Economic Facts About Tractors

The 20th century is often spoken of as the machine age, the term being used chiefly with reference to factory production. But in many ways this term applies with even more relevance to farming - the range of rachinery which has come to be considered necessary on many farms having expanded considerably since the century began. Among these machines which are now almost thought of as being essential on most farms is the tractor - and even whore it is not considered essential it is frequently installed for other cogen-b reasons. This attitude of mind towards tractors has only existed during the past decade or so, and is exemplified by the six fold increase that has occurred in the number of tractors on farms in England and Wales since 1939. The introduction of a tractor, however, is not without its problems. Amongst those which might be listed are:- what amount of capital will be required to buy the tractor? what are the alternative uses of this capital? will the tractor replace any horses and, if so, haw many? what difference will the tractor make to current farm expenses and more important to current net income? and what io the expected working life of the tractor? This report based on the actual. experience of farmers in thg East Midlands(1) attempts to answer some, but not all, of these questions. The first two sections are based on two enquiries conducted amongst farmers and the third on the analysis of published statistics.