Growth in both ag tractors and combine harvesters continues in the U.S., while a slowdown in harvesters in Canada brings overall unit sales slightly below 2020 north of the border, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

U.S. total farm tractor sales climbed a healthy 8.7% in November compared to 2020, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales saw a gain of 37.8%, the fourth month in a row of growth near or above 20% for harvesters. All segments except articulated four-wheel-drive units grew in the month, led by the 100-plus-hp segment, up 30.9%. Articulated four-wheel-drive units fell 23% on the month but remain more than 17% positive year to date. Year-to-date farm tractor sales are up 11.3% and combine sales growth climbed to 25%.

For Canada, November monthly sales were a mixed bag, with tractors climbing 1.3% in aggregate, while harvesters fell 56.8%, bringing combined tractor and combine sales down 0.7%, or 18 total units. Segment by segment, sales in Canada were like the U.S., with articulated four-wheel-drive sales falling 52.8%, while 100-plus-hp two-wheel-drive units led gains at 20.2%. The only segment difference was sub-40-hp units which fell 2.5% in Canada, while growing 6.8% in the U.S. Still, both tractors and combines remain above 20% growth year-to-date in Canada, with tractors up 20.5% and combines up 28.1%.

“Both tractors and combines continue to see year-to-date growth in the double digits, demonstrating that farmer demand and optimism remains strong,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president, industry sectors and product leadership at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “While supply chain issues are still causing some bumps, our members continue to do all they can to deliver the parts and products to the market.”

The full reports can be found in the market data section of the AEM website under ag tractor and combine reports.

The U.S. reports can be found here.

The 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.

—From an Association of Equipment Manufacturers news release