New tractor registration figures recently released by the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) have shown that 108 new tractors have been registered in the month of August. This represents a sharp drop of 26% on August of last year.

However, overall registrations remain very strong. There have been a total of 1,767 new registrations during 2019 to the end of August.

Gary Ryan, Chief Executive of the FTMTA explained, “This figure representing registrations for the first eight months of the year shows a 3% year-on-year increase in registrations of new tractors when compared with the same period in 2018.”

It’s worth noting that overall 2019 sales to date are only 29 units less than the total number of new tractors registered during the full year of 2017.

Ryan added; “Obviously the level of new tractor registrations tends to fall off as we approach the end of the year but a total exceeding the 2,000 unit’s threshold for the first time since 2008 still seems achievable.”

The three counties with the highest levels of registrations so far this year continue to be Cork, Tipperary and Wexford with 237, 171 and 132 units registered respectively to the end of August.

The trend towards higher horsepower tractors has continued with 92% of all new tractors registered during the first eight months having in excess of 100hp, 59% having more than 120hp and 31% having more than 150hp.