The substantial downturn in UK agricultural tractor registrations (over 50hp) seen late 2019 (November 558 units/-21.5% and December 657 units/-22.6%) continued into the opening month of this year, reports the AEA.

January figures of 477 units was 31% lower than the 693 tractors registered in January 2019, making it the slowest start to the year since 2001.

The AEA reckons that the wet autumn is likely to have contributed to a reduction in orders, which would be reflected in the latest figures.

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.