The AEA has released figures regarding UK agricultural tractor registrations (power over 50hp) during January to June 2020, by power and region.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, said, "As previously reported, the total number of agricultural tractors registered for road use in the first half of 2020 was 5,195, almost a quarter lower than in the equivalent period last year.

"We are now releasing figures showing how registrations have changed in terms of power bands and UK regions."

A decline was apparent across all power bands, except for the most high-powered machines. All broad bands below 160hp (and over 50hp) saw a fall of between a quarter and a third in the first six months of this year, compared with January-June 2019. The drop was slightly smaller above this power level but only machines above 320hp saw a rise in registrations, being up 9% year on year.

"This pattern suggests that the unusual decline in average tractor power seen in 2019 will be reversed this year," explained Stephen. "The average power of tractors (over 50hp) registered in the latest six months was just over 170hp, up by nearly 5hp on the same period last year."

At regional level, registrations declined by 17% or more almost everywhere, with the sharpest falls in the Home Counties (down by 49%) and Northern Ireland (-38%).

"There were only two exceptions to the picture of sharp declines," said Stephen. "Wales saw a drop of just 9%, while registrations in the South East were actually up 1%."