June 23, 2008

UK farmers to endure long waits for new farm equipment

UK farmers are having to wait up to a year for new tractors and combine harvesters, risking disruption to agricultural production, The Times of London reports.

The surge in demand caused by high food prices has resulted in a dash to buy new equipment, with prices also being forced up.

The Times says the cost of a new tractor is now at GBP 70,000, and a new combine harvester is now around GBP200,000, with no new models of the latter expected in the U.K. before next summer at the earliest.