According to figures released by the AEA, the number of agricultural tractors registered in February 2025 was 37% fewer than in the same month last year and not much more than half of the seasonal average.

At just 300 machines, it was the lowest for any month since December 1999. The total of 762 machines for the first two months of the year was 20% down on January and February 2024.

"Nevertheless," explained agricultural economist at the Association, Stephen Howarth, "the opening two months of the year are typically a quiet period for tractor registrations. Therefore, we will have a clearer idea of the trend for the year ahead once we've seen figures for March, which is usually the peak month of the year for registrations."