North Canterbury News: March 17, 2022

FARM VEHICLES &MACHINERY
20 North Canterbury News, March 17, 2022
Farm machinery in demand amid Covid
Large deliveries of tractors and
equipment towards the end of last year
reflect strong demand throughout the
country on the back of strengthening
commodity prices, according to the
Tractor and Machinery Association
(TAMA).
TAMA president Kyle Baxter says the
second half of last year continued the
exceptionally strong sales growth of the
first half, compared with 2020.
Overall tractor deliveries to the end of
November reflected an average increase
in demand of 27 percent.
‘‘There has been significant growth
across the traditional lifestyle 0­60hp
segment, which increased by more than
35%, while the 60­100hp horticulture,
orchard, viticulture segment was up 20%
and the 100­120hp dairy sector up 9%.’’
The biggest increase was in the
120­250hp mainly arable and drystock
farming sector, which increased 42%
compared with 2020.
The big agriculture outlays of 250hpplus
increased almost 36%, he says.
‘‘Tractor sales are only one
measurement of the state of the industry
and we’re also seeing increased
equipment demand,’’ Mr Baxter says.
‘‘Both locally manufactured and
imported equipment are all reporting
strong demand.’’
While New Zealand was experiencing
growth in tractor and equipment
deliveries, so were other countries as
commodity prices remained favourable,
he says.
‘‘Many local and overseas suppliers are
stating that production for 2022 is
already nearing maximum capacity on
large, specialised equipment.
‘‘There is limited capacity to
accommodate new orders that haven’t
Kyle Baxter
already been forecasted or placed with
the manufacturer.
‘‘Quarter 1and 22023 delivery time is
becoming very much areality for alot of
this type of product.’’
This level of global demand plus the
inflation of shipping costs and extended
ocean shipping timetables all added to
the challenge of ensuring equipment
deliveries to local customers, Mr Baxter
says.
‘‘TAMA is encouraging its members to
discuss equipment requirements for
spring­summer 2022 and autumn 2023
with their customers as soon as
possible.’’
Record­low unemployment levels and
international border restrictions
continued to add further challenges
across the sector due to the shortage of
skilled technical staff.
TAMA members were reiterating the
same messages as many other New
Zealand businesses, that Covid
restrictions and compliance with Covid
In demand ... Farm machinery sales have been strong despite the challenges of Covid­
19. PHOTO: FILE
requirements were adding to the
reduced efficiencies across many areas
of their businesses, further increasing
the challenges presented each day.
On apositive note, TAMA dealership
members reported astrong uptake of
apprentices this season.
This is helping to future proof the
technician support side of the sector, and
the recruitment of apprentices is set to
remain akey factor for the years ahead
across TAMA members, Mr Baxter says.
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