Despite increasing farm commodity prices, particularly grain and dairy, the major farm equipment makers — AGCO, CNH and John Deere — are forecasting flat to moderately rising sales of ag equipment in 2011 compared with last year. Of course, 2010 turned out to be outstanding sales year, especially for big equipment. So looking for flat or moderately rising sales would appear to signal that they’re expecting another stellar year all around.

At the same time…