Chad Smith, NAFB News Service

Unit sales of agricultural tractors and self-propelled combines in August were positive for the fifth month in a row in the U.S. The trend also stayed above the previous year for the third consecutive month in Canada. The latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 12.8 percent last month when compared to 2019. Self-propelled combine sales grew by just one percent. Four-wheel-drive units grew for the first time in the U.S. during August, climbing 14 percent to 218 units. 100-plus horsepower units remain the only slow spot in the market, with 7.8 percent fewer of them finding new owners in August. Total year-to-date farm tractors out the door are up 14 percent this year, while combines are now up 3.6 percent in 2020. “We’re not surprised with seeing growth in combines pick up, with USDA predictions of larger harvest sizes for this year,” says Curt Blades, senior vice president of Ag Services with AEM. “We’re still watching the 100-horse and four-wheel drive sales closely as those are units that indicate just how the large-field farmers are feeling.” He says this month’s overall equipment sales remain above the five-year average and AEM is pleased with that.