Decline in agricultural machinery sales reflected in operating loss at Ripon Farm Services

With the UK agricultural machinery market experiencing its toughest year in decades, Ripon Farm Services has reported a sharp decline in revenue (down 7% to £171.6 million) as tractor sales hit a 25-year low. The company cited poor weather, high input costs and low farmer confidence as reasons behind the slump.

Despite the downturn, Ripon generated £11.6 million in cash by aggressively reducing inventory and controlling costs. However, this came at the expense of profitability, with operating losses rising to £1.8 million.

The board remains optimistic, citing a stronger forward order book and signs of market recovery heading into 2026.