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Farm machinery sales remain strong

An ag equipment specialist says a strong farm economy should help drive machinery sales this year.

Curt Blades is the Senior Vice President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “Input costs are real,” he said, “but you couple that with really solid demand around the world and with some of the things happening on the biofuels front, there’s a lot of optimism in farm country.”

AEM data shows U.S. combine sales continued to rise in February, while tractor sales were near their five-year average.

Blades tells Brownfield he expects a steady year for ag equipment sales.

“Indications are that demand is still there for the foreseeable future,” he said. “We’re pretty optimistic that the demand for new equipment on the ag side is there for a little while longer.”

He says farmers need to make sure a new piece of equipment fits into their long-term business plan before making a purchase.

Blades spoke to Brownfield at the Commodity Classic.

Commodity Classic Audio: Curt Blades, Association of Equipment Manufacturers