Dealers were swamped with orders for the most recent Tractor and Harvester models for the past two seasons despite record all-time high retail prices
One thing that gets to farmers more than anything else is when a neighbour turns up in a tractor with a cab more comfortable than sitting in a lounge room chair, and with all the bells and whistles normally found in a luxury car.
And to top it off, the Morrison government was allowing a complete tax write-off of the purchase in one lump sum. That generous deduction scheme is currently legislated to end on 30 June 2023.
A current day estimated record of 19,000-plus farmers decided on a new tractor purchase in 2022 and that number was only dampened by supply availability as countless orders were placed only to be put on a six to 18-month waiting list.
Models were coming onto the market that offered the chance of a quantum leap in time-saving through sheer extra power and accuracy, that cashed-up farmers simply couldn’t resist.
John Deere went over the top with enticements for new buyers in 2022 and as a result, increased its lead as the number one tractor seller in the Australian market.
To be fair to the opposition badges John Deere did start ensuring customers would take notice of its new releases by offering them for order in early 2021 for delivery in 2022.
The 9R and 8R Series tractors would be part of John Deere’s biggest release in a decade and apart from the unveiling of widespread improvements to its range of known and trusted tractors, there were also air seeding tools and a future-focused lineup of sprayers in the mix.
Deere management expected a year full of strong performances in agriculture and the construction sectors and achieved just that for full-year earnings of US$7.131 billion in the fiscal year 2022, which compares with US$5.963 billion of earnings in the fiscal year 2021. Sales for the fiscal year 2022 rose 19% to $52.577 billion.
Some of the notable releases that took John Deere models into record territory and links to their individual stories follow in our summary of notable models released or delivered for the first time in 2022.
Catch the power behind John Deere tractor releases including the John Deere 9R Series here, and John Deere 8R Series here.
While on the harvester front John Deere revealed its X9 1000 combine harvester was on tour across the country and eventually released for the 2022-23 harvest season where it helped a WA grower to record results, see here.
Also high on the harvester list were John Deere Cotton and Sugarcane models with the release of the CP770 Cotton Picker and CS770 Stripper, and CH960 cane harvester. A link to their respective releases is here, Cotton, Cane.
And you might be interested to see just what John Deere has planned for you with the John Deere’s 8R Series self-drive tractor. This autonomous tractor is billed as the first available to the market from a major manufacturer and doesn’t need an onboard operator. You can place an order now, see more here.
When you are at the top, the view is extremely good and while John Deere has held an unassailable position in the local tractor market for a number of years it is currently facing its biggest challenge to date.
About to surge past the also-rans that have been of little consequence to John Deere’s dominance of the local market over the past 10 years is a reinvigorated AGCO.
Holding the keys to the most advanced tractor brand on the planet, Fendt, the company has also spent big on bringing the tractor leader from the early 1980’s back into contention, Massey Ferguson.
Between these two badges, many new farmers came on board in 2022 with the promise of the most current inclusions at a more realistic price point.
During 2022 Fendt went on to win the European “Tractor of the Year” with the outstanding Fendt 728 Vario, part of the Fendt 700 Vario Gen7 Series of five models with power ranging from 149 to 208kW (203 to 283hp).
Plus, these models also have the advantage of Fendt Dynamic Performance (DP) which adds an extra power boost to release another 15kW (20hp) on top. See more on the Fendt 700 Vario Gen7 Series here.
With local buyers already warming to the big Fendt 1000 Vario Series models with power from 292 to 380kW (396 to 517hp) it was an added bonus to consider the badge further when Fendt Connect was introduced. See more here.
This system allowed operators and dealers to connect Fendt tractors and Combines under one simple and easy-to-use platform from anywhere, at any time. See more here.
Fendt also added more firepower to the badge in our local market by releasing the IDEAL harvester for the first time with models lining up for the 2021-22 season. See more on the four-model IDEAL combine harvester range here.
This wider market model range is the start of more local broadacre farms taking on Fendt as their preferred badge as many Northern hemisphere farmers already have.
A further string in the bow of AGCO is the outstanding build from the ground up that has taken place with Massey Ferguson tractor models.
In one of the biggest revamps ever undertaken the Massey Ferguson range of tractors in the 5S, 6S, 7S and 8S Series have been transformed into world-leading models. With engine power from 77 to 224kW (105 to 305hp) covered across the 5S to 8S Series range.
As a result, Massey Ferguson has gained strong recognition in small to large Utility tractors that almost every farmer has in their on-farm machinery fleet and these models place the badge in a position to gain considerable additional market share moving forward.
The 5S Series was already turning heads with compact but very earnest models that excelled with front-end loader work and were also able to do everything expected in the paddock in the 77 to 107kW (105 to 145hp) power category. See our feature story here.
Then their obvious credentials were noticed by the industry as the Massey Ferguson 5S Series took out the Farm Machine 2023 Award for tractors less than 88kW (120hp) from the Groupe La France Agricole. See the award details here.
But unfortunately for opposition badges, the Massey Ferguson tractor juggernaut doesn’t stop there.
Massey Ferguson also announced the release of the MF 6S Series in 2022. It brings with it a new power category benchmark for the first time, the most powerful four-cylinder tractor currently available, the MF 6S1.80 with 147kW (200hp), and a turning radius of just 4.75m.
MF 6S Series models offer the complete package of comfort, control and connectivity for an enhanced operator experience in smart farming with standard engine power from 99 to 132kW (135 to 180hp). See more here.
Massey Ferguson then went on to extend the power range with the release of the MF 7S Series tractors in a powerful line-up of six utility models with power from 107kW (145hp) all the way up to 154kW (210hp).
MF 7S models are designed for professional farm operations and contractors, equipped to a high specification as standard and come with a choice of transmissions, and automation and control technology to take command of all farm applications. See more here.
And in a move that extended Massey Ferguson into its happy hunting ground of the 1980’s when the badge was a favourite in the high-power range, 8S Series models were expanded to offer an engine power range from 151 to 224kW (205 to 305hp).
Massey Ferguson 8S Series models have taken the lead in performance and functionality in their respective power category and is proving to be the ultimate choice when it comes to high-powered broadcare utility models. See their recent red dot award here.
In addition to the model releases catapulting various AGCO controlled badges there was further recognition for the stable when they appeared to scoop the pool by taking out ten AE50 Awards in the US.
These awards span the company’s strong brand portfolio, including Fendt, Fuse, Intelligent Ag, Massey Ferguson, and Precision Planting. See more here.
Catch our regular updates throughout 2023 on advances in tractors and harvesters.
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