2026 Tractor Sales Data

[jack9166]

They have out priced themselves!!!! In 2001 I bought a new L3010 with loader for 19k, in 2012 I traded that in and bought a l3540 with loader for 24,500, then in 2025 I traded that in on a L4060 with loader and a couple options. That tractor was 45,000. The L3540 was 5hp more than the 3010. About 5k more. The 4060 is 5hp more that the 3540 but cost about 20,000 more. All were open station

 

[careyo63]

I needed another tractor Larger More HP. etc.. Worked on Graphic Machinery most of my life. New JD. back to the dealer for repair, parts etc.. Towing, Truck, flat bed and the cost when it goes out of warranty. I wasn't going there!
Was nice to operate but I knew there was better cheaper tractors available at a fraction of the cost. I ended up back to a old school 63 Ford 2000. Gas! Everything works and or been replaced at a fraction of the cost. And some free I did it. Disabled so I have time to do it and get it going. I did send it out for a split. Clutch and shifter problems. Still a fraction of the cost to repair. A keeper no doubt. Old as I am to.
It does have a old Wagner4. I stumbled into the problem with the FEL. And my guess why nobody really wanted the tractor CL.. Blistered and about Pinched off at a bend in the Hyd. line inside of it. low pressure side.
New it when got the flashlight out and looked in it. How see in it!! Everthing works ASIS. I may finish the body and the grill. Only used and owned it a few yrs. so I they haven't shown up local etc. 3,700.00$ total and my time.
2008 was the 1977 Yanmar which is my FM. I was tired of the Sears craftsman Garden tractor Etc. That was a joke. Talk about cheap and poor quality. Pitiful

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[aircommuter]

I'm not surprised. I'd enjoy a new tractor, but it's hard to see enough improvement to justify the time or expense.

The only functional change I see in today's tractors compared to a 25 year old machine are the emission controls and electronics. Are those really advantages?

Tractors still don't have 4 wheel brakes, good stability, suspension, or a 4wd front end designed for loader stresses. Engines and tranny design peaked decades ago. The 3pt hitch hasn't evolved in 50 years now. Even the seat is as uncomfortable today as it was when we were all kids.

Tractors already do all their jobs pretty well, they have done so for years now, and they last nearly forever. Interesting buyers in a new tractor requires it to offer something that the old ones don't have.

Instead of innovation, what we have is a lot of companies all copying each other. Progress has become a race to see who can build the same thing for less money.

My guess is that price by itself is not going to turn the declining sales trend around.

What would it take to make buying a new tractor more interesting?
rScotty

Not sure where your coming from with the comfortable seat idea. I had tractors with suspension seats 40 years ago. As for suspension for the machine that would prevent one from having grade control and be dangerous in general. Also front wheel brakes are not necessary and take away steering controllability.

 

[NUTTERDW]

Definitely not advantages!

If anything goes wrong with my ancient John Deere 2020 I can fix it myself easily. If anything were to go wrong with my Kubota M7060 I'd have to take it to the dealer; I don't have the software needed to diagnose a problem.

I don't understand why I need a computer to run my 23 hp lawn tractor! It does not have DEF system or anything special, but if it breaks I am forced to take it to a dealer to find the problem. I got on line and the first suggestion was take it to your local dealer, which is 40 miles away. I have two Farm tractors that do not have a computer and in a few minutes I can see why the starter does not turn the engine over. One is a 75 year old Farmall that looks and runs as well as it ever did and the other is a 93 model Case IH which I bought a few years ago with 900 hours on it. Only thing I have done to it is replace the tires because it had the original tires on it and cleaned it up and gave it a new coat of paint.

 

[airbiscuit]

Increased costs (tariffs)
Less disposable income
Diminished consumer confidence

 

[Aquabird]

I would like to trade up or sell and buy a cab tractor now. Its just that I could have just bought the tractor with cab for an added $8000, when I bought my tractor a few years back. Now the added cab is way more, the intial tractor price is way more, making it a major purchase again. We will have our tractor and all the implements we bought paid off this year, but, probably gonna live with this one. Just need to add some rear hyds and a 3rd function and as usual, another implement.

 

[rScotty]

I could not agree more with buyers who intentionally avoid new tractors with emissions equipment and electronic gizmos that add little value but many expensive repairs when they fail. There's no way in hell any tractors with electronic gizmos will be repairable once the tractors are 20 years old, the electronic toys fail, and no replacements are available from the manufacturers. The junk yards will be full of expensive machines that won't run because some unavailable electronic control--far different from the 75 year old Ford 8N's and Farmall's that still work for people every day.

Electronic gizmos aren't limited to emissions and operator controls. Any diesel that has common rail injection won't run without it's own dedicated engine computer.

Even some of the older transition models with old style individual mechanical-driven injection had an engine injection computer - I know because I just bought a replacement engine computer for my 2006 JD.....a nice old tractor that happens to be 20 years old this year. Nice running old tractor - everything except the electronics & seat cushion works as good as new.

I doubt that needing to buy a new tractor every 20 years is going to be viewed by any manufacturer as a negative, or as a reason to change.
It's more likely that they are still kicking themselves for building those old tractors that lasted so long.
rScotty

 

[DeanKC]

January, 2026 sales reported from 237 same-store tractor dealers according to Constellation Dealer Insights came in at down 15%, the fourth consecutive month of sales declines year over year.

I am one of the January new tractor buyers. My 2026 compact tractor purchase took place in Mississippi from a large dealership; and it included a grapple and a sunshade. Same brand as 2003 purchase but with some really major improvements. My 4th tractor.

 

[can do]

I'm not surprised. I'd enjoy a new tractor, but it's hard to see enough improvement to justify the time or expense.

The only functional change I see in today's tractors compared to a 25 year old machine are the emission controls and electronics. Are those really advantages?

Tractors still don't have 4 wheel brakes, good stability, suspension, or a 4wd front end designed for loader stresses. Engines and tranny design peaked decades ago. The 3pt hitch hasn't evolved in 50 years now. Even the seat is as uncomfortable today as it was when we were all kids.

Tractors already do all their jobs pretty well, they have done so for years now, and they last nearly forever. Interesting buyers in a new tractor requires it to offer something that the old ones don't have.

Instead of innovation, what we have is a lot of companies all copying each other. Progress has become a race to see who can build the same thing for less money.

My guess is that price by itself is not going to turn the declining sales trend around.

What would it take to make buying a new tractor more interesting?
rScotty

I believe your spot on, & timing is everything as well as luck I bought all my equipment well ahead of the covid demand the last new tractor I bought was in 2018 bought a used trailer in 1999, My 1st tractor used in 1998, & a used 1999 1 ton dump truck in 2016 I still have no need for newer equipment; Also my P/U I bought new in 2003 everything is paid for, But nothing is because insurance, & taxes at every level; I was going to go into my own business, But insurance made it prohibited, as well as taxes never understood tax rates on a small business them wanting more $$$$$$ for doing nothing. I still pay taxes, & insurance on everything, But not as much if I went into business. My point is I can see why prices keep going up on tractors, & other equipment if you're running a business you have to turn a profit to stay in business because taxes, & insurance rates don't seem ever to go down; Also lets not forget all the regulations. I'm just glad my equipment depreciation helps a little in the cost of owning the equipment for my personal use.

 

[JRH02]

I've considered a new tractor to replace the 'ol B7100. That old Kubota rig HATES hour meters. Darn it, I'm on my 4th one. It's getting harder to find the rolling digit hour meters and I refuse to put a digital meter of it. I mean, what if there was an EMP?

 

[deserteagle71]

Also front wheel brakes are not necessary and take away steering controllability.

I have to disagree with you on that. Some time ago I picked up a bucketful of gravel with my old John Deere and was returning home down a really steep gravel road. With all that weight in the front bucket the rear wheels of the John Deere didn't have enough traction and it began running away, with the rear tires sliding on the gravel. I had to drop the bucket into the dirt to save myself and the tractor. My Kubota on the other hand has no problem with that same situation. As soon as I touch the brakes it automatically engages 4wd so braking slows all 4 tires.

 

[careyo63]

I have to disagree with you on that. Some time ago I picked up a bucketful of gravel with my old John Deere and was returning home down a really steep gravel road. With all that weight in the front bucket the rear wheels of the John Deere didn't have enough traction and it began running away, with the rear tires sliding on the gravel. I had to drop the bucket into the dirt to save myself and the tractor. My Kubota on the other hand has no problem with that same situation. As soon as I touch the brakes it automatically engages 4wd so braking slows all 4 tires.

Another reason to load the rear tires with fluid is weight! My ford is and pretty sure the weight is more than I will ever load in the Fel... Loaded Gravel in it would stay on the ground. 4' bucket so no very big. And all the hyd. fluid is in the Frame so that's extra on the Front axle. My guess why such a small bucket.

 

[Quaffer]

COVID brought a lot of demand forward, there was a lot of money looking for an asset.

That is backed by report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which publishes monthly and annual retail unit sales reports compiled from major manufacturers:

• 2023: Roughly peak/plateau period following strong post-COVID demand (used as the high baseline in later AEM comparisons).
• 2024: Broad pullback. Full-year tractor sales fell about 13% vs 2023 (≈217k units vs ≈250k units).
• 2025: Continued normalization. Full-year sales about 195,857 units, down ~9.9% vs 2024.
• Late 2025 monthly data: Several months showed double-digit declines (e.g., −14.8% YoY in December)

My take is Jan 2026 might lag a little behind Dec 2025 since some number of purchases are purposely made to occur prior to end of the calendar year for tax reasons. And, it might be a good time to buy yet another tractor!!

 

[JRH02]

I have to disagree with you on that. Some time ago I picked up a bucketful of gravel with my old John Deere and was returning home down a really steep gravel road. With all that weight in the front bucket the rear wheels of the John Deere didn't have enough traction and it began running away, with the rear tires sliding on the gravel. I had to drop the bucket into the dirt to save myself and the tractor. My Kubota on the other hand has no problem with that same situation. As soon as I touch the brakes it automatically engages 4wd so braking slows all 4 tires.

I'm rather amazed at this reply.

 

[aircommuter]

Electronic gizmos aren't limited to emissions and operator controls. Any diesel that has common rail injection won't run without it's own dedicated engine computer.

Even some of the older transition models with old style individual mechanical-driven injection had an engine injection computer - I know because I just bought a replacement engine computer for my 2006 JD.....a nice old tractor that happens to be 20 years old this year. Nice running old tractor - everything except the electronics & seat cushion works as good as new.

I doubt that needing to buy a new tractor every 20 years is going to be viewed by any manufacturer as a negative, or as a reason to change.
It's more likely that they are still kicking themselves for building those old tractors that lasted so long.
rScotty

Electronics on cars, trucks and tractors are a manufacturer’s dream and an owner’s nightmare.

 

[deserteagle71]

I'm rather amazed at this reply.

Straight from my owner's manual:

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Well, for several years we had nearly 10% inflation?

People have now blown through their reserves and are living better moderated lives because of it.

Maybe it's good that the age of excess is coming to a close

 

[JRH02]

Well, for several years we had nearly 10% inflation?

People have now blown through their reserves and are living better moderated lives because of it.

Maybe it's good that the age of excess is coming to a close

More time at home to spend on the tractor? As long as all those electronic wonders keep working:

Americans are spending more time at home and alone — and money shapes who can opt out

Over the past two decades, we’ve been reallocating our time away from offices, malls, and classrooms... and toward home and solitude....

sherwood.news

But the article doesn't have any category for 'tractor seat time'. I wonder why?

 

[aircommuter]

Straight from my owner's manual:

View attachment 5017590

I know my wheel loaders had 4 wheel brakes of course but they were full time 4wd.

 

[PreacherM]

They have out priced themselves!!!! In 2001 I bought a new L3010 with loader for 19k, in 2012 I traded that in and bought a l3540 with loader for 24,500, then in 2025 I traded that in on a L4060 with loader and a couple options. That tractor was 45,000. The L3540 was 5hp more than the 3010. About 5k more. The 4060 is 5hp more that the 3540 but cost about 20,000 more.

I partly disagree. That 19k in 2001 is the equivalent of spending 35k in 2026 thanks to inflation. 35k will still buy a pretty nice 35hp open station tractor today. The other thing to consider is how much a Kubota L3010 with loader is still worth on the used market.