Despite Crazy Year, Farm Machinery Sales Experience Growth

MILWAUKEE, WI – While the majority of the American economy was struggling through a year marked by mandatory business closures due to COVID-19, 2020 appears to have been good for farm equipment manufacturers.

According to year-end data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), farm tractor and self-propelled combine unit sales finished the year with solid growth across the United States.

Total U.S. farm tractor sales rose 26.8 percent in December compared to 2019 while combine sales fell 1.9 percent.

Four-wheel-drive units fell slightly in December, down 3.7 percent with year-to-date sales finishing 3.7 percent higher than in 2019.

Tractors with more than 100 horsepower posted healthy growth in December (up 21.8 percent) and finished the year up 3.2 percent.

Sales of tractors of all sizes, combined for the year, experienced a 17.9 percent annual increase while combines finished 2020 up 5.5 percent.

“2020 was difficult on a number of fronts, despite uncertainty in the overall economy, the ag equipment market has been pretty strong.” said Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Ag Services with AEM. “The growth we saw in farm tractors and combines was pleasant news—driven by largely smaller equipment. Overall, ag equipment manufacturers sold nearly fifty thousand more tractors and combine units in 2020 than in 2019 across North America.”
(SOURCE: All Ag News)