U.S. and Canadian retail tractor and combine sales are expected to grow overall in 2008, led by 4WD tractors, according to the yearly agricultural equipment “outlook” report by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Demand is expected to be generally positive for the majority of other types of agricultural machinery covered in the AEM survey, too.

According to the survey, combine sales are expected to increase 3.8% in the U.S. and gain 3.6% in Canada.

Sales growth is also predicted for all sizes of 4WD tractors up 6.5% in the U.S. and up 4.2% in Canada.

For 2WD tractor business in the U.S., unit sales of machines in the 100+-hp range are predicted to be strongest with a 3.4% increase, followed by essentially flat growth in other categories.

For other farm field equipment, the strongest growth in 2008 U.S. sales is predicted for planters, with a 6.5% increase, and for chisel plows, with a gain of 5.3%. U.S. sales gains are also expected for field cultivators (up 4.4%), self-propelled sprayers (up 3.5%)and disk harrows (up 2.8%).

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