By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Tractor and combine sales finished 2020 with growth across a variety of farm equipment categories for the U.S., according to year-end data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
Tractor sales for the year were up 17.7 percent over 2019 figures, while combine sales showed a smaller increase of 5.5 percent, according to AEM’s Ag Tractor and Combine Report for December 2020.
“The year 2020 was difficult on a number of fronts. Despite uncertainty in the overall economy, the ag equipment market has been pretty strong” Curt Blades, AEM’s senior vice president of Ag Services, said. “The growth we saw in farm tractors and combines was pleasant news—driven by largely smaller equipment. Overall, ag equipment manufacturers sold nearly 50,000 more tractors and combine units in 2020 than in 2019 across North America.”
Sales of two-wheel drive tractors increased 17.9 percent. Much of that growth was attributed to sales of machines with less than 40 horsepower.
U.S. sales of four-wheel drive tractors fell in December, down 3.7 percent to 309 units, but year-to-date sales finished up 3.7 percent, according to AEM.
Sales figures generated monthly by AEM were higher in 2020 compared to 2019 for most of the year, except for February and March.
AEM also tracks Canadian data and showed December monthly tractors sales increased in all segments. Farm tractor sales were up 10.6 percent for 2020, but self-propelled combine sales fell 13.9 percent for the year.
AEM is a North-America based international trade group that represents off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
The full reports are available on AEM’s website.