Record year for national sales

Last year was a record year for tractor and combine harvester sales across Australia, due in part to the Federal Government's 50 per cent investment allowance.

In 2009, national sales figures reveal that 11,449 tractors and 954 combines were sold - and WA farmers played their part, with 1,302 tractors and 341 combines delivered on farm.

The figure, compiled by agricultural machinery research company Agriview, also included a December last-minute rush, which pushed the month's national sales to a 20-year high.

Alan Kirsten, Agriview managing director, said 2009 had been a remarkable year for machinery. Nationally, he said it was the first time in 31 years that the tractor market had experienced two consecutive years of double-digit growth: "2009 will go down in the record books as being the best result since 1987 when a little over 12,000 tractors were sold."

The number of combine harvesters sold was a dramatic turnaround after three lacklustre years where sales averaged 440 machines.

"Year on year, the market lifted by 77 per cent led by a 120 per cent increase in New South Wales and 80 per cent lifts in Victoria and South Australia. Queensland and WA both recorded 60 per cent gains," Mr Kirsten said.

The value of tractors sold was $1.014 billion, up 25 per cent on 2008's figure, while the value of harvesters sold was $465.8million, up by 158 per cent.

Mr Kirsten said tractor demand in WA was concentrated in the 140 horsepower (hp)-plus market and was up by 24 per cent on the previous year. "The bottom end of the market - tractors up to 60hp - remained stable at 2008 levels. Double-digit growth occurred in the 60-140hp market segment," he said.

Combine harvester sales to WA farmers were the best result since 2002 when just over 400 were sold.

John Shephard (‘Shep') from Farmers Centre in Katanning said the investment allowance had helped to increase his own sales for tractors, headers, bars and bins. "We picked up around 40 per cent more sales in the Katanning office, which is close to a record year of sales," he said.

The allowance also helped to buffer the economic downturn and create interest in machinery purchases.

The Kerin family in Katanning were just one of many who boosted WA's sales figures. They upgraded from a Case IH 2388 to a 7088 axle flow, but just missed out on the investment allowance when they ordered in early June, 2008.

The new header, which has a 40-foot front, arrived in November in time for harvest. The family said it had increased efficiency by 15-20 per cent.

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