AEM Data Says Unit Sales of 4WD, Row-Crop Farm Tractors Continue Growth in August

Sep 14, 2023

Heavy duty row crop tractor unit sales continued to increase in the U.S., while overall farm tractor unit sales in the U.S. and Canada declined in August, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

In the U.S., 100+ horsepower 2WD tractors and 4WD tractors were the only segments to grow year-over-year. Both those segments along with self-propelled combines remain positive for the year. The biggest overall growth among tractors happened in 4WD units, growing more than 20% in August.

“North American row-crop farmers continue to add and adopt new technology to their equipment fleets to help reduce costs and improve yields,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president, industry sectors and product leadership at AEM. “The appeal of the newer equipment centers on improved fuel efficiency, better GPS technology and improved automation features, which is why farmers are continuing to make these investments.”

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.