Farm Economy Pressures Continue to Weigh on Tractor and Combine Sales

AEM’s Curt Blades joins us to talk about declining tractor and combine sales, farm economy conditions, and the outlook for the ag machinery market.

A tractor cultivates a field at dawn.

A tractor in a field plows the ground at dawn, sowing grain.

Inna - stock.adobe.com

DES MOINES, IOWA (RFD NEWS) — U.S. tractor and combine sales continue to decline, with the latest figures showing tractors down more than 21 percent from a year ago and combine sales dropping more than 56 percent, according to industry data.

Curt Blades with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to take a closer look at current equipment sales trends and what is driving the slowdown.

In his interview with RFD News, Blades discussed where equipment sales currently stand and whether the trend aligns with expectations for the year.

Blades emphasized how the current state of the farm economy is influencing equipment demand, including broader financial pressures facing producers.

He also outlined the supply-and-demand outlook for agricultural equipment and manufacturers’ expectations moving forward under current market conditions.

Finally, Blades discussed potential market factors on the horizon that could impact both farmers and the ag equipment sector as a whole.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

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