According to figures released by the AEA, UK agricultural tractor registrations returned to year-on-year growth in October, with a total of 804 machines registered this year, 17% more than in October 2020.

However the Association said that the widespread disruptions being experienced throughout global supply chains means that delivery lead times remain longer than usual. "Without that," explained Stephen Howarth, their agricultural economist, "the monthly figure might have been even higher and indeed it is 7% below the average for the time of year during the five years prior to 2020.

"Nevertheless, the number of tractors registered this year has already exceeded the total for the whole of last year, with two months of the year left. At 10,656 machines, the figure for January to October 2021 was 19% higher than in the same period of 2020."