A total of 3175 tractors were sold in Queensland during the period according to figures released by the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA).

Whilst down a little on the previous year’s high of 3340 sales, it is well above the 1200 units sales average recorded through the early years of this decade.

The strength in the Queensland market has been driven by strong growth in the South West and Brisbane regions were sales have risen by 20 per cent and 13pc respectively year-on-year.

In the South West the market has been driven by a 75 percent lift in sales in the Toowoomba area. The Goondiwindi and Dalby areas also experienced a turnaround in fortunes with sales increasing by 41 percent and 25 percent respectively.

But there’s a bitter-sweet edge to the just-released Australian farm machinery sales figures.

The TMA says it’s been heartened the number of tractors delivered in April and May of this year turned out to be the highest since 1985.

And the trend continues to be encouraging. Sales for the June quarter are the highest in 30 years with the value of those sales increasing by more than 17 percent.

Industry confidence is being further buoyed because farmers believe commodity prices will remain high boosted, hopefully, by the prospect of improved seasons.

However, there are some serious down-sides, according to executive director, TMA, Vin Delahunty.

He says the industry remains concerned about its ability to meet demand, principally because of the recent rundown of new and used machine inventory, the availability of the necessary skills in the manufacturing sector, plus booming global demand for machinery.

*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.