U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 12.8% in August compared to 2019, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales grew 1%. Four-wheel-drive units grew for the first time in the U.S. in August, climbing 14.1% to 218 units, shrinking the year-to-date (YTD) decline to 9.7%. One-hundred-plus-HP units remain the only slow spot in the market, with 7.8% fewer of them finding new owners in August. Total YTD farm tractors out the door are up 14% in 2020, while combines are now up 3.6% on the year.
For Canada, August tractor sales grew across the smaller-unit segments, leading to an overall gain in tractor sales of 22%. That grows the YTD unit sales gain for farm tractors to 6.9%, while combines monthly sales growth of 35.8% cut total YTD losses nearly in half to 11.5%.
“We’re not surprised with seeing growth in combines pick up, with USDA predictions of larger harvest sizes for this year,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president of ag services at AEM. “We’re still watching the 100-horse and four-wheel-drive sales closely, as those are the units that indicate how the large-field farmers are feeling, especially as they start planning for winter and cover crops, and next year’s plantings. However, this month’s overall equipment sales remain above the five-year average, and we’re pleased with that.”
The full reports can be found in the market data section of the AEM website under ag tractor and combine reports.
U.S. reports can be found here.
Canadian reports can be found here.
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. The equipment manufacturing industry in the U.S. supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.
AEM continues to lead the industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is working closely with state and federal officials to help keep equipment manufacturing in America strong and ensure the nation’s economic resilience. AEM has also called for bold action from Congress and federal agencies, including continued federal designation deeming equipment manufacturers and their employees, suppliers, and distributors as “essential” and additional support to ensure small- and medium-sized equipment manufacturers have access to the cash they need to keep operations going. 
—From an Association of Equipment Manufacturers news release
