Tractor sales have bounced back with the number of new models registered in the first half of the year up by more than 10%, according to industry figures.
Data from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) reveals that the total number of tractors, over 50 horsepower (hp), registered in the UK between January and June this year was 6,142.
This is up 14.1% on the same six-month period in 2016 when 5,382 new tractors were registered.
Sales in Scotland increased by 11.1% to 732 tractors, from 659 previously. They represented 11.9% of total UK sales during that period.
The area experiencing the biggest growth in sales was eastern England, with 920 new units registered in the first half of the year. This is up 31.8% on the same period in the year before.
The AEA said: “Most regions of the UK recorded increased registrations of agricultural tractors, with the exception of north-east England, where there was a decrease, and the south-east, Home Counties and East Midlands, where there was little change.”
The association also revealed that the total combined power of all the tractors sold in the first half of the year was 1.002million hp – up 17% on the same period in 2016.
“The average horsepower (163.1hp) represented a further rise of 2.9% in the year,” said the association.
“Most horsepower bands saw increases in the number of units registered during the period, with the exception of those between 100 and 120hp.
“The fastest growth was in the middle of the power range, between 140 and 200 hp.”
Figures for July reveal 1,091 new tractors were bought last month – this is up 15.8% on July 2016.