Overall unit sales of agricultural tractors and combines in May 2020 rose in the United States.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers says smaller machine sales growth is overpowering declines in the bigger segments and combines.
U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 15.1% in May compared to 2019, while U.S. May combine sales fell 2.9%.
Heavy-duty tractor sales declined, but total year to date sales of all farm tractors now show positive at four percent growth for 2020, while combines remain down 9.5% in the same period.
AEM’s Curt Blades says the growth, largely from sub-100 horsepower tractors, “appears to be an unusual side-effect of COVID-19-related quarantines.”
Blades says large home property owners and hobby farmers are spending more time at home, and with their equipment, and desiring an upgrade.
Blades says the declines in row-crop tractors and harvesters “is clearly a reflection of uncertainty in the overall ag economy at this time.”
