According to figures released by the AEA, UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) remained close to the average for the time of year in February.

This means at 594 units they were slightly higher than in the same month last year.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, said, "The year-on-year rise was 3%, the slowest growth since October but it is worth noting that February 2020 saw solid growth, unlike most of the rest of the first half of that year.

"Indeed, the monthly figure for 2021 was 9% above the average of the previous five years and represented the highest number of machines registered in February since 2017."

The total for the first two months of the year, 1174 machines, was nearly 100 higher than a year ago, a rise of 9%.