Four-Wheel-Drive Tractor Sales Rise in October as Overall Market Slips
AEM reported a 7.7% year-over-year gain in four-wheel-drive tractor sales for October, while total tractor sales fell 0.5% and combine sales dropped 9.6%. Year-to-date tractor sales remain down 11.6%.
Four-wheel-drive tractors posted a year-over-year sales increase in October, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The gain was 7.7%.
That rise stood out against the wider market. AEM reported that overall tractor sales slipped 0.5% from October of last year. Combine sales fell 9.6% over the same period.
For the year to date, total tractor sales are still down 11.6%. AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades called the four-wheel-drive result a welcome bright spot, while noting that trade questions continue to make the agriculture market challenging.
Separately, the Ag Economy Barometer's Farm Capital Investment Index rose 16 points to its highest reading since last December. Still, only 20% of the 400 farmers surveyed said it was a good time to invest in machinery and buildings.
For equipment buyers, does the four-wheel-drive pickup signal better availability or pricing on those units, and how does it compare with the models you are considering? If you are weighing a purchase, is your decision tied to replacement needs or to the investment sentiment reflected in the survey? And given weaker combine sales, are there dealer incentives worth asking about on harvesting equipment?