Farm Equipment Sales Drop In March

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Falling sales of farm equipment appear to be putting manufacturers at risk, an analyst said Monday, citing a report by a trade association on retail sales in March.

Analyst Robert McCarthy of Robert W. Baird & Co. said tractor sales made a "relatively slow start" to the spring selling season, though combine sales remained strong, according to data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Sales of row crop tractors declined 7 percent year-over-year and sales of four wheel drives dropped 14 percent in what McCarthy called "seasonally important March." ...