Profits up at agriculture equipment makers

Sep 06, 2023

As the height of the pandemic fades, COVID-induced problems for the big farm equipment brands are starting to ease.

Their sales numbers have seen a post-pandemic jump.

One small negative for manufacturers is the sales of utility and compact utility tractors. They have declined sharply from an artificial high, which was attributed to acreage owners stuck at home during the pandemic and spending their cash on home improvement projects, including small tractors.

“During COVID, a lot of folks bought small ag, because they were kind of trapped in their home and saw projects out their window,” AGCO chief executive officer Eric Hansotia said during an interview broadcast on Yahoo Finance. “So they pulled in demand to work on those projects. We saw a lot of demand (for small tractors) over the last few years. That’s cooled off a little bit.”

Click here to see more...

Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.