First half sales of large tractors up 23 percent

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reports sales of four-wheel drive tractors for the first half of 2010 were up 23 percent compared with the first six months of 2009. 

Sales of smaller tractors were not quite as strong.  Two-wheel drive 100-plus horsepower tractors are up nearly eight percent on the year, but the 40 to 100 horsepower two-wheel drive tractors are down about eight percent.

Combine sales for the first half of the year are down one percent from the same period in 2009.