–€200,000, and in the case of high-power tractors, costs may even reach €300,000.

The profitability of a tractor is not calculated solely based on the purchase price, but on the total cost of ownership throughout the machine’s lifespan. This cost includes depreciation, fuel, maintenance, spare parts, and financing costs.

In commercial farms, the depreciation period of a tractor is typically calculated over 8–10 years. If a machine costs around €200,000 and is used 800–1,000 hours per year, the depreciation cost alone can exceed €20 per operating hour, to which fuel and maintenance expenses are added.

Economic analyses carried out within the European agricultural sector indicate that the total operating cost of a tractor can frequently reach €50–€70 per hour, depending on the machine’s power and the intensity of its use.

Farm size therefore becomes a key factor in the economic efficiency of such investments. On small farms, the limited level of utilization can make it difficult to amortize machinery costs, while large operations can distribute these expenses across significantly larger cultivated areas.

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