A recent poll asked farmers where they plan to cut costs. Equipment purchases topped the list, but farmers also plan to scale back on fertilizer rates, use more generic products and reduce tillage or field passes. The theme that consumed the crops side of agriculture in 2024 was this: tighter margins with producers from coast to coast searching for ways to cut back. It was a tough recipe for a lot of farmers, and it could be a similar story for 2025. Out of the more than 1,300 farmers who responded to the online poll, the most glaring answer was machinery. Nearly 80 percent of farmers say that’s an area they’re likely to cut. Purchasing machinery was also a place farmers decided to scale back on in 2024. The latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers flash report shows sales of total farm tractors were down 13 percent on the year and combines fell 24 percent.