Ag Tractor Sales Down and National 4-H Beyond Ready
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**Sales of ag tractors dropped 19% in September compared to September of last year.
New data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says combine sales also fell during the month, dropping 41%.
The 100-plus horsepower tractor segment fell the most from last year, dropping almost 27%.
Four-wheel-drive tractors were the segment’s only gain, up 1.7% year-to-date.
AEM senior vice president Curt Blades says these declines point to the overall softness in the ag economy.
**The national 4-H program launched Beyond Ready, a nationwide initiative designed to empower ten million young people with the skills, resilience, and confidence they need to thrive in a changing world.
Employers are increasingly focusing on skills extending beyond traditional subjects, with 77% stating the need for analytical thinking, creativity, resilience, and adaptability.
To meet their goals, 4-H outlined multiple keys including partnerships with land-grant universities to provide more college credit and credentialing programs.
**On the heels of a warmer than average summer, AccuWeather long-range experts are forecasting a mild winter with above-average temperatures in three dozen states.
The U.S. recently had its warmest winter season on record last December through February, and much of the country will see mild temps again.
However, with a weak La Niña, some cold can push into the Midwest and Northeast.
