“We’re encouraged to hear USDA estimates that net farm income is expected to increase slightly in 2019 after last year’s declines; hopefully that signifies some optimism in the U.S. as the year moves forward,” said Curt Blades, AEM senior vice president. “We hope that the new U.S. farm bill will provide more certainty for farmers as they plan ahead. However, we are still facing a lack of real, sustained progress on trade agreements and ending retaliatory tariffs.”
A summary of February and year-to-date sales follows:
- February 2019 sales of four-wheel-drive tractors were up 30 percent from a year earlier, at 167. Year-to-date sales in this category hit 348, up 34 percent from January-February 2018.
- February U.S. sales of two-wheel-drive tractors were up about 17 percent to 12,201, with year-to-date sales up 11 percent, at 23,974. Tractors under 40 horsepower showed the biggest growth in sales, up 25 percent in February to almost 8,150. Sales of two-wheel-drive tractors in the 40 to 100 horsepower category rose 7 percent to 3,173. Sales of two-wheel-drive tractors in the 100-plus horsepower category dipped 2 percent in February to 880.
- Sales of self-propelled combines totaled 305 in February 2019, up 22 percent from February 2018; year-to-date 2019 sales rose to 566, an 18 percent increase over the same period a year earlier.
AEM is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers, with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. 
-
Dave Natzke
- Editor
- Progressive Dairyman
- Email Dave Natzke
