AGFACTS Newsbrief Summary - August 2011

·       Information from the AGFACTS Used Tractor database indicates that the average power of tractors in the database has increased from 70 kW in 1995 to the current level of almost 93 kW.

·       The average age of tractors in the AGFACTS Used Tractor database has reduced from a level of approximately 13 years during the period 1995 to 2000, down to approximately 9.2 years currently.

·       The trend in the overall year-on-year price change of agricultural machinery is upwards.   The current overall year-on-year price decrease (smoothed) is 2.3%.

·       The sixth estimate of commercial maize production for the 2010/2011 season is 11.854 million tons, 15.3% less than in the previous season.

·       The preliminary area estimate for wheat for the 2011 season is 602 000 ha, 7.9% higher than in the previous season.

·       Year-to-date tractor sales to July 2010 amount to 3 772 units, 34.3% up on last year.   (Reported sales now exclude export sales.)