In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry Curt Blades at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers presents AEM's recent equipment report:
"COMBINE HARVESTERS, 4WD TRACTORS GROW DESPITE OVERALL LOSSES IN NOVEMBER"
Combine harvester sales remain positive, joined by 4WD units for both the U.S. and Canadian markets, while total tractors fell in both countries according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
Total U.S. ag equipment unit sales fell overall, though the largest units grew. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 20.8 percent for the month of November compared to 2021, with the sub-40hp segment leading losses at 27.9 percent. U.S. self-propelled combine sales for the month grew 8.3 percent to 314 units sold, one of only two segments positive for the year (up 15.7% YTD). The other segment growing YTD, 100+hp units, grew 6.2 percent for the month (now up 13.3 percent YTD). Total farm tractor sales are down 14.5 percent year-to-date.
In Canada, only two segments showed growth for a second month, both more than doubling: 4WD tractors (up 170.6 percent) and combine harvesters (up 105.3 percent). Overall unit sales in tractors were down 11.1 percent. The sub-40hp segment led losses in Canada as well, down 9.3 percent, followed by mid-range 40-100hp units, down 4.4 percent. Unit sales in 2WD segments fell 12.4 percent overall, with only 100+hp units positive, up 1.5 percent for the month. Year-to-date farm tractor unit sales were down 6.9 percent in Canada, while harvesters remain positive for the year, now up 9.6 percent.
Blades, Curt - AEM “While the total sales markets are down, the sale of larger ag-focused equipment continues to be strong,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president, industry sectors and product leadership at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “The overall reduction in numbers is attributed to small tractor sales which were experiencing unprecedented growth during the pandemic. However, with the efficiency and yield gains in new row-crop tractors and harvesters, it’s easy to see why those segments continue to grow.”
The full reports can be found in the Market Data section of the AEM website under Ag Tractor and Combine Reports.
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 United States supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.
AEM Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry Curt Blades joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in 2017, having worked in agriculture industry in marketing, business development, and leadership roles for the previous twenty years. As Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry, Blades is responsible for the strategic direction of agriculture programs and services for AEM members. In addition, he oversees the organizations Safety & Product Leadership group —including leading AEM’s sustainability efforts. In these roles, he serves as primary liaison with ag-specific industry organizations, customer groups, and government agencies worldwide.
Blades actively serves on boards of directors for the National FFA Organization, National Agri-Marketing Association Foundation, and Agriculture Council of America. Blades grew up on his family’s multi-generational farm in Shelbina, Missouri where he developed a passion for serving the agriculture industry. He brings both high-level and on-the-ground perspective to agricultural issues and is a proud alumnus of the University of Missouri.
Learn more about AEM at https://aem.org
Comments