Tractor Zoom Monthly Financial Digest: May 2025

Welcome to the May edition of Tractor Zoom’s Monthly Financial Digest, your go-to resource for key updates, trends, and expert insights from the equipment and agricultural finance sectors. Curated with ag lenders in mind, this digest provides valuable perspectives and data to help you navigate the challenges in the evolving ag finance landscape. 

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Recent data from the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation reveals that lender confidence has dipped to a 19-month low, driven in part by growing unease around tariffs and the broader economic outlook (Equipment Finance News). While this decline is more acute in sectors tied to construction and logistics, it signals a ripple effect that could impact ag finance portfolios – particularly when it comes to rising equipment costs, margin pressures, and loan-to-value shifts.

As interest rate pressures and tariff-related cost volatility persist, maintaining up-to-date equipment valuations using reliably accurate data will help lenders ensure they are making more informed decisions when determining loan amounts to mitigate associated risks.

The latest USDA WASDE report paints a regionally nuanced picture. Soybeans are expected to stay strong – with a projected 6.7% stocks-to-use ratio, the second-lowest since 2012 – offering optimism in soybean-heavy territories (AgWeek). Meanwhile, bearish trends in wheat, rice, and record-high corn stocks are putting budgetary strain on many row crop producers.

Expect diverging credit behaviors across regions and crop types. In areas reliant on corn or wheat, borrowers may delay equipment purchases or ask for more flexible repayment terms. In stronger-performing soybean regions, lenders may see increased interest in capital purchases or line-of-credit expansions. These signals underscore the importance of real-time equipment valuation tools and crop-specific insights when structuring loans and monitoring portfolio risk.

AgWest continues to lead the way with incredible adoption of Tractor Zoom Pro’s Equipment Lists and search tools. With a high number of equipment lists generated and the largest number of platform engagements among customers to date, they’ve fully embedded Tractor Zoom Pro into their annual appraisal and risk review workflows. AgWest conducts yearly chattel inspections (rather than the typical three-year cycle), resulting in a streamlined, high-volume appraisal pipeline.

Their team has one of the highest numbers of total users working in Tractor Zoom Pro -- operating across multiple states -- and is able to save up to 3 hours per appraisal by consolidating search, valuation, and reporting processes all in one place. AgWest’s story reinforces the tangible time savings and scalability benefits of full software adoption – especially for lenders managing large portfolios with tight seasonal turnaround times.

In April, Tractor Zoom Customer Success Manager Jesse Scott visited Sutton Bank in Tiffin, Ohio, where the Ag Lending team has achieved an 85% adoption rate of equipment lists in under a year. The in-person session provided hands-on feedback and workflow training, helping the team extract even more value from Tractor Zoom Pro’s valuation and appraisal tools. We’re seeing high-impact results from these visits—and more are on the way, with a scheduled training session at Central Kentucky Farm Credit this summer. 

Hands-on training is transforming how lenders use Tractor Zoom Pro. We walk our customers through how to maximize mobile tools for chattel appraisers, which is especially useful during busy inspection seasons. These sessions help:

If you’re currently a Tractor Zoom Pro customer and want our CS team to visit your operation, reach out today to schedule an onsite session and unlock more value from your subscription.

As an ag lender, understanding market trends and managing collateral risk is crucial to your success. Tractor Zoom Pro provides you with the tools to assess equipment values, track market fluctuations, and streamline your lending processes.

Book a demo today to learn how Tractor Zoom Pro’s solutions can help your institution stay ahead of market shifts, reduce risk, and improve decision-making for loan officers, risk assessors, and chattel appraisers.

Stay tuned for next month’s financial digest, where we’ll continue to provide you with valuable insights and updates tailored to ag lenders and financial professionals.