Tractor registrations in January fell slightly compared to the same month last year, according to figures from the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA).

The figures show that 429 new tractors were registered during January, a 3% drop on 2019.

Meanwhile, January tractor registrations plunged in the UK. The monthly total of 477 tractor registrations was 31% lower than in January 2019, according to the Agricultural Engineers Association. This makes it the slowest start to the year since 2001.

To put this into context, there were only 48 more new tractors sold in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than in the Republic of Ireland in the month of January.

There were only 48 more new tractors sold in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than in the Republic of Ireland in the month of January

The Agricultural Engineers Association went on to say that total registrations over the last year were the lowest for any 12-month period since December 2016 to November 2017. Interestingly, the association feels the wet autumn is likely to have contributed to a reduction in orders, which would be reflected in the latest figures. It added that it remains to be seen whether the improvement in the weather more recently and the arrival of BPS cheques in December will make any difference to the trend.

In Ireland, the three counties with the highest numbers of tractors registered during the month were Cork (55), Tipperary (31) and Wexford (27). The only county with no registrations during January was Monaghan.

Slightly over 90% of all new tractors registered during the first month of the year were in excess of 100hp.