Figures show that 862 new tractors have been registered in the UK in April, a drop of 50.6% compared with April 2019. This brings total tractor registrations for the year to date to 3,677 units, a drop of 23.3% compared with the same period last year.

Very high registrations of new tractors in April 2019, associated with the original planned date for the UK to leave the EU, meant it was always likely that the number of tractors registered in the same month this year would be significantly lower- according to the Agricultural Engineers Association.

It added that this proved to be the case, with the number of machines registered in April 2020 less than half that of a year earlier. The Irish Farmers Journal understands this is the lowest April registration figure in the UK since at least 2000. The Association feels it may have been affected by delays in processing registrations at DVLA, due to coronavirus. In addition, it said registrations during the month will also have been reduced by factory closures across Europe.