In this week’s podcast we look at the emerging hemp industry and what it could mean for the farm machinery business. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka shares some insights on how ag start-ups, particularly on the software side, could offer some lucrative opportunities for dealers. We also discuss tractor and combine sales for the first half of the year and what we might expect in the second half of the year. Also in this episode, dealers and manufacturers say hay and forage equipment sales have seen a nice pick up recently, and we discuss the moderate increases in non-real estate farm lending.

The July 2019 report from Brazil’s Anfavea shows that wheel tractor sales in June fell 18.5% year-over-year with 3,412 tractors sold.

North American ag equipment sales were down 16% year-over-year in June following a 1% increase in May and flat growth in April.

North American ag equipment sales were up 1% year-over-year in May following 17% growth in April and flat growth in March. U.S. sales increased were up 5% year-over-year (combines down 13%, 4WD tractors up 2%, row crop tractors up 9%).

During a call with Ag Equipment Intelligence regarding the current market situation in Brazil, the Brazilian Assn. of Machines and Equipment (Abimaq) blamed the lack of subsidized credit for the drop off in sales of farm tractors and combines in the past 2 months. In the beginning of 2019, the association forecast a 10% increase in total machinery sales.

Following AEM’s release of the May 2019 North American retail tractor and combine sales, John Deere announced its retail sales as they compared with the rest of the industry. Overall, Deere’s numbers were mixed vs. the rest of the ag industry.

North American ag equipment sales were flat year-over-year in April following 5% growth in March and –4% decline in February. U.S. sales increased 7% year-over-year.

An April 26 report from Bloomberg was headlined “Farm Equipment Sales Plunge Most Since 2016 in Trade War Fallout.” The tractor and combine sales numbers published by the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) throughout the first quarter of this year don’t seem to tell the same story.