First Rise in US Tractor Sales in Year Lifts Farm Sector Hopes
A farmer operates a tractor to transport a bale of hay at a farm in Pleasureville, Kentucky.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergA small bump in US tractor sales is raising hopes the farm-machinery sector may be starting to turn around after years of tough conditions.
Sales of tractors rose 4.1% in September, the first increase in 13 months, according to data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, a trade group representing companies in agriculture, forestry, construction, utility and mining.