Last year was challenging for nearly all U.S. farmers and no-till growers were no exception. Nonetheless, nearly 81% of no-tillers reported that they were profitable during the 2019 cropping year. This is according to the results of the 12th annual No-Till Operational Benchmark Study from No-Till Farmer, a sister publication of Ag Equipment Intelligence. This percentage is the highest since 2014 when an identical 81% of no-till farmers reported they were profitable. The good news for farm equipment dealers and manufacturers is, overall, a larger percentage of the approximately 650 no-till growers who responded to this year’s survey say they’ll increase their equipment purchases — slightly in the year ahead. In the current ag environment, any increase in capital expenditures is good news. Number one of the no-tillers’ list of equipment purchase for 2020 is planters.

Agriculture producers are less pessimistic about the U.S. ag economy and more willing to make large farm investments, according to the most recent Ag Economy Barometer survey from Purdue University and CME Group.