Farms & Farm Machinery #385

MARKET NEWS
Left: Sales of tractors under 40hp, like this
Mahindra Jivo, were up 29 per cent in March
marching on
Sales of agricultural equipment rose in March, in what
the industry hopes will be the start of a positive season
Gary Northover is executive
director of the Tractor & Machinery
Association of Australia (TMA).
He can be contacted on
(03) 9813 8011 or
at gary@tma.asn.au
Thanks partly to the government’s $150,000 instant asset
write-off threshold, while large tractor and harvester sales
have a long way to go before returning to recent highs, the rest
of the market is bouncing back.
Sales in March were up 5 per cent in unit numbers but down
10.8 per cent in dollar terms on the same month last year; with
sales 3.2 per cent behind for the year to date after a rocky start.
The difference between unit sales and turnover is due to the
marked fall in the 200hp (150kW) and above range – down 21
per cent for the month and 15 per cent behind YTD.
Unit sales were strongest in the under 40hp (30kW) range, up
29 per cent for the month after the accelerated depreciation
incentives. These now sit 3.3 per cent behind for the year to date.
The 40 to 100hp (30–75kW) range was in line with last March,
now down 9 per cent for the year and the 100 to 200hp
(75–150kW) category had another strong month up another 16
per cent, and up 10 per cent for the YTD.
Victoria has a bumper year, up 32 per cent on March 2019 and
15 per cent ahead for 2020, while South Australia recorded its
first rise for some time – up 27 per cent in Ma ch and 3 per cent
ahead of its 2020 levels.
NSW sales were up 13 per cent for the month, 6 per cent down
year to date and Queensland down another 9 per cent and now
15 per cent behind last year.
Western Australia’s story was somewhat grim: down 30 per
cent for March, 17 per cent down YTD. Tasmania’s strong run
has slowed, 19 per cent down for March and now 4 per cent
ahead for 2020.
Conditions for combine harvester sales are challenging, with no
great prospects despite improving conditions and only a small
number of completed sales in March.
March baler sales were 51 per cent higher than last year; but
there was no improvement in out front mowers sales, now 18
per cent behind YTD.
Regrettably the annual TMA Conference, slated for July, has
been cancelled; to be held instead in 2021. In the meantime...
stay safe!
rake like a pro
SITREX PRO 17-19 CENTRE DELIVERY
TECHNICAL FEATURES
• Large 1.5m raking wheels with low
friction wind shields
• Gentle raking with flexible
rubber fingers
• Easy electro-hydraulic controls
• Independent left and right-side
working width
• Tandem walking beam axle on
large tyres
CONTROLS
GENTLE RAKING
ALSO AVAILABLE
SIDE DELIVERY 2.9-7.5M
CENTRE DELIVERY 5.8-11.4M
LOW FRICTION WHEELS
FLEXIBLE RAKE FINGERS
$0
DEPOSIT
Fodder harvesting is affordable and cost-effective with Sitrex finger wheel rakes. Wide
working widths that gently rake into fluffy well-formed swaths are ideal for uneven
ground conditions such as drilled cereal fodder crops. Special price offers end 30th
June 2020.
For more information and
your nearest dealer
1800 849 090
Pictures for illustration purposes only. Pricing excludes dealer delivery charges. Finance available to approved purchasers only.
www.inlon.ag/715
30 TradeFarmMachinery.com.au All applications are subject to individual assessment at time of application. #Subject to availability.
THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND