The typical tractor owner is by nature an animal that tends to lean towards self-sufficiency... and that is a very appealing thing to people right now.
My impression is that sales will actually increase short-term among non-professionals in efforts to grow more of their own food, harvest wood for fuel or milling, maintain theor own property, seek out methods for producing biodiesel, etc.
Professionals will look to greater efficiencies in their work, but ultimately will pass the costs on come harvest/slaughter, the same way distribution tacks it on through shipping cost. It has to be done to profit.
As oil continues to climb, and more people hit the wall of more out than in, they'll start to drop off... from what I see people are not quite at the wall yet, but are cutting out more frivolities.
Because the price of that barrel today doen't hit you for everything all at once except the pump & distribution cost... the major impact is what we will start seeing on store shelves months down the road...
Just my .02 on it... maybe there won't be any inflation at all, hmm?
