Before we get to what is a positive industry story this week, let's get the less good news out of the way first.

You may have already seen the article in the Update today from the AEA, confirming that we've just experienced the lowest tractor registrations for a December for three years.

It's an interesting story because even though the bottom line for the year meant that total registrations for 2019 were 2% higher than in 2018, as Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the Association explains, it's not quite as straightforward as that. Stephen says, ". . the 2018 figure understated the true size of the market due to a large number of pre-registrations in late 2017 ahead of the application of the 'Mother Regulation'. Therefore, the figures indicate that the size of the tractor market for 2019 as a whole will have been significantly down on the previous year, particularly in the second half of the year."

Anecdotally we've been aware of tough trading conditions throughout 2019, but to get it confirmed by these stats today, cements the year as a particularly difficult one.

It's not just our industry of course which has found the going hard. There was the widely reported news this week that we've just seen the worst year for retail for 25 years according to the British Retail Consortium.

Perhaps some solace can be taken then, that it's not just our sector which has faced a struggle this past year. With all the well-documented uncertainty and upheavals the country has faced recently, it's almost no wonder that consumers are being prudent with their spending.

So for this week to see a particularly upbeat and positive LAMMA show for the agricultural machinery sector, is perhaps just the kick-start and boost which this new decade needed!

LAMMA took place at the NEC on Tuesday and Wednesday for its second indoors event and from the accounts emerging from Birmingham, there appears to be cause for some optimism heading into 2020.

You can read what Martin Rickatson, Service Dealer's agricultural machinery editor, thought of the event here.

You can also watch today a series of interview videos which Service Dealer recorded at the show this week. Our new recruit, Kate Godber, spoke to a bunch of manufacturer representatives, all of whom felt there were opportunities for dealers this coming year. Indeed some were launching new brands and were actually looking to establish new dealer networks which must be sign that they see potential in the market place.

Kate's view of the show was that it upbeat and buzzy. She said, "There was a buoyant mood at this week’s LAMMA, with everyone we spoke to being extremely positive about the show and the new decade. The lanes were busy, even on Wednesday afternoon and the organisers were confident about the numbers through the door. 

"Brexit and its effect on buying was still a topic of discussion, but it seemed people were ready to part with their cash and many of the manufacturers we visited were very happy with the conversations they'd had."

Kate also mentioned the emphasis the show had new innovations, describing this as the "hot topic" this year. She said it was an area which the organisers were very keen to push and pointed out that their new Farming 4.0 speaker sessions were "standing room only."

Also encouraging for our ag machinery dealer readers, it seems that the show attracted its share of young people. I saw various social media posts this week, mentioning how great it was to see so many members of the younger generation getting into farming. Along these lines Kate also said how successful the ATV company Can-Am were in attracting a large crowd to their stand by inviting the sort of guests to speak who were always going to appeal to millennials - influencers. They packed them in on Wednesday afternoon when Tom Pemberton (Tom Pemberton Farm Life), Oliver Roberts (Olly’s Farm) and Hannah Jackson (RedShepherdess) all appeared.

The influencers speaking on Can-Am's LAMMA stand this week

Which is all very encouraging. Hopefully this positivity shown for the agricultural sector will be continued when the turf care contingent make their way to Harrogate for BTME from the 21st to the 23rd of the month. We've already heard today from Barrus that they will be showing a new brand which they will be looking for new dealers for. So it appears there could well be new avenues of opportunity cropping up for dealers of all machinery types this year.

Being mindful of course that conditions will remain tough, I don't think it can do any harm to see bright spots emerging from events like LAMMA. It won't do any good constantly looking for the gloom. If shows can act as a spark of inspiration to try something new, then why not?

We just need the weather to behave and play its part!