(NAFB) – Total farm tractor unit sales in the U.S. turned positive for the first time in 2023, led by continued strength in large tractors and combines.

The Association of Equipment Manufactures reported Wednesday gains in the U.S. market were led by 100-plus horsepower two-wheel-drive units, up 25.4 percent, closely followed by four-wheel-drive units, up 21.9 percent. However, a change from the previous month is a small gain in the sub-40 horsepower two-wheel-drive segment, up 0.2 percent, that took overall sales positive since they represent more than 66 percent of total unit sales volume for the month.

U.S. combines also marked another large gain of 9.8 percent. At the mid-year mark, year-to-date unit sales of farm tractors are down 9.7 percent despite a gain of 45.5 percent in the four-wheel-drive segment over that same period, and combines are up 51.5 percent. Total farm tractor unit sales year-to-date in Canada are down 14.4 percent, while combines are up 81.8 percent.