U.S. farm tractor and self-propelled combine sales were lower in October 2024 than a year earlier. Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) data reported by Successful Farming put tractor sales at 21,354 units, down 14.2%, and combine sales at 516 units, down 34.6%. The article also reported that every month of 2024 was below the 2019–2023 five-year average. Those figures describe unit sales—not revenue, orders, or production—and the available reporting does not establish a specific cause for the declines.
October 2024 U.S. sales at a glance
The October figures compare U.S. unit sales with October 2023. The source is AEM data as reported by Cecilia Gray in Successful Farming on November 18, 2024.
| Equipment | October 2024 units sold | October 2023 units sold | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm tractors | 21,354 | 24,902 | Down 14.2% |
| Self-propelled combines | 516 | 789 | Down 34.6% |
These are monthly unit totals. AEM’s archive describes its U.S. reports as monthly sales reports covering the previous month; AEM’s October 2025 report specifies that member-provided figures are preliminary monthly retail sales. The figures should not be read as dollar revenue, factory output, dealer inventory, or orders. AEM’s U.S. report archive provides the reporting context.
How the October results fit the 2024 trend
Successful Farming reported that every month in 2024 came in below the 2019–2023 five-year average. It also reported that year-to-date tractor sales were down 13.3% in October 2024, while year-to-date 4WD tractor sales were up 1.3%. These are different comparisons: the first pair are year-to-date changes, while the October figures above compare one month with the same month a year earlier.
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Tractor segments did not move in lockstep
October 2024 sales declines varied by tractor category: 2WD tractors under 40 horsepower fell 8.4% year over year; 2WD tractors from 40 to 100 horsepower fell 12.8%; 2WD tractors above 100 horsepower fell 37.8%; and 4WD tractors declined 0.4%. The near-flat 4WD result contrasts with the steeper drop in 2WD tractors above 100 horsepower.
The article separately listed beginning-of-month inventory of 126,108 farm tractors and 1,370 self-propelled combines. Inventory is a stock measure, not a count of units sold during October.
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What the decline does—and does not—say about the farm economy
Curt Blades, then AEM’s senior vice president, described the results as part of “overall softness in the ag economy following a robust five years of positive industry results.” That is his characterization of the broader market, not proof that a specific factor caused the lower unit sales.
The cited reporting does not establish a causal link to commodity prices, interest rates, policy changes, or any other single driver. The sales figures alone show the direction and scale of unit changes; they do not explain why buyers purchased fewer machines.
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The next October also posted declines
AEM reported that U.S. tractor sales in October 2025 totaled 17,258 units, down 19.6% from October 2024, while self-propelled combine sales totaled 376, down 26.8%. These are October 2025 results, not a revision of the 2024 report. AEM’s release identifies member-provided monthly figures as preliminary retail sales. Read AEM’s November 2025 release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to find newer monthly figures
As of October 8, 2026, AEM’s U.S. archive listed its August 2026 report as the latest available; it did not yet list October 2026 results. AEM says monthly reports are usually available on the 10th of each month, unless that date falls on a weekend. For the newest data, check the AEM archive rather than assuming a later October report has been published. Its FAQ describes report availability and timing.
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