Preliminary 2014 figures reveal the arable sector’s unwillingness to invest in new ploughs, cultivators, drills, fertiliser spreaders and sprayers, the spend on which fell by around 5% to €3.6 billion in Europe (€1.7 billion for drills, sprayers and fertiliser spreaders/€1.9 billion for tillage kit). Down on the €3.76 billion peak in European sales levels in 2013, but still higher than the figure in 2011 and 2012, the European Association of Agricultural Machinery (CEMA) reckons last year’s decline was due in part to continued weak demand in France and the downward trend in Germany – the first since the recession of 2009/10. These two countries account for more than 35% of total European equipment sales. Few European countries are currently showing any signs of growth, and the outlook for the Russian market, which performed comparatively well for certain companies in 2014, is also less positive and CEMA predicts a further 7% decline in the market for new arable machinery this year.