According to figures released by the AEA, the number of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) registered in April 2020 was less than half that of a year earlier at 862 units.

Very high registrations in April 2019, associated with the original planned date for the UK to leave the EU, meant that it was always likely that the number of registrations in the same month this year would be significantly lower, say the AEA.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the association said, "This is the lowest April figure since at least 2000, although it may have been affected by slight delays in processing registrations at DVLA, due to Coronavirus. Registrations during the month will no doubt also have been reduced by a number of factory closures across Europe."

The latest figure brings the total for the year to date to 3,677 machines, 23% down on the equivalent period last year and the lowest for the opening four months of the year since 2016.