Tractors were the most popular type of agricultural machinery used in the last 12 months

The June Agricultural Census 2024 received 18,762 responses from agricultural holdings, of which 11,970 holdings or 64% responded to the agricultural machinery module. The results presented here are based on the holdings that responded to all questions in the agricultural module. Also included are holdings that did not respond to all questions in the agricultural machinery module but a complete module response could be determined through estimation.  

Figure 17: Agricultural machinery used on holdings in the last 12 months by type, percentage, June 2024

Based on the around 12,000 holdings that responded to the agricultural machinery module, there were 51,100 items of agricultural machinery used on holdings in the last 12 months. Across all farm types, tractors were the most popular type of machinery used (51% of all machinery items used) followed by all-terrain vehicles (ATV)/quads (19%), other lifting equipment such as wheeled loaders (11%) and telescopic material handlers (10%).  

The accompanying spreadsheet tables to this publication also include tractors used by horsepower and machinery used by main farm type.  

Figure 18: Agricultural machinery used on holdings in the last 12 months by ownership status, percentage, June 2024 

In terms of ownership status of the machinery used in the last 12 months, close to nine out of ten items (89%) were owned by the respondent, with 7% on hired purchase/personal contract and 5% shared with another holding. Ownership was lowest for combine harvesters (79%) and self-propelled sprayers (65%).

The agricultural machinery module also included a question on the fuel type of the agricultural machinery used. With tractors the most popular type of machinery used, diesel was the most common fuel type (82%). Both ATV/quads and side-by-side utility vehicles used a higher proportion of petrol fuel, and both these vehicles had the highest proportion of bio-fuel (3% of ATV/quads) and electric (3% of side-by-side utility vehicles). Overall less than 1% of agricultural machinery used bio-fuel or electric.

This year’s agricultural census included module questions on the use of agricultural machinery on holdings in the last 12 months. Questions were included on the number of tractors and other agricultural machinery, ownership status and fuel type used.

The agricultural machinery module was included to improve understanding of the machinery actually used on holdings in Scotland. Although this module was not a complete audit of agricultural machinery in Scotland and not all holdings responded, it does support the evidence base on the reduction of emissions from Scottish agriculture.

Historic data on agricultural machinery can be found here. Information on the Scottish Government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2045 can be found here.