In a quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Aug. 27, Deere & Co. estimated that its equipment sales will increase by about 12 percent for fiscal year 2010 and about 32 percent for the fourth quarter, compared with the same periods a year ago.

Company officials predicted that Deere’s agriculture and turf segment will increase worldwide sales 8 percent for fiscal year 2010, which ends Oct. 31. The Moline, Ill.-based manufacturer’s worldwide sales of construction and forestry equipment are seen increasing 35 percent for fiscal 2010. The company said demand from independent rental companies has rebounded sharply from last year’s severely depressed levels.

For the industry overall, farm machinery sales in the United States and Canada are forecast to be up 5 to 10 percent for the year, with much of the strength concentrated in larger equipment. Sales in Western Europe are expected to decline 15 to 20 percent. In South America, industry sales are projected to increase 25 to 30 percent, mainly due to market improvement in Brazil and Argentina.