Looking ahead to harvest, which specific products do you expect can gain the most attention this summer and fall? Why?

“The biggest trend we’re seeing in the Midwest is one we also saw last year, and that’s the demand for track combines and tractors. There’s concern over another wet harvest like we saw last year. With that, we’re seeing an increase in demand for larger 4WD and PTO tractors so they can run larger grain carts at harvest, too.

“Something exciting we’re seeing in the Northwest is a result of about 30% fewer acres of potatoes planted. Our customers needed to take those acres and dedicate them to a high-dollar, high-volume crop, so many planted corn. Much of our corn is still planned for overseas export and, with our customers being close to the Columbia River in the Northwest region, it’s very cost-effective to transport the product to Seattle for export. This has really increased demand for more corn heads as we approach harvest this year.

“The Desert Southwest sees more than one cycle per year on most crops; in the Midwest and most other areas, we only get one shot at the plant, care, harvest cycle each year. So, at this time, our Southwest growers are looking ahead to August as another opportunity for planting. With the restaurant industry slowly coming back and demand increasing, we’re pleased to see more crops being planted than we did in the first planting earlier this year. Rental is a huge market there and, while slower earlier this year with the lower demand, we’re expecting to see it pick up with more acres being planted, then remaining with care and harvest needs later in the year.”  

– Mark Kreps, Vice President of Agriculture Sales, RDO Equipment, Fargo, N.D.

“As we look into the summer and fall here in Ohio, we are focused on big ag and planters

We have big push for large tractor Fendt line and both our planter offerings from Fendt and White.

“Our crop tour event has been a big driver for these machines. We gain and show real world results of what precision planting can do for our customers and their yields. While our Genuine care programs and warranty coverage on new Fendt tractors keep cost of ownership in a tight window and reduces the potential for unknown failures.

“Demand for more cost effective ways to farm are the biggest drivers and we believe we have a better solutions.

“The 100-150 used tractor market remains strong with the issue being limited supply, we simply don’t have enough tractors to sell in this size range and are constantly looking to buy them from other dealers and outside sources.

“We have also seen a large swing by more growers looking to purchase sprayers and regain control over when their fields get treated. With retailers consolidating or going away, growers are taking matters into their own hands and buying up late model used machines or even new for larger operations.

“We believe the combine market will be flat compared to last year, although our new offerings from Claas and Fendt have commanded some strong attention.

“We have adjusted our forecast model for 2020 and still project a year in the black.”

– Tom Ruppelli, Used Equipment Manager, Ohio Ag Equipment, Broadview Heights, Ohio

“In general, if the crop looks good, late model used equipment will be hot. We’ve seen an increase in demand for all late model used by customers that were buying new just a few years ago. Our used sales are up from last year at this time compared to a drop in our sales of new equipment. Product specific, I’d imagine the demand for tillage equipment that helps manage crop residue will be hot again this fall. We’ve seen increased demand for vertical tillage units and high speed discs in areas that haven’t used any type of tillage for several years.”

– Scott Grundstad, Director of Inventory, Plains Ag, Williston, N.D.

“As our ag stores primarily deal in beef cattle production and hay, we’re the middle of the first hay cutting of the season and that will continue in cycles through fall. So balers, rakes, disc mower conditioners, disc mowers and tedders as far as the specialty type tools. Besides those, it will be the normal ‘run of the mill’ type stuff, ranging from zero-turn mowers to compact tractors all the way through Kubota’s M7 class for us.”

– Jason Searles, Corporate Sales Manager, Coleman Tractor Co., Nashville, Tenn.

“It is not looking very good for sales of any kind this summer and fall. The items that I believe we may have more opportunities to sell are units that have been slow the last few years.

“I believe that combines and cornheads will be a bright spot even in this down economy, basically since they have run their old ones so long. They are almost forced to do some upgrading in that area. Augers and grain carts are always something that seems to sell even in down markets.”

– Kent Grosshans, President, Grosshans Inc., Central City, Neb.

“All late model pre owned low hour tractors, combines, heads, tillage and planters. New equipment will be hard to move off the lot.”

– Tom Miller, Store Manager, Vetter Equipment, Clarinda, Iowa

“We are seeing a lot of interest in mower conditioners and round balers. The reason is I think there is concern about the supply of hay in our region due to boarder and inter-provincial transportation issues.”

– Gordon Gerrits, Branch Manager, Country Tractor, Kamloops, B.C.

“This summer small horsepower tractors and attachments. Case IH and Kubota package deals. Closer to fall, used combines. Short term leases through harvest.”

– Mike Linton, Owner, Heritage Agriculture, Carlisle, Ark.

“I see combines selling well this summer/fall. There are a lot of older combines out there, and I feel commodity prices will start turning around this late summer and guys will be looking to upgrade their combines.”

– Dan Kruse, Location Manager, SEMA Equipment, Caledonia, Minn.

“I would think drills and seed prep machinery may be hot items, lots of winter wheat didn’t make it around our parts and hay fields need replanting. I can see an uptick in those products, no-till drills, grass seeders and pulverizers.”

– Christ Eis, Co-Owner, Eis Implement, Two Rivers, Wis.

“The products that I anticipate to draw the most attention will be the 140 horsepower and under tractor segment along with the consumer segment, including compact tractors and attachments. The 140 horsepower and under market right now is hot and doesn't show any signs of letting up anytime soon. I feel as though inventory may become an issue mid-summer, which may halt some of that market as many of the manufacturing plants have been shut down for a few months with the virus and it will take time to get through a back log of orders.”  

– Eric Walker, Store Manager, New Holland Richmond, Richmond, Ind.

“I expect growing interest in the high-speed tillage products because they save time by covering more acres per hour. They are also versatile enough that they can be used for spring and fall tillage.”

– Steve McCullough, President/General Manager, McCullough Implement Co., Watseka, Ill.