OMAHA (DTN) -- In my last column, I wrote about auger tractors. Many farmers have their favorite tractors that they've used at the bin site over the years.

For my own family's eastern Nebraska farming operation, it was and continues to be my grandpa's last tractor, a 1957 John Deere 620. This machine has been the only auger tractor used on our farm for nearly 50 years.

I was curious to know what other farmers used on their augers. So, I asked the question at the end of last month's column and on X, formerly known as Twitter.

While I didn't get a lot of answers, I did get some interesting responses to my auger tractor question.

On X, I heard about four different tractors. One person said they use a John Deere 4020 on their auger. Another farmer said he uses a John Deere 3020 propane tractor. He said it was "easily accessible and sipped on cheap fuel."

Another farmer on X said he uses a John Deere 6400 because it has a right-hand door. He said it was also more fuel-efficient than another tractor he had used on the auger, a John Deere 4240.

The most interesting answer I got on X to my question about auger tractors was not even a tractor. Someone responded, "An elevator leg."

I guess that is one answer. There are probably many farms that have an elevator leg and no longer need an auger tractor. I certainly did not think about that possibility when I asked the question last month.

One of my DTN colleagues, EllaMae Reiff, responded to my question and told me that her family uses a 1962 Massey Ferguson 35 on their Warsaw, Indiana, farming operation.

They call the tractor "Fergalicious," and it plays an important role on their family farm. The tractor is hooked up to the trailer they use to collect bees' wings during the fall, and it also is used the rest of the year to move the bean head and other equipment around the farm.

I also got an email from a farmer telling me about his favorite auger tractor. Here is the email:

"I'm a John Deere guy through and through, but my favorite auger tractor is a Minneapolis Moline Model U I bought several years ago.

"I bought it rebuilt and repainted (I won't call it restored), and I'm not sure what was done with the engine, but it easily outperforms a healthy John Deere 70 on a 10 x 71 auger. It's easy on fuel (I can fill an 8,000-bushel bin on one tank of gas), and the hand clutch and throttle are ultra-easy to access from the ground, both from behind the tractor and while standing ahead of the rear tire.

"It's my auger favorite!"

John Koepke

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to my question about auger tractors. If you would like to add your favorite auger tractor to the conversation, feel free. If we get more responses, we will run them in next month's column.

I look forward to seeing what other tractors you use at the bin site. I am sure there are many makes and models busy at work this fall, moving grain across the countryside.

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @RussQuinnDTN

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