Tractor sales down almost 20%; combines even more. All HP numbers here.

[sixdogs]

All HP numbers reported in article.
If you need it and can swing it, maybe a good time to buy.

Tractor Sales Down Nearly 20% as Combine Sales Post Even Bigger Drop

U.S. tractor sales fell 19.6% in November while combine sales saw an even steeper decline of 35% as farmers continue to face tightening economic conditions.

www.agriculture.com

 

[old and tired]

I have to admit that 20 years ago, when I bought mine, I thought the tractor was pretty cheap for what you got. But now, I couldn't (ok, I wouldn't) want to spend that much money for a tractor (or truck or car or etc...) It's more than double the price.

 

[ArlyA]

Ya well commodity prices are down. Tariffs are helping?

 

[oldnslo]

Ya well commodity prices are down. Tariffs are helping?

The bigger problem for farmers is that the big 3 or 4 conglomerates dictate and control commodity prices to farmers while maintaining or increasing their profit margin. How many of these conglomerates are grain marketers, seed companies, and chemical companies all under one umbrella so they control all of the farmer input costs to raise a crop and his price when he sells that crop.

Equipment manufacturers are being affected by this monopoly since they don’t directly profit from a crop being planted like a seed or chemical company.

 

[Snobdds]

Ya well commodity prices are down. Tariffs are helping?

For the economic illiterate.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1989478883377213709

 

[BleedingOrange]

I have driven by many tractor dealers and noticed they are all stuffed full of new stuff. I have also noticed the same thing is happening with new vehicle sales as well. Has anyone driven around new vehicle dealer parking lots lately ? The ones I have visited are jam packed full ! Their is one lane open so you can drive around the lot, but every foot is covered with a vehicle of some sort, all brand new 2025 models. They keep calling and trying to get me to trade in my F150 and my Mustang on 2025 models, and I keep telling them if they don,t soon lower their prices to something reasonable, I,ll be getting a hell of a deal at their going bankrupt sale. If they couldn,t sell these 2025 vehicles at employee pricing, a couple of months ago, do they actually believe they can sell them now that we are heading into late December, with prices that have risen 5-6K from then ? It is great to be in a position, were a trade to a new vehicle is only a want, if the price is right, and not a need, by a long shot.

 

[Snobdds]

One theory is that COVID brought 10 years of demand forward.

If anyone is comparing things to covid numbers, all figures will appear weak.

 

[hayden]

One theory is that COVID brought 10 years of demand forward.

If anyone is comparing things to covid numbers, all figures will appear weak.

I think it brought 2-3 decades of price inflation forward. A few segments bumped prices because of high demand and/or shortages, and that was the cue for everyone to bump prices. So now everything is 25% to 50% more expensive. Some things when WAY up (like lumber), then came back down some, but not to where they were originally.

 

[Hay Dude]

Ya well commodity prices are down. Tariffs are helping?

Tariffs are going to help, “real snow”, but it doesn’t happen overnight.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Who can afford a $500k sprayer? And then pay $5/acre for the “subscription” for the software?

A family friend does custom harvesting… this last year may have been their last. One forage harvester lease is $15k per month. One machine. They have multiple, plus semis, tractors, etc.

My family is looking at the exit from our 100+ year farm. There is no margin left. Inputs are too damn expensive. People can grow their own damn food. Maybe the population won’t be so damn fat if that is the case.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yeah the margins are getting really thin.
Good thing I’m a little closer to retiring than beginning.
I have no idea what the long-term answer is, but it don’t look good for anyone operating less than 1,000 acres. And 1,000 acres ain’t nothing special.
I just keep trying to increase efficiency & acres, avoid buying shiny, new equipment, and take as much off-farm work as I can.

10 year old equipment seems new to me