My take on the hot compact tractor sales is that the baby boomer generation (me included) wants more and bigger toys. I grew up on a farm, all my previous family were farmers and my son now raises cattle on his wife's family farm.
From reading these threads I can tell the vast majority of readers have no clue about tractors, machinery, etc. I know the discussion is compact utilities but most farms of any size will hardly ever see such a tractor in their lineup. There is more than one reason for that. If you want to get real work done, you need a larger tractor. Most farming operations around here (central Illinois) will have about a 65hp on up as their small tractor, (unless they have an old Farmall M, or Allis Chalmers WD45 from a previous generation). You need the larger tractor with greater loader capacity for bales, moving machinery, etc. The mid size farm tractor is in the 100-180hp range then it goes up from there.
I see comments in this forum like a 40hp tractor is a big unit. Another thing about larger farming operations. Farmers are tight and do not like to part with a buck. They will spend the big money on the newer larger equipment such as large tractors and combines. Their smaller tractors have either been around forever or you can pick an older unit up at a farm auction. Most farmers (me being exception) will not pay $20,000 for a compact utility when they can spend that kind of money and get a good used 180 hp tractor, that tractor may be 15 years old but they don't care. It is something like getting more for your money. If they need (not want) a smaller tractor they hit the auction again for a 65 hp large frame farm tractor in the $6000-$8000 range.
My opinion (which we all know what an opinion is worth) is that the compact tractor market is hot because there are more "city" people with greater disposable income, they move out in the country and want to play farmer (or not) and just have a tractor.
I am close to that same category myself. I have pretty much always lived on a farm (and farmed) but have had to have a regular job to live off of with farming to pay for the extras. I farm 280 acres and have the conventional machinery lineup although most is in the 20 year and older range.
I went and bought me a new John Deere 3320 last fall with the loader and a few attachments. Did I need this?, absolutely not. Did I want this?, yes, that is why I bought it. I feel that many of you are in the same category, you don't actually need anything that fancy and new, but it sure is fun. Maybe I have a greater fascination because, as a small farmer, I was actually able to buy something brand new for a change instead of using someone else's junk. In all honesty I have found many more jobs for this tractor than I thought I would and it has really fit into my small operation. I can't use it for field work but I use it for about anything else, mainly because of the loader.
Getting back to the main discussion. Compact tractor sales are strong right now because people are buying them. Why they are buying them is because of the so many who have just a few acres and want a new toy. I'm not saying there are not totally legitimate uses out there, they are really great for the landscapers, home builders and those that need more than to just cut grass. Compacts have been around for a long time but seems they have really taken off in the past few years.
That is my soapbox which took place partially because it is raining, cold and nasty outside and there is not much else to do but play on the computer.
