Tractor-Combine Sales Higher and Bonnie Approved as USDA Undersecretary
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.**A hot, dry year has impacted California’s citrus production.
Growers say early navel varieties generally are running smaller this year, putting a premium on larger offerings.
Meanwhile, a survey of state citrus growers says the costs of bringing citrus to market has jumped 19% since early 2020.
Factors include ballooning costs of surface water and increased expenses for fuel and fertilizer.
**Overall unit sales of both ag tractors and combines continued their growth above an already-rapid pace.
Data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says U.S. total farm tractor sales climbed 4.8% in October compared to last year.
Self-propelled combine sales climbed 73%, the fourth month in a row of growth near or above 20% cent for harvesters.
The under-40 horsepower segment stayed positive, growing 4.5%, while the mid-size 41-100 horsepower was up 4.1%.
Heavy-duty, over 100 horse units saw another strong month, up 10.3%.
**The Senate Ag Committee approved the nomination of Robert Bonnie as the USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation.
The position is one of the most important at USDA as the undersecretary oversees the agency’s farm subsidy and land stewardship programs, which cost over $10 billion a year.
The departmental scope covers public nutrition, international trade, ag research, meat safety, and rural economic development.