Tractor sales buoyant despite fall in farm machinery market

DESPITE a slightly depressed farm machinery market in 2003, tractor sales remained buoyant, according to the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA).

An analysis which it conducted showed that the overall value of the market declined about 6% in actual terms, relative to the value in 2002.

FTMTA chief executive Michael Moroney said the latest registration figures from the Central Statistics Office confirm sales of new tractors remained close to the 2002 level until November when they took a slight dip.