Sales of telehandler loaders jumped by 61% in 2016.

Figures from the FTMTA show that 115 extra units have been sold year-to-date, with December sales figures yet to be added. There is no doubting the increasing popularity of these machines on Irish farms. Reports from the machinery trade indicate that this type of loader is busy on farms accumulating high hours. Increasing farm sizes and expansion in the dairy sector suggest that some farmers are replacing the traditional tractor and loader with a telehandler.

County breakdown

In the UK, this has been the case for many years. Looking at the county breakdown of loader sales, Meath has 73 units and Dublin has 27. The northeast area accounts for one-third of all sales. The other counties with double-digit sales are Cork (34) and Wexford (31).

This suggests that the hire companies are back in the market, with many agricultural telehandler loaders at work in the capital.

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Machinery highlights from 2016