According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, total tractor sales declined 5.9 percent during February when compared to 2009. In all, 8,105 tractors were sold in the month, down from the 8,617 seen in February 2010.
On a percentage-basis, two-wheel drive tractors with horsepower between 40 and 100 faced the largest drop, falling 17.2 percent on a year-to-year basis. Overall two-wheel drive tractor sales were down 7.2 percent.
However, four-wheel drive tractors saw a 31.3 percent increase in sales, rising from 284 machines in February 2008 to 373 this year. Another group to post an increase in the month was two-wheel drive tractors with more than 100 horsepower, which saw an 8.8 percent climb in sales.
Another report from Creighton University showed that an index gauging farm equipment sales in 10 states fell in February. The index dropped from 47.2 to 42.4, with numbers reported above 50 indicating growth in that sector of the agricultural economy.
