U.S. total farm tractor sales climbed 9.9% in August compared to 2020, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales jumped 19.8%, the second month in a row of growth near 20% for harvesters. The sub-40-hp returned to positive, growing 8.7%, while the midsize 41- to 100-hp segment was up 5.4%. Heavy duty units saw significant growth, with the articulated four-wheel-drive segment leading the way for the fourth straight month by climbing a healthy 40.4% to 306 units sold. The 100-plus hp, two-wheel-drive segment also grew 37.8%, the exact same as last month. Year-to-date farm tractor sales remain up 13.3% and combines up 13.8%.

For Canada, August monthly tractor and combine sales were a mixed bag. The sub-40-hp segment was up 5.8%, while the biggest growth sector was in articulated four-wheel-drive units growing significantly, up 77.8% to 16 units sold. Total farm tractor sales were up 1.9%, and self-propelled combines were up 28.7%.  

“We are pleasantly surprised by the return to growth for small units in both the U.S. and Canada, and by a healthy rate,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president of agriculture services at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “In addition to the continued growth of the big row-crop units, I think the interesting story is harvesters, up nearly 20 percent to 30 percent in their respective markets. Farmers investing in more of these big machines is another indicator of that farmer optimism we’ve been seeing.”

The full reports can be found in the market data section of the AEM website under ag tractor and combine reports. 

U.S. reports can be found here.

Canadian reports can be found here.  

AEM is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the U.S. supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.

—From an Association of Equipment Manufacturers news release