Farm machinery specialists in Gore report farmers are still spending money on machinery despite the country's economic woes.
Southland Farm Machinery manager Larry Miller said sales at his Main St shop, which specialised in new and used farm machinery sales and servicing, were exactly where he would expect them to be at this time of year.
‘‘It's just business as usual - the same as every other year so far,'' he said.
‘‘Most farmers do their spending around July, August, and September, but things are on par with where they should
be at this point.''
Mr Miller, who has been with Southland Farm Machinery for seven years, said farmers were spending money on a relatively equal mix of new and used machinery.
Gore Farm Machinery sales representative Lindsay Stevens reported a similar spending trend among farmers.
‘‘Things are ticking on quite nicely actually,'' Mr Stevens said.
‘‘There is still quite a bit of interest in both new and used machinery at the moment.''
Mr Stevens said at this time of year farmers typically placed orders for bigger machinery, such as muck spreaders, and he expected sales would continue to pick up as usual towards July.
‘‘Being primary producers I don't think it [the economic downturn] will affect them much, but we'll have to wait and see I guess.
‘‘But orders coming in now are certainly where I'd expect them to be at this time of year.''
Mr Stevens said he dealt with many farmers directly and most of the people he spoke to were fairly confident about the economic outlook.
