$11.7 billion ag equipment sales projected for 1998.

US manufacturers sold farm machinery and equipment totaling more than $10.4 billion in 1996, an increase of 7.3 percent over 1995, according to Business Trend Analysts, Inc., the Commack, NY-based market research firm. The group's recently-published 1997 edition of The U.S. Farm Machinery and Equipment Market report shows dollar volume is expanding at an average of roughly 6.0 percent per year and is expected to approach $11.7 billion by 1998. Approximately 30 percent of US-manufactured farm machinery, currently exceeding $3 billion per year, is destined for foreign markets. Dairy farm equipment, haying machinery and crop preparation machinery are expected to be among the top performers in foreign markets through the end of the decade. Further information on purchasing the complete 425-page report (cost $1,995) is available from Melissa Krasnoff at 800-866-4648.