Deere is tractor brand of choice for UK farmers

Scottish dealers sold more than 1,400 tractors last year

Scottish machinery dealers sold more than 1,400 new tractors last year.

Figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) reveal 1,437 tractors over 50 horsepower (hp) were registered in Scotland in 2018.

This is down slightly on 2017 when 1,447 tractors were sold.

The AEA said Scottish registrations represented 11.9% of total UK registrations, which stood at 12,102 in 2018. This is up 1% on 2017.

AEA agricultural economist Stephen Howarth said: “Growth in registrations (across the UK) was primarily at the top end of the power range. More than 600 more tractors over 180hp were registered in 2018, an increase of 18%. Below that level, the number of machines declined, with most of the drop in the 140-180hp and under 100hp ranges. Between 100 and 140hp there was little change.”

Meanwhile, the latest brand-specific sales data sees John Deere remain the tractor brand of choice in the UK.

The figures, which cover 2017, show John Deere representing 28.4% of total sales that year. The second most popular brand was New Holland, representing 15.8% of sales, closely followed by Massey Ferguson at 14.3%.

Sales of Case tractors represented 7.5% of the market, followed by Fendt at 7.2% and Kubota at 6.5%.

Valtra tractors accounted for 4.5% of the market, while sales of Claas and JCB represented 3.5% and 2.4% respectively.

John Deere represented 28.4% of total sales for 2017.