New Tractor Sales Are Declining

[Sid Post]

Politics seem to creep into conversations no matter what the subject matter is. I see it in RV, ORV, Truck and other forums. I see it much more now in off-line conversations with family, friends and others. Why? Because a growing number of people today have real concerns, worries and anger with what's going on today in our society. They are very concerned about our future and discussing it is probably a normal human reaction.

Just to give an example that I personally have experienced ... my primary doctor started discussing politics during my routine check-up. Then my gastroenterologist went into extended political conversations during an appointment. Even my termite inspector brings it up. I bet some people are being medicated and self medicated just to try and deal with the stress.

Unfortunately I don't see this changing any time soon and will probably get worse.

Yes, politics distract from most conversations in life these days. People need an "outlet" to let off steam or to reduce the pressure and stress of everything from invasive politics in medical practices to strong personal feelings.

This affects any independent business owner whether your local doctor, plumber, tractor mechanic, farmer/rancher, etc.

 

[ddbackhoe]

lavish spending on a

I am all for lavish spending, as long as youre not including my money in your purchases.

 

[ovrszd]

As I have said before: Government policies affect the cost and availability of most goods in the public marketplace.

Sometimes it is just bureaucracy and, sometimes it is intentional government policy. Want more home ownership or less? Want cheaper or more expensive gasoline? Want people to consume less dairy production? Want cheap airfare?

Where I live, property taxes for public boondoggles in town are an issue. People who rent feel they don't pay property taxes and, city folks don't feel the impacts nearly as much as farmers and ranchers. This means the number of people wanting stuff they don't pay for or, pay comparatively little for are popular.

I'm not against the girls having a new softball stadium or my old high school getting a new football stadium. What I object are things like my old High School spending $5 million on a new football stadium in a town of ~1200 people that doesn't have a good library or computer lab. I get gender "equity" with the softball stadium but, that money could have been spent more effectively on a less extravagant softball field leaving funding for better IT infrastructure, more library books, and things like better Home Ec, Wood Shop, and Ag class resources and facilities.

Specifically, a school farm for the "girls" who don't have access to farm property for things like a show lamb, hog, or steer would have been awesome. The ladies are the future of farming for many families so, supporting them is important to me. How many will grow up to be professional athletes from the softball field?

And yes, I played sports in school too but, our soccer field was rather simple and the goals were a simple surplus pipe structure that didn't cost much! I can't do much for the lavish basketball courts and football fields of the boys' athletic programs but, lavish spending on a single girls' sporting facility does not make it equal, fair or, right either.

The school district I pay taxes to has three (3) Seniors this year. They just finished a $1.2M gym. 6th highest school tax rate in the State.....

 

[check]

The Kubota I thought I wanted was $116K a few months ago, today it is ~$88K.

That is still ~$12K more than in 2019 Pre-COVID but, reasonable I think considering inflation's effects today.

Wow, that is a $28,000 drop!

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Wow, that is a $28,000 drop!

I would like to know if that was MSRP or the actual sale price.

 

[Sid Post]

I would like to know if that was MSRP or the actual sale price.

Hard quotes for delivery and consistent with the price calculator at the time on Kubota's website. At first, I thought I was getting a market premium "market adjustment" from the dealer but it was Kubota's pricing driving the change in my potential tractor.

Kubota lost me as a long-time Kubota customer with the pricing volatility, making my Kubota L4600 likely my last Kubota purchase ever. This created a hurdle for me to objectively consider an M6/M7 for my next tractor purchase. The cost and marketing from Kubota on big Ag tractors is way off IMHO.

I see other options in my future for any CUT or SCUT as well with high-quality options becoming available from other manufacturers and likely a lot of lightly used options priced reasonably as well.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

There's another reason for tractor sales declining, and we're seeing it more every year.

A lot of baby boomers worked hard in their younger days and later rewarded themselves with compact tractors. Or began to have physical limitations and compact tractors with attachments made working on their property more enjoyable.

Around here these same folks are beginning to downsize, and are in more of a selling mode than a buying mode.

 

[Sid Post]

There's another reason for tractor sales declining, at least around here.

A lot of baby boomers worked hard in their younger days and later rewarded themselves with compact tractors. Or began to have physical limitations and compact tractors with attachments made working on their property more enjoyable.

Around here these same folks are beginning to downsize, and are in more of a selling mode than a buying mode.

Great point. In my Massey search, I'm looking for one with front suspension because my back isn't what it was in my youth. The Mercedes articulated tractor I ran in Germany had coil suspension on all four corners and was a joy to use.

A Massey with the loader accumulator for loader bounce and front suspension should be a great match for me my current health status.

 

[rScotty]

The school district I pay taxes to has three (3) Seniors this year. They just finished a $1.2M gym. 6th highest school tax rate in the State.....

I went to high school in a county where only 13% of the people have a high school education, but 100% of the property owners still have to pay school taxes. Sure the taxes are low, but they aren't fair.
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Yes, politics distract from most conversations in life these days. People need an "outlet" to let off steam or to reduce the pressure and stress of everything from invasive politics in medical practices to strong personal feelings.

This affects any independent business owner whether your local doctor, plumber, tractor mechanic, farmer/rancher, etc.

To avoid the distraction, you could simply be optimistic about all the political platforms, energy, the environment, and the whole future of the world. That pretty much derails more than half of those discussions, and feels good too.
rScotty