Bin site prep, dugout maintenance, tile drainage, farmyard work, and winter snow management on the Canadian Prairies. Here's the practical attachment kit that covers the full year of grain farm skid steer work — without overbuilding.
On a prairie grain farm, the skid steer is a utility machine — not the primary income driver, but the machine that handles the hundred tasks a tractor can't reach and a wheel loader is too big for. Bin site work, post holes, dugout cleanup, moving bags during seeding, pushing snow in the yard. The attachment kit that matters here is versatile and practical, not specialized.
Prairie grain farmers typically run mid-size machines (70–85 HP) with standard flow hydraulics. Bobcat, Case, and New Holland are common brands on western Canadian farms — partly because of dealer networks, partly because the machine sizes fit farm work well. This profile is written for that reality.
Standard flow (18–24 GPM) is adequate for every attachment in this kit. You do not need high-flow for grain farm work — save money on the machine and spend it on attachments instead.
The prairie grain farm kit is built around versatility. The 4-in-1 bucket does the most work; everything else plugs a specific seasonal gap. Buy in this order if budget is constrained.
The single most versatile attachment for farm work. Functions as a GP bucket, clamshell grapple, dozer blade, and scraper. Handles grain spills, gravel, snow, material spreading, and light cleanup. 72–84" width on a 70–85 HP machine.
Bin anchor holes, fence posts for field perimeters and livestock areas, tile inlet structures, gate posts, and tree planting. Buy the drive unit and 3–4 bit sizes (9", 12", 18"). Standard-flow drive runs well on any prairie machine.
Prairie farmyards accumulate serious snow. A 10–12 ft snow pusher clears access to bins, shop, and livestock areas fast. Containment pushers with side wings outperform open-ended blade pushers for yard work. Standard flow, no aux hydraulics required.
Moving seed bags, fertilizer totes, parts pallets, and bagged feed. A 4,000–6,000 lb capacity frame is sufficient for most farm pallet work. Often the second attachment a farmer buys after the bucket.
Gravel road and farmyard grading. A land plane levels and redistributes gravel without pushing it off the road — critical for the annual spring pothole and rut repair cycle on farm access roads. No hydraulics required.
Prairie grain farm attachment budgets are more conservative than forestry or construction. The skid steer is a support machine, and the attachments reflect that. Most grain farms invest $15K–$35K spread over 3–5 years as needs emerge. A sensible build-out:
| Attachment | Basic Farm Kit | Mid-Size Farm | Larger Operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-in-1 Bucket (72") | $4,800 | $6,500 | $8,000 |
| Pallet Forks | $1,800 | $2,500 | $3,200 |
| Auger (drive + 2 bits) | $3,200 | $4,500 | $6,000 |
| Snow Pusher (10 ft) | $2,800 | $4,000 | $5,200 |
| Land Plane (10 ft) | — | $2,800 | $4,000 |
| Root Grapple | — | — | $5,500 |
| Estimated Total | ~$12,600 | ~$20,300 | ~$31,900 |
Farm-use attachments hold their value well — pallet forks and auger drive units are easily resold if you upgrade or change machines. The 4-in-1 bucket is the one item worth buying quality on; cheap Chinese-manufactured 4-in-1 buckets develop cracked weld seams and leaky cylinders faster than brand-name Canadian-sold equivalents.
Prairie farm skid steer work follows the crop calendar closely, with a distinct winter season driven by farmyard snow management.
Temperatures at -30°C to -40°C are routine in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Skid steer hydraulics are vulnerable to cold-start damage when operators run attachments immediately after starting. Warm up the machine for 10–15 minutes, cycle the aux hydraulics lightly before engaging any attachment, and use an engine block heater plugged in overnight when temperatures drop below -20°C. Cold weather hydraulics guide →
Regina clay and Manitoba gumbo can stick to bucket teeth and cutting edges, dramatically reducing fill efficiency. Slick-bottom buckets (no weld bead texture) perform better in high-clay conditions. Consider a bolt-on serrated cutting edge for frozen spring soil. Prairie soil guide →
Every attachment in this kit runs on standard flow (18–24 GPM). There is no reason to buy a high-flow machine for grain farm applications — you'd be paying for a feature that adds cost without adding capability for your work.
Bobcat has strong dealer coverage in Saskatoon, Regina, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, and rural AB/SK. Case and New Holland are also well-represented. CNH Capital financing is commonly used by farmers who already have a CNH tractor relationship. Where to buy attachments in Canada →
Browse the full attachment catalog — 4-in-1 buckets, augers, snow pushers, pallet forks, and land planes with Canadian pricing.