This week the Irish Farmers Journal machinery team brings you our annual tractor feature. In the tables provided throughout the feature, we look at every tractor brand available on the Irish market and all of the latest models produced by each manufacturer.

This data, compiled by Bruce Lett, includes an array of information including engine make, number of cylinders, emission control system used, hp, torque, and transmission type to name a few. We also secured a list price exclusive of VAT from the manufacturers for each model. However, it’s worth noting that this isn’t exactly the selling price of each tractor. If you’re in the market for a new tractor, it’s important that you consider the information provided in the tables.

When buying a new tractor, it’s important that you’re buying the correct specification of a machine to suit your individual needs and applications. Whether this be power to weight ratio, a high lift capacity or a certain transmission type, these tables will help inform you on what’s currently available on the Irish market.

Irish tractor market

If we take a look at the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) latest tractor sales figures for 2019 up to the end of April, we see that over 1,100 new tractors have been registered to date.

The figures show that the trend for higher-horsepower tractors during the first three months of the year was maintained in April. A total of 94% of all new tractors registered are in excess of 100hp.

The percentages of tractors registered over 120hp and 150hp have climbed marginally to 59% and 31% respectively – up from 58% and 30% at the end of March. A total of 14 tractors with 70hp or less have been registered so far this year which is just over 1% of the total registrations.

April saw a marginal drop in registrations of new tractors in comparison to the same month last year, with a 1% decrease to 207 units.

Overall, sales for the first four months of 2019 indicate a healthy level of sales activity, with sales up 2% on last year at 1,103 units.

Taking a look at where in Ireland the new tractors are being registered, we see that the top three counties so far this year are Cork, Tipperary and Wexford, with 167, 103 and 81 units registered respectively to the end of April.

Meanwhile, registrations of new telehandlers for the first four months of the year are up 43% on 2018 at 244 units. The wheel loader market also seems to be strong, with 17 new machines being registered in April.

This brings the total number of wheel loaders registered for the first four months of the year to 47 units in comparison to 35 units registered for the same period in 2018.