According to the AEM numbers, sales of self-propelled combines increased 14.1 percent during January 2010 when compared to levels seen last year. Furthermore, sales of both two-wheel and four-wheel drive tractors also posted gains for the month.
Four-wheel drive tractors increased in sales by 9.2 percent in January, while two-wheel machines were up 3.7 percent. In the two-wheel category, machines with more than 100 horsepower posted the highest percentage gain at 33.1 percent.
However, sales of two-wheel drive tractors with horsepower between 40 and 100 declined for the month, dropping 8.3 percent. Machines with less than 40 horsepower also fell in sales, declining 1.1 percent.
In all, total sales of tractors amounted to 8,671 for the month, which is a 3.9 percent increase when compared to January 2009.
Though it may be seen as a promising start, sales of farm equipment this year are still expected to decline, as they did last year, before increasing in 2011.
