Comparatively higher grain markets and often well above average yields evidently hastened big farmers to buy equipment before year’s end.
Sales of four-wheel-drive tractors and combines were up in November, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“While total sales markets are down, sales of larger ag-focused equipment continue to be strong,” said Curt Blades, AEM official.
The overall reduction in numbers is attributed to small tractor sales, which were experiencing unprecedented growth during the pandemic.
“However, with large tractor and combine efficiency, it’s easy to see why those segments continue to grow,” Blades evaluated.
Total farm tractor sales for November 2022 were down 14.5-percent from 2021. Year to date, 250,688 total farm tractors were sold through November 2022. That’s down from 293,099 a year earlier.
Sales for two-wheel-drive under-40-horsepower tractors in November were down 27.9-percent from 2021. There were 8,266 November sales, down from 11,470 the previous November.
Through November 2022, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers official said 163,105 tractors had been sold in the lower horsepower category. That’s down from 200,768 at the same time 12 months earlier.
November sales for two-wheel-drive 40 to 100 horsepower tractors were down 10.7-percent with 4,055 sales, and 4,542 in 2021.
Year to date, 60,969 of the mid-horsepower tractors had been sold, down from 68,316 a year earlier, Blades noted.
Sales for two-wheel-drive 100-plus horsepower tractors in November were up 6.2-percent, with 1,278 sales, compared to 1,203 the year before.
Through November, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers official said 23,665 big horsepower tractors had been sold. That’s up from 20,878 at the same time in 2021.
Sales of four-wheel-drive tractors were up 7.1-percent in November, with 165 sales, compared to 154 the previous November.
A total of 2,949 four-wheel-drive tractors were sold nationwide through November, down from 3,137 by the same time the previous year.
Sales for self-propelled combines were up 8.3-percent in November, with 314 sales, compared to 290 a year earlier.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reported 6,535 combines had been sold through November. That’s, up from 5,646 at the same time last year.
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“Championship teams all have people with unique skills and expertise advising and coaching them.”
Likely against principles and thinking of many perhaps most farmers and ranchers, “You should have your team of advisors too.”
That’s according to Elizabeth Belew, who has a beef cattle nutrition PhD from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Joe Montana, Mia Hamm.
All four are considered some of the greatest athletes and champions in their respective sports.
“They also share a common thread in surrounding themselves with a team that took them to the next level,” Belew said.
“Farmers and ranchers can have a team that helps their cattle business win too,” the nutritionist repeated. “Working with a team of experts or advisors is beneficial to ensure farm and ranch cattle operation goals are met.”
The team roster would include nutritionist, veterinarian, Extension agent, banker, sale barn representative, and accountant.
“Each can individually focus on different components to get a farm and ranch cattle operation to the next level,” Belew emphasized.
Nutritionists can help farmers and ranchers capitalize on genetic decision using nutrition to optimize performance.
A veterinarian knows the proper health protocols for vaccines or wormers to utilize in each operation.
“Don’ forget about the value of the perspectives of other cattle producers you trust,” Belew reminded.
“For newcomers to the cattle business,” Belew said, “talk to somebody who has been in the business for a long time. Bounce ideas off them.
“Maybe they are specialized in another segment of the cattle business and can provide a different point of view.”
Taking steps to pool information gathering from a variety of sources can help optimize opportunity and reduce risk for an operation
Start looking for an advisory in the local area, the specialist suggested. “You may already have cultivated business relationship with several people,” she pointed out. “If you don’t know someone with specialization in herd health, nutrition, or finance, ask other producers for recommendations.”
Don’t be afraid to utilize experts from outside the local area. “Agriculture trade shows and conferences are places to network to meet new people who may have knowledge that can be utilized,” Belew said.
“Once you’ve built a team of advisors, consider talking with them quarterly,” she continued. “It doesn’t have to be a formal meeting with everyone all at once. Most discussions can happen through individual phone calls with questions and answers.”
It can be beneficial for the advisors to visit individual farmers and rancher during the year. “They might observe something in the management that is excelling or an area which needs improvement,” the specialist said.
Try meeting with the advisors once a year as a group, she advised. “Meeting together can be advantageous. They can share their expertise with one another to ensure all facets of the business are aligned,” Belew said.
For instance, a banker might gain further insight into what is happening in the cattle markets by speaking with a sale barn representative.
“The group meetings can be for supper at a local café, at the farm-ranch home, or even a conference all are attending together,” Belew said.
“Building a team won’t happen overnight,” she clarified. “It takes time to find the right people and build trust.”
Each advisor must have some understanding of the business situation and personal goals.
“Once they do, they can provide input that helps push the agriculture operation forward,” Belew emphatically stated.
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CUTLINES
Elizabeth Belew has a doctorate degree in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Beef nutritionist Elizabeth Belew recommends “building a winning team” of advisors to improve cattle management.