The report shows sales of agriculture tractors were down 9.1% while combine sales dropped 25.3% compared to March 2025.   AEM’s report also show a similar trend in Canadian sales. According to the data, Canadian sales of agricultural tractors fell 16.3% while combine sales dipped 60.6% compared to the year before.  

These numbers reflect the overall softness in the Ag economy,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president of industry sectors and product leadership at AEM. “Despite these declines in sales in 2026, the commitment to modernizing equipment and adopting innovative technologies remains strong, positioning the industry for long-term growth.”

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According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. sales of combines rose 68% in January 2026 compared to the year before. Total sales of Ag tractors declined 4.7% during the same period. Meanwhile, Canadian sales of combines jumped 447.6% in January 2026 compared to 2025’s sales, while total Ag tractors sales improved 8.8% compared to the same time frame.

“After several months of challenging numbers, it’s encouraging to see a modest uptick in combine sales this January,” said Association of Equipment Manufacturers Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “Overall tractor sales continue to be soft indicating the overall state of farm economy and underscoring the need for more certainty in biofuels and global ag markets.”

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Canadian sales of agricultural tractors dropped 11.6% while combines fell 17.6% in October 2025 compared to the year before.

“This month’s decline in sales follows a slight uptick in both Canadian and U.S. sales in September,” said Curt Blades, Senior Vice President at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “However, we understand the uncertainty and volatility that remains in the marketplace.”

Highlights of tractor/ combine sales are from the AEM’s Ag Flash Reports. For historical data, visit .

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U.S. sales of combines fell 43.7% while total agricultural tractor sales fell 4.9% in July 2025 compared to 2024.

“While we’re encouraged by the modest growth in Canadian combine and tractor sales, the significant declines in the U.S. reflects ongoing caution in the marketplace,” said AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “We believe farmers across North America are carefully evaluating their capital assets and taking a measured approach to equipment purchases, balancing operational needs with broader economic uncertainty.”

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For Historical Data, go to .

New data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) reveals strong growth in Canada’s tractor market. Sales of 4-wheel drive tractors surged by 24.7% year-to-date through June 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, total agricultural tractor sales in Canada saw a modest year-to-date increase of 1.6%.

In June 2025, U.S. sales of agricultural tractors and combines continued to trend downward. Overall tractor sales dropped 4.4% compared to June 2024, while combine sales saw a sharper decline of 43.7%.

“The ongoing slump in U.S. combine and tractors sales demonstrates the market challenges facing the agricultural sector,” said AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “We know farmers are hesitant to make major investments with global trade instability, high interest rates, and increased input prices. We’re encouraged by Canada’s continued strong performance throughout these summer months. The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is also a significant step forward for the agricultural equipment industry.”

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U.S. sales dropped in all categories in May 2025, with total agricultural tractor sales down 11.9% and combine sales dropping 20.9% compared to May 2024.

“This continued slump of U.S. tractor and combine sales reflects broader challenges in the ag economy,” says Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “High interest rates, global trade uncertainty and increased input prices are causing farmers to delay major equipment purchases. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the strong performance in the Canadian market and remain hopeful that overall conditions will improve as the planting season progresses.”

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Editor’s Note: This was originally published by the Washington Examiner. It is being republished here with their permission.

America’s manufacturing sector is in the middle of a high-stakes comeback. The Trump administration has placed renewed focus on reshoring production and growing our domestic industrial base, announcing policies designed to cut onerous regulations, promote a skilled workforce, and reduce manufacturers’ tax burden.

But while these policies aim to strengthen manufacturing and restore jobs in the United States, the ongoing labor shortage may leave many positions unfilled. Without modernized immigration policies, vacancies will persist, and American products may be delayed in reaching customers. 

In the coming weeks, nearly 532,000 immigrants lawfully admitted through a Biden-era sponsorship program may lose their legal status and right to work. These individuals came from countries like Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba through a vetted humanitarian parole program designed to reduce illegal border crossings and provide orderly pathways into the workforce. Unless Congress or the administration acts, hundreds of thousands of work-authorized individuals will be forced out of the labor market almost overnight.

At the same time, the Supreme Court just ruled that 350,000 Venezuelans residing in the U.S. will lose their Temporary Protected Status and work authorization.

Beyond the humanitarian consequences for these sudden changes, we could also have severe economic consequences. The equipment manufacturing industry potentially faces more than 85,000 unfilled jobs. Broader manufacturing openings sit near 462,000, and related sectors like agriculture and construction are under similar pressure. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. will need to fill more than 116,000 agricultural jobs every year through at least 2032. These are roles that too often go unfilled, despite strong demand and rising wages.

At the same time, the U.S. labor force participation rate remains below pre-pandemic levels. The country has roughly 2 million fewer workers active in the labor market than it did in 2020. In rural areas, where domestic migration continues to draw people away, immigrants are often the ones keeping local economies afloat. For example, in key manufacturing states like Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio, immigrant labor plays a critical role in keeping supply chains moving and factories staffed.

The irony is that this workforce is already here. They pay taxes, support families, and help keep American industries competitive. Stripping their ability to work and threatening them with removal is not just a human cost; it is an economic one.

Last year, a bipartisan group of senators came together to propose a border and immigration bill that paired stronger enforcement with meaningful reforms. More recently, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) expressed an openness to bipartisan solutions after passage of additional border funding. Although politics has blocked progress in the past, the Senate proposal and Jordan’s comments demonstrate that immigration can and should be a bipartisan issue.

Lawmakers should take note: More than 80% of voters support candidates who pursue both border security and targeted immigration solutions that address labor shortages and inflation. There is a path forward that does just that.

If we want to compete with China, restore domestic production, and strengthen the American middle class, we cannot afford to ignore the workforce crisis happening in plain sight. That means expanding legal immigration channels for high-skilled and essential workers. It means making it easier for international students trained in American universities to stay and contribute. And it means creating a path to legal status for individuals already living, working, and contributing here, especially those brought to this country as children.

This is not about ideology — it is about reality. We need an immigration system that reflects the needs of our economy, not the politics of the moment.

Revitalizing American manufacturing is possible. But it requires more than tariffs and tax credits — it demands people. If we want to bring jobs back to the U.S., we have to make sure there are workers here to fill them. That begins with modernizing our immigration system now, not later. The U.S. economy and manufacturing industry cannot afford to wait.

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More than 40 members of Congress and 100 congressional staff were expected to attend the event, which was open through May 16 to lawmakers, White House officials, trade groups, industry partners, media, and the public.

Over 100 pieces of equipment lined the National Mall, highlighting the industry’s message to Congress and the Trump administration: support policies that allow manufacturers to invest, grow, and hire.

“Equipment manufacturers are committed to working with both parties to implement a comprehensive manufacturing strategy,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM’s senior vice president of government and industry relations. “That includes securing fair trade deals, making 2017 tax reforms permanent, achieving regulatory clarity, expediting permitting, and strengthening the workforce.”

AEM Manufacturing Express in D.C.

For the first time, the AEM Manufacturing Express visited the National Mall from May 14–16. The mobile, interactive initiative celebrates the 2.3 million men and women who help build, power, and feed the world.

Visitors learned about the industry’s economic impact and how to support it through AEM’s grassroots campaign: I Make America.

After making 80 stops across 20 states last year, the Manufacturing Express will tour Texas this August—home to the largest number of equipment manufacturing jobs in the U.S.

This year’s tour includes 20+ stops at manufacturing facilities across Texas, showcasing local innovation, engaging communities, and encouraging grassroots support for strong manufacturing policies.

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According to recent data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Canadian sales of agricultural tractors grew 3.4% in April year-to-date, while sales of 4-wheel-drive tractors jumped 46.3% during the same time frame.

U.S. sales dropped in all categories in April 2025, with total agricultural tractor sales down 13.3% and combines falling 48.3% year-to-date.

“The April report of slow tractor and combine sales is reflective of the overall softness in the ag economy. Increased input prices, high interest rates, and global trade concerns are leading to farmers taking more of a cautious approach to their capital investments.” says Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “With planting season underway, we remain optimistic the ag economy will improve, leading to a strengthening of the agriculture equipment market.”

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CNH Industrial (Case IH, New Holland) and AGCO (Fendt, Massey Ferguson) temporarily halted U.S. imports from European plants to assess the tariff impact. Both have since resumed limited shipments. John Deere, which manufactures 84% of its equipment in North America, hasn’t made changes but may face international headwinds due to reciprocal tariffs.

For shortline manufacturers, the picture is just as complex. Many rely on imported components or export specialized equipment globally — making them vulnerable to delays, rising input costs, and shifting demand. Even without headline-grabbing announcements, many in our space are adjusting production, pricing, and supply chain strategies behind the scenes. Small-to-medium sized manufacturers may be particularly at risk, with their thinner margins and more limited access to alternate markets. Shortliners often have to be nimble, but rising tariffs can significantly disrupt this agility.

While major manufacturers have the financial backing to weather these tariff changes, shortline manufacturers may struggle with increased overhead costs and squeezed profit margins. Some have expressed concerns about the long-term sustainability of absorbing these added costs without passing them along to farmers — or if market conditions make it difficult to do so.

In response, some shortliners are exploring new business strategies to mitigate risks, including diversifying suppliers or relocating production to regions with more favorable tariff conditions. Others are forming alliances to pool resources and negotiate better rates for imported materials, aiming to maintain competitive pricing.

Claas, which has significant EU operations but builds combines in Nebraska, will continue delivering presold U.S. units while reducing stock-machine production. The company is considering expanded production in North America to avoid future trade disruptions — a strategy some shortliners are exploring as well.

Johan “Kip” Eideberg of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers said the group supports the President’s goal to strengthen U.S. manufacturing but warned about the risks of disrupting a global supply chain.

“We want to build more equipment here in America,” Eideberg said. “But we also depend on critical inputs from around the world. If those get more expensive, it affects the entire chain — including farmers and rural manufacturers.”

As the 90-day tariff pause plays out, shortline manufacturers — like their larger counterparts — are watching closely, adapting fast, and staying focused on the farmers they serve.

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Adapted from reporting by Matthew J. Grassi, with added context for shortline manufacturers.