[Agricultural Machinery Spotlighted at KIEMSTA] Yanmar YT6145: 143 hp and 100 L/min hydraulics…Wet-paddy work and baler work with one machine

Livestock farms need a powerful tractor capable of pulling balers and wrapping machines to harvest forage. But when such large tractors enter flooded rice paddies, their weight makes the wheels prone to sinking. Conversely, small and mid-sized tractors suited to wet-paddy work cannot handle bulky livestock implements. Mixed farming operations that grow rice and produce forage therefore had to either own two tractors or outsource one side of the work.

The “YT6145” introduced by Yanmar at the 2026 Korea International Exhibition of Machinery, Equipment, Science and Technology for Agriculture (KIEMSTA), held from the 4th to the 7th at EXCO in Daegu, is a tractor aimed at that gap. Equipped with a 143-horsepower (PS) engine, the YT6145 forms the “YT6 Series” together with the 132-horsepower “YT6135.” It is the first horsepower class offered by Yanmar under its own YT tractor brand. Lee Gil-jae, a general manager at Yanmar Agricultural Machinery Korea whom we met on site, explained, “Previously, our largest tractor was 120 horsepower, and we had no models at all in the 130- to 140-horsepower range,” adding, “Rather than modifying an existing product, this is the first launch of a new lineup.”
 

Hydraulics that send only as much as the implement uses

The key that makes livestock work possible is the hydraulics. Hydraulic pump output is 100 L per minute, about 1.5 times that of Yanmar’s previous largest in-house model, the YT5125S (67 L per minute). The company says this is sufficient to operate large livestock implements. Power Beyond and load-sensing functions have also been applied. Maximum hydraulic lift capacity is 5,600 kgf.

Conventional systems send out a constant flow of hydraulics regardless of how much the implement uses. Lee said, “If the tractor sends 100 but the baler uses only 20, the rest simply returns and becomes a loss,” adding, “Power Beyond sends only the amount the implement needs.” Load sensing detects the load on the implement and tells the tractor whether 30 is needed at that moment or whether 40 is needed because a load has been applied. The structure connects hydraulics directly to the implement through the Power Beyond port, and the piston pump adjusts output according to this load-sensing signal.

Using only the necessary amount of hydraulics also reduces heat generation. Hydraulic oil rises in temperature the longer it circulates, and when it gets hot, implements may not move smoothly or hunting can occur, a phenomenon in which operating speed and pressure periodically rise and fall, causing vibration. The company explained that improved fuel efficiency can also be expected as unnecessary hydraulic supply is reduced.
 

A mid-sized body aimed at both rice cultivation and livestock work

The YT6145 emphasizes a body size that does not lean too far toward either side. The company explains that it combines a body capable of entering wet paddies with the power to pull livestock implements such as balers, wrappers and rakes. Lee said, “Even at the same 143 horsepower, products from other brands tend to be either too small or too large, so they end up being used only for either livestock work or rice cultivation,” adding, “The YT6145 is just about mid-sized, with the power and hydraulic capacity to do both.”

The wheelbase is 2,580 mm. Machine weight is 5,015 kg, and with front weights (650 kg) and rear wheel weights (300 kg) installed, it increases to a maximum of 5,965 kg. Tires can be selected to match the working environment from standard, high-lug and wide radial options. The engine is Yanmar’s 4TN101FDT with a displacement of 3,847 cc, and the transmission is an electronically controlled HMT (hydro-mechanical continuously variable transmission). PTO output, used to run implements such as balers, is 118 horsepower.
 

RTK straight-line assist with 3–5 cm error

It also has functions that support precision work. An RTK-based straight-line assist kit and touch monitor can be installed as options. Unlike ordinary GPS, which calculates position using satellite signals alone, RTK also receives correction signals from a ground reference station, reducing error to 3–5 cm. Lee said, “No matter how accurately a person plants rice seedlings, the rows end up crooked, but when working with RTK, they go straight even to the eye.” Operators can preset the working width and overlap width to work without missed spots while reducing overlapping areas.

Turning is done directly by the operator. Instead, linked functions have been added to reduce repetitive operations. When the steering wheel is turned beyond a certain angle, the implement automatically rises, and straight-line assist and the PTO are disengaged. When the implement is lowered, they operate automatically again. “A/B mode” stores the travel speed and engine rpm for working and turning in advance and switches them automatically. The example shown in the brochure is 4.0 km/h and 2,200 rpm during work, and 2.0 km/h and 1,800 rpm during turns.

In addition, the front and rear differential locks are each controlled with electronic buttons, making it easier to get out of slippery paddies. It also supports “Level Control Plus” (automatic tilt, draft control and automatic depth), which automatically adjusts implement level and depth according to the height of the worksite. For night work, it is equipped with 12 front, rear and side LED work lights and two front auxiliary work lights.

The cabin now has a sunroof, which was not available on previous models. Lee said this was something customers had frequently requested, explaining, “Because it is difficult to open the rear window during work due to dust and dirt, many people look for a sunroof for ventilation.” Yanmar did not disclose the price and said it would provide information through dealers.