Can You Identify All of This Equipment a Farmer Would Use?

By: Lauren Lubas
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Identify All of This Equipment a Farmer Would Use?
Image: Nick Brundle Photography / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

America's farmers produce food that is exported all over the country as well as the food that we eat every day. The farming and agriculture industry takes up nearly 1 billion (with a B) acres of U.S. land. With over 2.2 million farms (as of 2007) giving us everything from chickens to avocados to grapes and all the way down to onions, the farming industry produces tons of crops and livestock that provide us with clothing, fuel and even plastic substitutes.

For anyone who has never been on a farm or done any farm work, it can be hard to imagine everything a farmer goes through to ensure healthy crops and high yields, and all of that hard work requires tool and equipment. Some of these tools are your standard hammers, nails and pitchforks, but others are made specifically for farming (and some of them for specific types of farming). If you are ready to dive into the world of farming, check this quiz. We found 40 tools and pieces of equipment that farmers use. Now, we want to see if you can identify each piece. We'll be impressed if you can name more than 30!

Manure spreader
Wiki Commons by GT1976
This tool gets the stinky jobs done. What is it?
Manure spreader
Tractor
Sickle
Rototiller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Manure spreaders do just what it sounds like they do. They evenly spread manure and across fields. They can be purchased in various sizes, and depending on the size of your farm, you can get one that holds 8 cubic feet or one that holds 810 cubic feet.

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Combine
Henry Arden / Cultura / Getty Images
Many grain farmers have one of these. What is it?
Rototiller
Combine
Seed spreader
Baler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Combines are used for harvesting large amounts of grain in a single swipe. They are also known as harvesters. Even small farms find that renting or hiring combine technicians is the most effective and efficient way to harvest.

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Baler
Fancy/Veer/Corbis / Corbis / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
What is the name of this tractor attachment?
Mincer
Tiller
Baler
Victor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Farm equipment companies don't play around with names. Balers create bales of hay. Though there are different types of balers (square and round), they are quite expensive, so it's essential to understand the baling process before making the investment.

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Broadcast seeder
Wiki Commons by USFWS Mountain-Prairie
Do you know the name of this machine?
Transplanter
Mower
Mechanical rake
Broadcast seeder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Broadcast seeders are available in various sizes and can be used on large or small farms. They are adjustable and can spread seeds in various-sized areas. You can get them to attach to a tractor or an ATV, or you can buy stand-alone ones as well.

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Spade
Image Source / Image Source / Getty Images
Do you know what kind of shovel this is?
Spade
Post hole digger
Mucker
Coal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A spade shovel is best for digging. The shape of the tool allows farmers to sink the tool deep into the ground for maximum efficiency. They can also remove trash and soil from areas around the farm.

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Hoe
Comstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images
This tool is necessary for shaping the soil. What is it?
Rake
Hoe
Combine
Claw
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A hoe can shape the soil and prepare long rows for planting. It is also used to keep weeds under control because it can chop the root structures of the weeds with ease. Most small farms have at least one of these.

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Bulk Tanks
Scotspencer / E+ / Getty Images
Once cows are milked, farmers use these to keep their yield fresh. What are they?
Milk pails
Bulk tanks
Cold storage
Fusion takes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Milk has to be kept at a specific temperature once it is retrieved from the cow in order to be sold. These takes help farmers keep their milk cold while they work throughout the day.

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Spading Fork
Lostinbids / E+ / Getty Images
You may know this as a pitchfork, but do you know what its real name is?
Pronger
Scraper
Spading fork
Villainous
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Spading forks (or pitchforks) are used to get the roots of weeds out of the soil. They can also be used for composting, as they are great tools to turn and mix the materials (so you don't have to get your hands dirty).

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Wheelbarrow
Pixabay by Antranias
Do you recognize this device that has many uses?
Handcart
Trolly
Uniwheel
Wheelbarrow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wheelbarrows are used for hauling, but the things they are capable of hauling are endless. They can move anything within their weight limits, from fertilizer to trash to wet cement.

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Cultivator
Josef Mohyla / E+ / Getty Images
Can you name this heavy piece of machinery?
Irrigation
Scythe
Cultipacker
Cultivator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A cultivator helps farmers till the soil. It can break up large chunks of soil and remove weeds from the land. It also helps stir the soil and loosen it for planting. These generally attach to tractors.

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Irrigation Sprinkler
PhotoStock-Israel / Moment / Getty Images
This machine is often used in areas with droughts. What is it?
Semiwheel
Spinwheel
Irrigation sprinkler
Hydro water
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Irrigation sprinklers come in many shapes and sizes. However, if you're ever in an airplane and see circular farmland, you know that they are using an irrigation sprinkler, as they are generally put in the center of the field and they spin around it.

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Bow Rake
CJP / E+ / Getty Images
Do you know what kind of rake this is?
Flat rake
Bow rake
Long rake
Mechanical rake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bow rakes are metal rakes with long, thin ends. They are tougher than the rakes we use to clean up leaves in the fall, and they have a lot of different purposes. However, they are mostly used for clearing garbage and gathering items for compost.

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Power Harrow
Wiki Commons by BulldozerD11
This is another tractor attachment. Do you know what it's called?
Power harrow
Long rake
Snake rake
Back ender
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Power harrows are long pieces of equipment that attach to the ends of tractors. They come in multiple sizes, and they are generally used to prepare seed beds for every type of soil condition.

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Curved Blade Panga
Fcafotodigital / E+ / Getty Images
This cutting tool is essential for tall grasses. Do you know what it's called?
Curved blade panga
Hatchet
Axe
Mattock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Curved blade pangas are very much like machetes. They have long blades that are curved upward (clearly). For the most part, they are used to remove large weeds and tall grass in the fields.

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Spring Balance
Wiki Commons by Kvr.lohith
Can you name this measuring tool?
Hook scale
Spring balance
Microscale
Macroscale
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Spring balances are scales that help farmers weigh produce. In general, if a farmer is working at a market or brings goods to a retailer in smaller quantities, they will have at least one of these on hand.

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Soil Auger
Duckycards / E+ / Getty Images
It might look intimidating, but it is very helpful. What is it?
Combine
Tractor
Soil auger
Soil driller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Augers can be seen in many pieces of machinery, but farmers use soil augers to dig holes in the fields. For the most part, they are used for soil sampling and testing, so farmers know if they need to add anything.

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Farm Jack
Russell Platten via Youtube
While this tool looks interesting, it has a very important job. Do you know its name?
Upper
Crupper
Variance
Farm jack
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They aren't used all too often on farms, but they are great for one specific job: removing T-posts from the ground. T-posts are parts of fences that anchor them to the ground. They are buried deep to give the fence stability, making them difficult to remove ... without a farm jack, that is.

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Back Hoe
Wiki Commons by Staff Sgt. Joshua Garcia
What is the name of this tool that is recommended for new farms?
Scooper
Fertilizer spreader
Tiller
Backhoe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Backhoes are great tools on the farm, especially new farms. They can move large amounts of soil and rock and help new farmers even out their fields. They're also great for digging out old tree stumps.

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Sprayers
Pramote Polyamate / Moment / Getty Images
Most small farms have these. What are they?
Irrigators
Misters
Sprayers
Cleaners
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The majority of farms need some kind of pesticide or herbicide to protect the crops from invasive weeds and insects. While organic foods are becoming more popular, some natural pesticides and herbicides don't contain chemicals that help organic farmers keep their crops safe.

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Scythe
AndyWorks / E+ / Getty Images
Do you know what this hand tool is called?
Sickle
Scythe
Milion
Trip rake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While they look archaic, scythes are large hand tools that have a long handle with an additional side handle. They have great accuracy and are very efficient for hand mowing and reaping crops.

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Drip Irrigation System
Miguel Sotomayor / Moment / Getty Images
Can you name this piece of equipment that is necessary for dry days?
Drip irrigation system
Fly trappers
Rain catchers
Fall dividers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drip irrigation systems are a different kind of irrigation system. They slowly drip water onto plants and can be installed above the soil or underneath. They were created to save on water usage, as they use a fraction of the water that most other irrigation systems use.

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Grain Cart
Don Farrall / Photodisc / Getty Images
This extra-large piece of equipment is essential during harvest season. What is it?
Grain cart
Produce sorter
Elevator
Wheat sucker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Grain carts are also called chaser bins. They are connected to tractors, and they follow harvesting equipment to ensure fast harvesting. This helps farmers get the work of dozens of men done in a fraction of the time.

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Disc Grinder
STD / Moment / Getty Images
What is the name of this all-in-one tool?
Bull razor
Disc grinder
Cattle prod
Mull ranger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Disc grinders have become one of the most used tools on modern farms. They have several discs that can be interchanged based on the job the farmer is doing. These tasks include cutting, sanding and polishing.

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Cotton Picker
BCWH / E+ / Getty Images
This tool is used for specific farms. What is it?
Cornhusker
Soy sheller
Cotton picker
Cotton gin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cotton pickers are specific tools used on cotton farms. This large piece of machinery reduces the time it takes to harvest cotton while maximizing the efficiency of the cotton harvest. It is necessary for all cotton farms.

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Rice Huller
Wiki Commons by Corpse Reviver
You'll find this tool on rice farms. What is it?
Rice dryer
Rice squeezer
Squeeze ricer
Rice huller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rice hullers work very much like cotton gins. They were created to help farmers husk the rice. The husk of rice is also known as the chaff. Farmers send the rice through this machine, and it drastically cuts husking time.

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Cultipacker
Wiki Commons by Evelyn Simak
Do you know the name of this piece of equipment that farmers use to even their fields?
Rock presser
Land smoosher
Ice packer
Cultipacker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cultipackers are used for crushing large chunks of dirt and packing down rocks before seeds are spread. Afterward, they press the soil down onto the seed to ensure a tightly packed plant.

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Harrow
Wiki Commons by Peganum
What is this tool that is used to loosen top soil?
Hitch
Hype
Hornet
Harrow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Harrows are much like tillers, except they only work with the surface of the soil. Tillers tend to churn deeper soils to bring up any weeds or rocks that might be in the ground.

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Chisel Plough
Boehm Farm via Youtube
This plough does a specific job. What kind of plough is it?
Mole plough
Chisel plough
Ridging plough
Switch plough
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are many different kinds of ploughs, but the chisel plough has a specific job. It cuts long rows deep into the soil without disrupting much of the soil that is next to it. This helps farmers make even rows for the harvest.

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Seed Drill
Henry Arden / Cultura / Getty Images
Can you name this interesting-looking device?
Seed drill
Crop drill
Sow drill
Till drill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A seed drill may not seem like an important tool for someone who isn't a farmer. However, this machine helps farmers plant seeds at the perfect depth to ensure the optimum growing capability.

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Destoner
Wiki Commons by BulldozerD11
Do you recognize this tool that farmers use?
Destoner
Stoner
Ridger
Filler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Destoners are generally used on farms that have rocky soil. They help farmers remove stones and large rocks from the planting areas and transplant them to furrows to help tractors get more traction on wet days.

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Subsoiler
Wiki Commons by Lesław Zimny
This piece of equipment can till up to around 15 inches. What is it called?
Pick axe
Subsoiler
Muller
Fill lifter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A subsoiler is also known as a flat lifter. It helps farmers dig deeper into their soils. Unlike most tilling machines, the subsoiler will usually only have one blade that has a sharpened tip.

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Water Sprinkler
STD / Moment / Getty Images
What kind of irrigation is this?
Roundhouse
Sippet
Water sprinkler
Snicket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes, farmers use regular old water sprinklers on their farms. While larger farms have complex and intricate irrigation systems, smaller farms find that a simple impact sprinkler does the job well enough.

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Stone Picker
Wiki Commons by Tommi Pitenius
While some might want to use this on the beach, farmers use it every spring before they plant. What is it?
Top soiler
Soil sifter
Mouse lifter
Stone picker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stone pickers are interesting tools that sift through the top soil and collect any rocks or pebbles that can interfere with the planting or growing processes. These awesome machines are incredibly helpful on farms.

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Roller
Wiki Commons by Oliver Dixon
It flattens without regard. Can you name it?
Stroller
Molder
Folder
Roller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Much like steam rollers help flatten asphalt during road construction, agricultural rollers flatten the fields and destroy large accumulations of soil. This helps the farmers work with equipment later.

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Potato Harvester
Wiki Commons by Grimme Group
Do you recognize this machine that you'd find on a potato farm?
Potato sizer
Eye spreader
Potato harvester
Potato puller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Potato harvesters do exactly what their name suggests. They harvest potatoes. Remember that potatoes grow in the ground, making it impossible to use grain machinery to harvest them. Luckily for potato farmers, this bad boy was created.

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Swather
Wiki Commons by Owacle
Can you name this machine that is generally found in the United States and Canada?
Slurper
Swather
Sleeper
Snuggler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Swathers are also known as windrowers. A windrow is a long line of grain or hay that is set out to dry in the wind. Swathers cut the hay or grain and pile them into a windrow. They're an essential time-saving tool for grain farmers.

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Corn Harvester
JodiJacobson / E+ / Getty Images
In Illinois and Indiana, you might see a lot of these. What are they?
Corn harvester
Mow rower
Miller
Fill bucket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Illinois and Indiana are two states that produce quite a bit of corn (along with Iowa). Corn harvesters are used to strip the stalks of corn. It makes quick work (respectively) of harvesting corn.

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Milking Machine
Rolfo / Moment / Getty Images
What is this tool that most dairy farmers use?
Milking machine
Stopper
Glopper
Holder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Milking cows is not an easy business, but these little machines help retrieve milk from udders. While they still need to be attached by farmers, the act of tugging and pulling and milking is all done mechanically.

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Mulchers
Wiki Commons by JoachimKohlerBremen
These massive machines clear vegetation. What are they?
Veggie reducers
Mulchers
Buckers
Malters
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulching machines clear large portions of vegetation and forestry and (as you may have guessed) create mulch that can be used in home gardens or farms. These machines are huge and are usually rented through large equipment companies.

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Bale Splitter
Cashels Quality Products via Youtube
Do you recognize this farming tool seen on most animal farms?
Bale transporter
Transporter bale
Bale splitter
Splitter bale
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bale splitters help farmers cut and transport bales from one area to another. They can also stack the bales as they please. It is a nice tool to have, but they are mostly found on animal farms.

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You Got:
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Nick Brundle Photography / Moment / Getty Images