IN BRIEF

16 February 2001

IN BRIEF

&#8226 TRACTORS sales for the first month of 2001 amounted to 481 units – 6.4% less than the same period last year, reports the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA).

AEAs Chris Evans believes sales took a knock because of the excessively wet autumn which severely affected the volume of winter-sown crops – and hit confidence for the future. For February, Mr Evans reckons sales are likely be about the same, or possibly more than the 456 units registered during this period last year.

Its still early days for 2001 but Januarys performance will have done little to encourage dealers and manufacturers to believe that this year will mark a turn around in their fortunes.

&#8226 FOLLOWING the decision by Dowdeswell to relinquish its plant at Harleston, Norfolk, the manufacture of Richard Pearsons potato machinery will transfer to Pearsons Freiston factory. This is the result of an agreement with the receiver of Dowdeswell (Norfolk) – a subsidiary of Dowdeswell Engineering.

&#8226 THIS years British National Ploughing Championships have been rescheduled. They will now take place on 6/7 Oct at Hornby Hall, near Penrith, Cumbria, rather than on 15/17 Sept at Langwathby as planned. Hornby Hall is situated on the A66, three miles east of Penrith, near the M6 motorway.

From 2002, the championships will revert to its original date of the second weekend in October, say the organisers.

&#8226 NEED to know all the latest information on lorry driving – the rules on driving hours, tachographs, speed limits and a host of other practical, essential details? The Freight Transport Association has now published its latest version of what many consider to be the truck drivers "bible".

Entitled the Drivers Handbook, a copy can be obtained by sending a cheque for £5 to the Sales Office, FTA, Hermes House, St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9UZ.

&#8226 KUBOTA is offering a £500 cash-back for those who purchase any compact tractor model from its Super B range. The offer is available on the companys 18hp B1700 and 21hp B2100 tractors with hydrostatic or mechanical transmissions, together with the 24hp B2400. Open until the end of March, the promotion is available from appointed Kubota dealers in the UK and Ireland.