This guide covers FS19 from your first field to a profitable multi-crop farm with animals and forestry. It includes start modes, the full crop cycle, yield boosters, what to buy first, money-making strategies, and the DLC and mods worth adding today.
Researched September 2026 — current as of the final FS19 content (last official DLC: Rottne, March 16, 2021). FS19 is complete; GIANTS has since released Farming Simulator 22 and Farming Simulator 25. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.
Status note: FS19 no longer gets new content, but it's still sold, fully playable offline, and supports multiplayer (up to 16 players on PC) and ModHub mods. Its systems are simpler than FS22 and FS25 (no production chains or seasons without mods), which makes it a good low-cost entry to the series.
| Mode | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| New Farmer | Farm, fields, basic equipment, some money | First-time players |
| Farm Manager | More money, no fields or equipment | Players who want to plan from scratch with a cushion |
| Start from Scratch | Very little money, no land | Veterans who want a real challenge |
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| W / A / S / D | Drive or walk |
| E | Enter or exit a vehicle |
| Tab | Switch between vehicles |
| Q | Attach or detach an implement |
| V | Lower or raise an implement |
| B | Turn an implement on or off |
| X | Fold or unfold |
| H | Hire or dismiss a helper |
| Esc | Menu (map, prices, finances, contracts) |
Bindings can be changed in the Controls section of Options, and a few vehicles use extra keys shown in the on-screen help box. Check the help box (top left): it always shows the current context actions.
| Map | Style |
|---|---|
| Ravenport | American map with large fields, big equipment, and wide roads |
| Felsbrunn | European map with smaller, irregular fields and villages |
| Erlengrat (Alpine Farming Expansion) | Mountain valleys, grassland focus, alpine equipment |
Beginner pick: Felsbrunn's smaller fields are easier to manage with starter equipment. Ravenport rewards big machinery later.
| Crop | Equipment notes |
|---|---|
| Wheat, Barley, Oat | Cereal header on a combine |
| Canola, Soybeans | Cereal header; high value |
| Maize (corn) | Corn header, or chopped for silage |
| Sunflowers | Sunflower header |
| Potatoes | Potato planter and harvester |
| Sugar Beet | Beet planter and harvester |
| Cotton | Cotton harvester (makes modules or bales) |
| Sugarcane | Sugarcane planter and harvester |
| Grass | Mower, tedder, windrower, balers or loader wagons |
| Poplar | Energy crop; special harvester |
| Oilseed Radish | Cover crop that fertilizes the soil |
Starter crop tips: wheat, barley, and canola work with the same combine and cereal header, so start there. Root crops and cotton need expensive specialist machines, so add them later.
| Booster | How |
|---|---|
| Fertilizer | Solid or liquid fertilizer spreaders, or slurry or manure from animals |
| Lime | Apply when the field needs it (shown on the map overlay) |
| Plowing | Plow when the map shows it's needed |
| Weed control | Weeder early, herbicide later |
Use the map overlays (in the Esc menu) to see which fields need fertilizer, lime, plowing, or weeding.
| Animal | Needs | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Cows | Water, grass, hay or silage, straw; TMR for top productivity | Milk, slurry and manure |
| Pigs | Water and a mix of grains, protein, and root crops | Sell pigs, manure |
| Sheep | Water, grass or hay | Wool |
| Chickens | Grain | Eggs |
| Horses | Food, water, straw, daily riding and cleaning | Horse value rises with care |
Horse tip: riding and cleaning horses daily raises their fitness, health, and value. It's a steady income source once you have a stable.
| Content | What it adds |
|---|---|
| Alpine Farming Expansion (Nov 12, 2020) | Erlengrat map, 30+ alpine machines (Aebi, Lindner, PÖTTINGER, SIP), first electric vehicle in the series (Rigitrac SKE 50) |
| Platinum Expansion | A large set of new equipment |
| Precision Farming (free, Dec 8, 2020) | Soil sampling (four soil types), pH and nitrogen, variable application rates |
| GRIMME Equipment Pack (Jan 26, 2021) | 14 GRIMME machines for potato farming |
| Rottne DLC (Mar 16, 2021) | Rottne H21D harvester and F20D forwarder |
| Season Pass | Includes the later DLCs such as GRIMME and Rottne |
The Premium Edition bundles the base game with 10 content packs, including the Alpine and Platinum expansions.
Free ModHub bonus vehicles: John Deere XUV865M Gator, CLAAS DOMINATOR 108 SL MAXI, and CLAAS TORION 1914 Dev Mule.
Is FS19 still worth playing in 2026? Yes, for a cheaper, simpler entry or for its mod library. FS22 and FS25 have newer systems and more support.
Can I play multiplayer? Yes. Up to 16 players on PC, with mods matching the host.
How do I make money fast early? Take contracts, grow cereals and canola, and sell at the best price point. Avoid big purchases until cash flow is steady.
Which map is best for beginners? Felsbrunn for smaller, easier fields. Ravenport once you're ready for big equipment.
How do I hire an AI worker? Get into a vehicle with an implement attached and lowered where needed, then press H.
Does FS19 have seasons? Not in the base game. The Seasons 19 mod from ModHub adds seasons, weather effects, and growth cycles.