There has been a 4% increase in new tractor registrations in the first six months of 2019 compared with the same period last year, according to FTMTA figures.

Total registrations of new tractors for the first six months is at 1,378 units, an increase of 54 units on last year.

The three counties with the highest levels of registrations are Cork, Tipperary and Wexford, with 195, 140 and 96 units registered respectively to the end of June.

Leitrim is the only county where registrations remain in single figures, with six new tractors registered, the same figure as at the halfway point in 2018.

FTMTA CEO Gary Ryan said a good performance in July could see the level of new registrations exceed the 2,000 threshold for the first time since 2008.

June figures

Meanwhile, a total of 65 new tractors were registered in Ireland in June, three less than last year.

Although this may come across as being quite low, recent trends have indicated that June typically has poor sales figures, with the most likely explanation being the half-yearly registration system (191 and 192 for 2019) that was introduced in 2013. Although the industry is going through a difficult period, I would be expecting July to respond strongly.

If we take a look back at the June sales figures for the past four years, we see that there were 93 new tractors sold in June 2015, 74 in June 2016, 66 in June 2017 and 68 in June 2018. Meanwhile, if we compare this to the month of July for the same period, we see that there were 236 new tractors registered in 2015, 243 in 2016, 238 in 2017 and 251 in 2018.

Analysing Motorcheck’s figures for June 2019, we see that John Deere topped the poll for the month of June selling a total of 17 new tractors. Claas is slightly behind in second place, having sold a total of 14 new units in June. Meanwhile, in third place, New Holland has sold 8 new tractors, followed closely by Massey Ferguson who sold 6 new tractors in June.

Looking at what models Irish farmers and agricultural contractors are buying, top spot has been secured by the John Deere 6R, closely followed in second by the Claas Arion.

Meanwhile third position is tied between the Massey Ferguson 5700, the Claas Axion and the John Deere 5R.