Sales of large farm equipment were significantly higher in 2007 according to a report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. While tractor sales overall rose just half a percent, there was a 23 percent jump in sales of four-wheel drive tractors and a 26% increase in sales of tractors which feature two-wheel drive and 100 horsepower or better.
Sales of combines rose 15% in 2007, too. Charlie O’Brien, the vice president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, says it was a "very good year" as farmers’ income was up due to rising demand for corn and other crops.
"We generally find as prices as good that are driving net farm income upward that we also see increases in sales of equipment," he says. The association survived farm-equipment-making companies and found most expect 2008 will be as good or better than 2007 when it comes to sales of large equipment.