Tractor sales for the first quarter of this year seem to be following the same highs as 2007.

So far this year 3462 tractors over 50hp have been registered – 3% more than the same period last year, according to the AEA.

It is a particularly promising first-quarter average given that things didn’t look too rosy at the end of February when sales dropped by more than 10% compared with 2007 results. So it’s just a case of getting hold of kit – some firms reported order lists running into 2009.