Sales of tractors over 50hp in the UK were up by almost 15% in 2007, reports the Agricultural Engineers Association. The main reason is higher grain and milk prices and more confidence in the future.

In total 15,540 tractors were sold last year, 14.6% more than the 2006 total of 13,874. In fact it’s the best year for tractor sales since 1996, when a massive 18,615 were sold.

UK farmers and contractors are buying bigger tractors, too, with the average hp up by 4.4% to 134hp. Normally, average tractor horsepowers rise by just over 1% a year.

With milk prices climbing during the autumn and grain prices still buoyant, demand for new tractors is expected to stay high through 2008.