A remarkable 12,000 modern-day beasts of burden were sold across Australia during the last 12 months, principally on the back of an easing in the drought (see graph).

But the early sales indicators for 2009 suggest farmers already are on track to replicate these figures as they shrug the financial gloom that hangs over much of the Australian economy.

Mr Delahunty sheets home the continuously bullish look to tractor sales by pointing to the latest industry data which has the market 7.7 percent up for the first four months of 2009, compared to the same period last year, with the month of April up a staggering 16 percent over the same month last year.

* Rural Press's Machinery Annual, will appear in this Thursday's weekly agricultural newspapers.

Even more remarkable is that further analysis of the ['09 April tractor sales figures has them running some 40 percent higher than the levels recorded when the same month over the past five years is compared.

At 4065 unit sales, this is the best start to the year the industry has had since 1985 with the strength in the market focusing on the 0-40pto hp, 60-100hp and 140hp-plus segments where sales have lifted by 10 percent, 11 percent and 14 percent respectively.

There's no denying how the drought's receding tentacles across wide swathes of Australia has played its part in re-invigorating farm machinery industry which, during 2008, managed sales achievements not be seen for the past 25 years.

"It looks like that bounce has remained within the industry (this year)," Mr Delahunty said.

Stand-out reasons for farmers continuing to purchase new machinery centre on:

• Good seasonal conditions across northern Australia leading to a welcome summer crop harvest.