The figures show that 82,046 agricultural tractors were paying road tax in 2015, a drop of 3.5% or 2,994 fewer tractors since 2014.

The comparison with 2013 reveals a larger drop: at the end of 2015 there were 7,446 fewer tractors on the taxation system. This compares with the highest figure ever recorded at 89,492 in 2013 during the campaign to change the off-the-road registration procedure, which culminated in record numbers of older tractors being taxed in September 2013.

In the period between 2013 and 2015, Longford recorded the highest percentage drop in tractor numbers, followed by Leitrim and Roscommon. Thriving farming counties of Cork and Waterford recorded a minimal change in tractor numbers over that three-year period.

Massey Ferguson a favourite

Irish farmers remain fans of the Massey Ferguson brand, which accounts for almost 23% of all tractors on Irish farms. John Deere was the second most popular brand, accounting for 14.2%, followed closely by New Holland at 13.48%.

Between 2014 and 2015, the New Holland market share has increased marginally, while that of Massey Ferguson and John Deere remained the same in a lower national pool of tractors.

Claas, a relatively new tractor brand, recorded the greatest growth up by 11%, followed by Kubota up by 7% and a very marginal increase in total Fendt and Valtra tractor numbers.

There is a trend towards older tractor brands fading from the taxation system, with noticeable drops in the numbers of Leyland, International Harvester and Universal tractors recorded in the most recent edition of the Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics. These latter brands have left the market for more than 25 years.