Tractor sales holding well

The downturn in the national economy has as yet not taken any real toll on the sales of new tractors this year. While there has been a decline from the highs of last year and 2006, the figures are still impressive given the large numbers of tractor purchases in the past two years.
In fact in the half year to the end of June there were only 45 fewer new tractors sold in the Republic than were sold during the same period in 2007. Most of that decline can be accounted for by a dip in the May and June figures when sales were back by 189 units. January figures were well up on the previous year with an extra 200 tractors going onto farms and other businesses. With the sharp decline in the building industry it is remarkable that some element of it has not seeped into tractor sales as building companies account for a fair proportion of total tractor sales. Hopefully the buoyancy will continue, as tractor sales are always a useful barometer of how agriculture in general is faring.

Deere improves Gator performance
Increased power and ground clearance, a higher top speed and improved suspension are features of the new XUV 850D 4x4 Gator utility vehicle from John Deere.
Designed for greater off-road and rough-terrain performance, this latest addition to the Gator range made its official public debut at the 2008 Royal Show at Stoneleigh where it won a New Equipment Award. The XUV Gator also won two major product test awards this year in the USA. As winner of the ATV/Utility Vehicle category of the 2008 Finovation Awards, the XUV was ranked highest in the Farm Industry News Utility Vehicle Rodeo, a two-day product testing event in which farmers scored utility vehicles from nine different companies, while completing typical farm tasks. Side X Side Action magazine also named the XUV its Utility Vehicle of the Year in another two-day test in which John Deere went up against 10 different utility vehicles from eight other manufacturers.