An equipment specialist says an uptick in farm machinery sales points to a stronger farm economy.

Curt Blades is the senior vice president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

“A farmer doesn’t wake up tomorrow and decide to spend a half million dollars on a piece of equipment,” he said. “They have to think about it. For us to see 10% growth year over year, that’s a pretty good indication that there is some optimism.”

AEM’s June data shows total U.S.

…