-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
B.J. Penning, of Algona, found a good place to rest and make a few phone calls at the sixth annual Farm News Ag Show being held in the Career Education building at Iowa Central Community College. This was Penning’s first visit to the show. He is sitting on a skid loader in the RJ Material Handling booth. Sales of farm equipment was strong in the past year, a reflection of higher prices for farm products.

Tractors, combines, planters are expected to be hot commodities

By JOHN MOLSEED, Messenger staff writer

No component of an economy is independent. When corn and soy bean prices are up, other businesses like farm implement dealers feel a boost.

Area equipment dealers say that 2007 was a strong year and that 2008 is starting out just as good.

‘‘With $4 corn and $10 and $11 beans, it gives guys a little incentive to buy something,’’ said Lonne Anderson, owner of Anderson Implement, 3043 Madison Ave.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reported sales of farm equipment finished strong at the end of last year compared to 2006. In December last year, tractors with more than 100 horsepower were up 49.5 percent compared to 2006 and combine sales were up 14.5 percent. Sales of combines rose 15 percent in last year.