Errors when operating agricultural machines and how to avoid them

The efficiency of a crop field depends on as much from the technology of the agricultural machines as on how they are operated.

Even more modern pieces of equipment can deliver poor performance when used incorrectly, something that directly affects yield, the fuel consumption, and the lifespan of the components.

In this article, you’ll learn the most common errors when operating agricultural machines and understand how to avoid them to ensure the best performance and safety in the field.

What are the most common errors when operating agricultural machines?

The operation errors are caused by the lack of attention, lack of the technical knowledge, or failure to have the basic procedures for adjustment and maintenance. Among the most frequent errors are:

improper maintenance;
failure to provide the operators with maintenance;
failure to use genuine parts;
failure to follow the manufacturer’s manual;
incorrect calibration of the machines.

Each one of them could cause serious consequences, from input waste to mechanical failures and yield losses. See below, details about each one of them:

Improper maintenance

The preventive maintenance is essential to ensure the performance and lifespan of the agricultural machines. When neglected, it could cause clogging, leaking, premature wear of the spare parts and even accidents.

This last one happens especially due to the excessive friction, dirt build-up, and failure of the correct lubrication.

Incorrect lubrications or changes that don’ follow the deadline increase the heating and friction between components, reducing the durability of the mechanical and hydraulic systems.

Performing the scheduled maintenance service according to the manufacturer’s plan ensures that the equipment operates with the correct pressure, flow, and lubricant. Additionally, it anticipates the identification of failures, avoiding unexpected stops during the planting or harvesting processes.

Failure to provide the operators with maintenance

Another recurring mistake is to operate the machines without proper training. The operator is the link between technology and the results in the field, and any error in adjustment, speed, or adjustment can compromise operation efficiency.

Training helps the operator to understand the machine limits, use electronic resources such as Topper and follow the best practice for safety and yield. According to Gabriel Fabiani, agronomist engineer, and Stara Product Marketing Analyst highlights:

The efficiency in the field depends as much on technology as on the operation cautions. It could be the most modern machine on the market, but if it isn’t calibrated correctly, with all the maintenance services updated and operated by whom understands the system, there is no result.

At Stara, the Operator’s Portal and the in-person training ensure the preparation, providing the correct usage of the pieces of equipment.

Learn more: Training on the agricultural machines on the Operator’s Portal | Stara

Failure to use genuine parts

Failure to use genuine parts may look like savings in a short term, but it causes one of the most operating risks. These components usually don’t go through the same quality tests, which impairs the sealing, alignment, and performance of the machines.

Genuine parts keep the project standard, ensure the expected yield, and ensure the factory warranty. In addition, the durability and the precise mounting reduce the wear of other parts of the system, avoiding standard failures.

Choosing genuine parts is investing in reliability and a longer agricultural machine lifespan.

The distinguishing feature of the Stara Dealership Network in Brazil

To ensure this safety, the Stara Dealership Network provides genuine parts, skilled technical assistance, the in-stock components to all the line of the machines.

Every dealer follows strict standards of stock, logistics, and customer service set by the factory to ensure that the farmer has a quick access to the right spare parts and skilled technical support, wherever they are.

Additionally, the authorized technicians go through constant training on the pieces of equipment and the brand systems, making sure that each replacement or adjustment protects the performance and ensure the original machine warranty.

Failure to follow the manufacturer’s manual

The technical manual provides crucial information about calibration, torque, lubrication, and maintenance periods. Ignoring these recommendations leads to operation mistakes that directly impact on the performance and safety.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions is a simple task that prevents mechanical failures, the excessive consumption, and the incorrect usage of the hydraulic and electronic systems.

At Stara, every machine is engineered with specific parameters and following them ensures the best performance of the on-board technology.

Calibration of the machines

The incorrect calibration is more common than you think. If the pressure, depth, or flow are incorrect, the result in the field is not uniform.

For spraying operations, for example, it could mean application overlap, drift, and waste of chemical products.

What happens if the machine is not calibrated correctly?

When the calibration is incorrect, there are application failures, higher consumption of inputs and wear of the components. The consequence is the loss of yield, higher cost per hectare, and in some situations, damages to the soil and crop.

For this reason, it’s crucial to periodically adjust according to the soil type, terrain type, and crop to be grown. Pieces of equipment with electronic control such as variable rate and the Nozzle-by-Nozzle Control System, help to keep precision and reduce the margin of error during operation.

Operation of connected machines

Due to the advance of Precision Agriculture in the digital world, the agricultural machines are even more integrated to telemetry systems, sensors, and artificial intelligence. This evolution increases the precision of operations, but it also demands extra attention from the operator when it comes to the correct usage of the connected tools.

One of the most common errors is not to set up or interpret the telemetry data correctly, which could lead to application failures, overlap of areas, or even incorrect diagnostics.

The same way, operating connected machines without checking the synchronization status among systems can result in different information in the field.

Another recurring mistake is ignoring software updates and electronic calibrations, which ensure the optimal functioning of sensors and controllers. Keeping the system updated is as important as inspecting the engine or the spray nozzles.

Connectivity in the field

Stara has been expanding the use of connectivity in the field. Thanks to the Starlink technology integration, the brand self-propelled machines are going to be equipped with a high-speed Internet connection in 2026, even in remote areas, which allows the constant monitoring, remote support, and update of data in real time.

The Conecta service features this system with free remote technical assistance, helping the operator to solve questions and perform adjustments directly through the machine monitor, without the need to stop the operation. The Stara agronomist engineer, Gabriel Fabiani highlights:

The connectivity leads the operation to another level. It allows the operator to make decisions based on data and reduces mistakes before they cause impact in the field.

The combination between training, connectivity and technology update is what ensures the best performance of the Stara agricultural machines.

Failure to consider the weather conditions and soil

The performance of any agricultural machine depends on the environment conditions. Operating under heavy rain, when the wind is blowing hard, or with wet soil may impair the stability, traction, and application yield.

Before starting operations, it’s crucial to assess the weather, the humidity and soil compaction. These factors determine the ideal moment to enter the crop field and avoid damages to the plant, machinery, and yield.

Additional hints for a safe and efficient operation

In addition to technical cautions, some simple habits increase the safety and efficiency in the field:

Always wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment);
Check the fuel level and fluids before each operation shift;
Follow the road lights and keep the safe perimeter when operating big machines;
Never carry people when they are seated on the machine cab seats;
Log all the maintenance performed. It helps with the machine history and future inspections.

Reminder: the operating efficiency is the direct result of the combination of a bunch of factors, starting by choosing a reliable and quality brand.

Stara provides integrated solutions that help the farmer with the adjustment and monitoring of the machines.

Conclusion

Avoiding operation errors of the agricultural machines is one of the most efficient ways to increase the lifespan of the pieces of equipment and reduce costs. More than correcting failures, the secret is to prevent.

With the proper maintenance, constant training and following the manufacturer’s instructions, the operator ensures efficiency, safety, and sustainable yield in the field.