Ag Machinery, Machinery Pete, and Equipment Technology News

How Soil Mapping Tech Can Save Water in Orchards

Wed, 06 May 2026 14:22:22 GMT

An all-terrain robot decked out with industry-changing technology autonomously navigates through an orchard using sensors to collect data tree by tree. Once in the hands of the grower, the information elevates water management based on need and timing.

“The goal is to improve the way [growers] use water so they don’t have to abandon agriculture in some areas,” says Elia Scudiero , associate professor of precision agriculture and the director of University of California, Riverside’s Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment .

How The Robotic System Predicts Moisture Tree-by-Tree

The robot travels through an orchard measuring the soil electrical conductivity, which shows how easily electricity flows through the soil based on moisture, salt, clay and other factors. The technology then pairs this data with fixed moisture sensors to predict the water content across an entire orchard.

“Using this method, growers will finally know how much water they have, and how much they need, and can water specific trees if they’re dry,” Scudiero says.

Currently, some growers determine when to irrigate by relying on soil moisture sensors in the ground. However, these sensors are only installed in a few locations, leaving farmers to guess the conditions of hundreds or thousands of trees.

“The information those sensors provide is very limited,” Scudiero says. “It really only tells you what’s happening in the immediate areas where they’re placed.”

Protect Tree Health Through Precise Moisture Management

California’s strict regulations for water use in agriculture call for precise and efficient management. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, passed in 2014, requires local agencies to reduce groundwater overdraft and achieve sustainable use by 2040.

“If water becomes limited, farmers have two choices,” Scudiero says. “They can retire orchards, or they can find ways to produce the same crops using less water.”

The right moisture level is vital for the plant’s health to avoid stress and vulnerabilities to pests and diseases. It’s a balance because having too much water can deprive the tree’s roots of oxygen.

Nutrient Efficiency Comes Into Play

Targeting water use and timing is also beneficial for nutrient management.

“If you apply only the amount of water the plants actually need, you reduce the risk of washing those nutrients away from the roots of the crops and into the environment,” Scudiero says.

The robot is currently being tested at UC Riverside’s research farm. The next step is to work with local farmers to expand testing before making it commercially available.

Pete's Pick of the Week: 1999 Bobcat Skid Steer Tops $20,000

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:20:37 GMT

Auction prices continue to hold strong, as highlighted by a recent auction hosted by Sexton Auctioneers in Pomona, Mo. Taking Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week honors, a 1999 Bobcat 773 skid steer with 291 hours sold for $20,500, the highest auction price for this model in 20 months. The consignment auction also featured:

2026 Bobcat T770 with seven hours sold for $68,500.
1916 Luverne wrecker truck sold for $18,750.

A sale hosted by Merit Auctions featuring equipment from three dealers highlights strong prices for late-model tractors:

2023 John Deere 9RX 540 with 390 hours sold for $440,000.
2023 Fendt 936 Vario with 700 hours sold for $268,000, the second highest sale price.
2023 Fendt 936 Vario with 800 hours sold for $266,000, the third highest sale price.
2024 John Deere 8R 410 with 600 hours sold for $372,000.
2024 John Deere 8R 410 with 1,499 hours sold for $318,000.

Historic Farm Days Auction to Showcase IH Black Stripe and JD 4000

Machinery Pete has his eye on an upcoming two-day consignment auction in Markleville, Ind. On May 8 and 9, Jeff Boone Auction & Realty will feature a variety of equipment, including a 1989 Case IH 7120 2WD tractor with 3,333 hours and a Boxcar Magnum 1989 7120 two-wheel drive with 3,333 hours.

In conjunction with the four-day Historic Farm Days in Penfield, Ill., Alex Kerr from Kerr Auction is organizing a “historic tractor auction” on July 9. The auction will highlight Allis-Chalmers equipment, but will feature all equipment types and brands, including an International Harvester 1066 Black Stripe and a John Deere 4000 diesel.

John Deere Announces Updates to See & Spray

Fri, 01 May 2026 20:47:09 GMT

Five years ago, John Deere introduced See & Spray technology. The most recent updates include:

Farmers and custom applicators are now able to use See & Spray in fallow for no additional cost. Previously, the capability was billed at $1 an unsprayed acre.
Starting in 2027, John Deere is rolling out See & Scout – launching field insights at no additional cost. All See & Spray Premium, Ultimate and new Gen 2 systems will generate weed pressure maps with every pass and stand count maps (starting with corn).

“Farmers can now use weed pressure data as an incredibly powerful proof point for decisions made throughout the year on the farm,” says Josh Ladd, marketing manager for John Deere’s application portfolio. “Whether it be tillage decisions, cover crops, seed varieties or even sprayer passes in general, the weed pressure is a very powerful point of data on if the intended outcome is being achieved.”

For its Gen 1 Premium and Ultimate machines, John Deere will now benefit barley (broadleaf only) and canola starting in 2027. That’s in addition to wheat, sugar beets, peanuts and milo announced at Commodity Classic . See & Spray Premium is available as a retrofit precision upgrade for ExactApply-equipped machines for model years 2018 to 2026.

According to Ladd, John Deere is continuously developing new features to help farmers.

“I think it speaks to the resiliency of our farmers. They’re continuing to push us to advance the technology every day – both in new crops and additional insights, day in, day out,” Ladd explains.

How Robotic Dogs are Guarding Ag Assets

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:30:18 GMT

According to the National Equipment Register, $300 million to $1 billion in heavy equipment is stolen every year. Other threats such as feral hogs can rob the ag industry of $1.6 billion in a single year as well, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. However, a new four-legged, robotic companion could help solve these issues.

Taking the form of a dog, the Asylon DroneDog , a robotic and autonomous security system, is stepping up to the plate.

“They do the dull, dangerous, dirty tasks that humans don’t like to do and don’t do as well when they get mundane and repetitive,” says Dennis Crowley , chief growth officer for Asylon Robotics .

Monitoring Farms and Fields from the Palm of Your Hand

Instead of owning the robots, farmers purchase Asylon Robotics services. To put into action, the company will manually patrol a route. Once the route is established, the robot dog will autonomously monitor the area. It can also be controlled from a remote location.

Farmers have live access to whatever the dog is seeing and detecting, such as intruders, a wild animal and even damage to fences via a phone or other device. Asylon’s command center receives the same view.

“DroneDog takes advantage of the things that a traditional human can do and adds to that the capabilities of a machine,” Crowley explains. “It still requires a human in the loop on the back end who is monitoring, working and getting the information to have situational awareness and make a good decision.”

Apart from security, Crowley says the technology could potentially be used for other areas in agriculture in the future. Collaborating with farmers, he sees potential for equipment and pressure gauge inspections.

Why the Four-Legged Design Conquers Tough Terrain

Crowley explains constructing the robot in the shape of the four-legged animal has plenty of advantages. It can handle various terrain and ground materials with stability. With legs instead of wheels, it can go places where the latter cannot.

“If it does fall over, it’s able to right itself and get back up. It doesn’t need anyone to go out and help it,” he explains.

He also adds that aerial drones might not be able to get you into tight corners and spaces like the DroneDog.

How Bayer Uses DroneDog for Security Detail

Bayer Global has used DroneDogs for about two years to guard seed corn fields and equipment in Hawaii and California from human, animal and natural threats, including thieves, vandals, feral hogs, deer, flooding and wildfires.

Matthew Paschoal, corporate security lead for the western U.S. and the Pacific regions of Bayer, says the technology has been a “game-changer” as he tries to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to security.

“These dogs checked all the boxes,” he says.

One of Bayer’s sites spans 387 acres, and the DroneDog and humans split the security detail.

“It’s not a replacement; I look at it as a supplementation. It’s a force multiplier for our teams,” Paschoal explains.

This extra reinforcement allows the company to raise its patrol frequency and footprint. The DroneDog takes the graveyard shift patrolling fields in Kihei, Hawaii, after the day shift goes home, and can work 16-hour days.

Security staff can be difficult to keep because of the schedule and work itself, Paschoal shares. However, with this new technology the company does not have to worry as much when they are down employees.

“We’re able to gain efficiency by not having to rehire anybody because we have the dog,” Paschoal explains.

Record-Breaking Auction Prices Signal Scarcity in Top-End Used Machinery

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:20:11 GMT

“Top-end” farm machinery is hard to find, driving auction prices up over the years. Case in point: The average auction price for a John Deere 8R340 ( mentioned in Pete’s Pick ) has gone up 12.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same time frame in 2025, according to Machinery Pete .

“The thinning at the top-end of the used equipment market in terms of volume-based paired with the lack of new sales the past couple of years is really starting to show up in the auction market,” he says.

High Auction Prices Highlight Growing Demand for Quality Used Units

Testament to the trend for high-quality, well-kept equipment, on April 14, a 2009 Stinger 6500 bale wagon with 53,000 miles sold for $140,000. This is the highest auction price on a pre-10 model Stinger 6500 in 15 years.

For reference, the price tag for a newer 2024 Stinger is more than $300,000. Machinery Pete explains that farmers will tend to go with the less expensive option, as long as it is well-maintained.

“At $140,000, if a new one is $340,000, it’s just such a more palatable option than that new number,” says Machinery Pete.

This trend continues with this week’s Machinery Pete’s Pick . On April 25, in Albertson, N.C., a 30-year-old John Deere 6500 three-wheel sprayer with 2,486 hours sold for a record of $65,000 at an auction hosted by Jason Aycock Auctioneering . That price tops the previous record by $15,000.

That same day in Scottsville, Ky., a 2011 Kubota M9540 2WD tractor with a loader and 4,524 hours sold for $45,650 at an auction hosted by Mills Real Estate and Auction Company . That’s the second-highest auction price ever on that model.

An auction in Union, West Virgina, by David Atkins Farm Equipment also featured two record-high sales showing farmers would rather buy pre-owned, well-kept equipment:

Massey Ferguson 4707 tractor with a loader and 900 hours sold for $54,500, a record-high auction price on that model.
1994 John Deere 7600 MFWD tractor with 8,309 hours sold for $69,000, the highest auction price ever on a John Deere 7600 with more than 4,000 hours.

Meanwhile, in Berger, Mo., Schneider Auctioneers LLC had a couple hot-ticket tractors of their own:

2004 John Deere 7320 2WD with only 195 hours and one owner sold for a record-high $106,900.
2008 John Deere 7730 MFWD tractor with 257 hours and one owner sold for $162,700. This is the second-highest auction price ever on a 7730.

Securing High-Quality Equipment Before Inventory Thins

The best time to buy equipment is, arguably, between the planting and harvesting seasons, says Casey Seymour.

“Look how much has been picked over already and where we’re sitting today, I think your best opportunity for good quality equipment is going to be between planting season and harvest,” says Seymour.

Procrastinating until the last quarter of the year to buy equipment risks the quality of equipment for sale. The machinery can also get more expensive as the year goes on. Machinery Pete points to the 12.5% increase in used prices for John Deere 8R340s. This can lead to the “lesser quality” equipment becoming more expensive.

“When the good stuff goes away, it’s all been bought up that the second-tier stuff now becomes the ‘good stuff’,” Machinery Pete says.

Listen to the latest Moving Iron podcast for more from Machinery Pete and Seymour on the continued development of tractor sales.

Broadband is Transforming How an Arizona County Uses Ag Tech

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:03:25 GMT

Imagine a future where autonomous tractors navigate the roads and fields as farmers give commands from miles away. This future also allows farmers to optimize water usage. Precision and efficiency take on entirely new meanings. A county in Arizona is working to make that future a reality.

The dry, hot, sand-colored landscape of Yuma County, Ariz., sprinkled with fields of bright green lettuce, is getting a boost from high-speed internet.

Today, farming is a matter of precision. With better internet comes better precision. According to the Association of Equipment Management , precision agriculture adoption leads to a 5% increase in crop farming productivity, a 5% reduction in water use and a 7% reduction in fuel consumption.

Turning the “Winter Lettuce Capital” into a Global High-Tech Testing Hub

Known as the “ Winter Lettuce Capital of the World ,” the Middle Mile Fiber Network and broadband system will bring better internet. This will ultimately help farmers implement the latest technology. Like roots from a plant, underground fibers now stretch throughout the county connected to 32 broadband towers that reach to the sky.

“It is exciting; there’s been a lot of products and things [such as water sensors] that I’ve wanted to do out on the farm, but without the ability to have permanent or productive internet services, I’ve been reluctant,” says Mike Pasquinelli, a local farmer and president of the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association .

Yuma produces about 90% of the leafy greens for the U.S. in the winter. They’re hoping with the broadband system more companies will be attracted to test technology in Yuma.

“In our intense agricultural system we have the ability to farm year-round, so there’s a lot of advantages for companies to come in, test new products and develop new products,” Pasquinelli says.

Broadband Network is Fueling Yuma’s High-Tech Agricultural Future

From autonomous drones and tractors to water monitoring, the broadband system will allow agriculture to connect.

“Farming is not the farming of yesterday. This is not your mom and pops farm,” says Jonathan Lines , a Yuma County supervisor who helped get the project up and running. “This is a high-tech business for food production here in the United States.”

When it comes to herbicide and pesticide applications, the broadband system will allow for farmers to apply a much smaller droplet using a drone rather than an airplane or helicopter. Tractor and tech updates can be made in the field instead of having to be taken out of production and connected to a computer.

“It is a large game changer for our community as well as our county. If we want more sensors and more automation, we need the bandwidth to do it,” Pasquinelli says.

Gov. Hobbs Backs Broadband Network to Modernize Arizona Agriculture

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is in full support of the broadband network. In November 2025, Gov. Hobbs visited Yuma for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and to sign two bills. SB1320 and SB1661 are both meant to help support the project in some capacity:

SB 1320 updated the legal definition of “implements of husbandry,” otherwise known as farm equipment, to include autonomous equipment. This allows for the autonomous farm equipment like tractors to drive short distances on public roads.
SB 1661 created a legal structure for the broadband service district authority. This authority would be in charge of things such as facilitating the expansion and maintenance of broadband infrastructure.

Pasquinelli says these bills, along with the broadband project, will be helpful for Yuma farmers as they continue to navigate this technological boom. When the broadband network and autonomous technology are in full force, they can help Yuma farmers address labor challenges.

“The farm workforce is aging, and it’s more and more difficult to get labor out of Mexico, so automation is going to be really key as the workforce diminishes,” says Paul Brierly , director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture .

$6 Million Broadband Project Hopes to Attract Younger Workforce

The broadband network might also be able to solve the aging workforce by attracting more university students. Brierly believes with the research and investment tied to the network, along with Yuma’s landscape, it can be a hot spot for young scholastic minds.

“With climate change, more of the world is having to produce food in arid climates, so what we solve in Yuma County, and in Arizona, will apply and be useful all around the world,” he explains.

The project is set to cost around $6 million and the broadband network is expected to be up and running by the end of summer in August.

“Not only does that allow Yuma County farmers to use the latest technology but also this is going to be the most connected production area in the world,” Brierly says.

How to Dial In Downpressure and Closing Systems for Perfect Stands

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:00:35 GMT

Among the recent strides in planter technology, adjustable downpressure is a game-changer, says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. It, along with today’s sophisticated furrow-closing systems, can set you up for picket-fence stands and photocopied plants, the foundation of ear count and yield.

Here are some tips to help you dial in the ideal settings for your field’s specific soils and conditions.

May The Force Be With You

“Placing seed at uniform depth requires sufficient downforce on the row units to firm soil with the depth wheels, so the seed trench walls stand up and seed can be placed at the bottom,” Ferrie says. “There should be enough downforce to keep units in contact with the ground 97% of the time.

“Insufficient downforce causes uneven depth of planting, which leads to uneven emergence, or dry soil sloughing off the top of the trench onto the seed,” Ferrie continues. “Too much downforce leads to sidewall smearing, which causes the furrow to crack open afterward. In tilled fields that get too mellow, you may need to apply upward pressure because the row unit full of seed is too heavy, causing sidewall smearing issues.”

Hydraulic downpressure control allows downforce to change in a millisecond, by row and by foot of travel. “That’s not too important in conventionally tilled soil where the field cultivator passes 4” deep in mellow conditions,” Ferrie continues. “But it’s very important in no-till or strip-till because soil firmness changes quickly because of soil type, whether you’re in the center or the edge of a strip, wheel tracks and other factors.”

To set downpressure initially, stop the planter with the units in the ground, then see if you can turn both depth wheels on a few row units.

“If you can only turn one of them with the planter in the ground, back off the downforce until you can turn both wheels. At that point, you are not holding planting depth. Add small increments of downforce until it’s difficult to make at least one of the wheels turn. Continue to check depth wheel setting in all soil types or changing conditions,” Ferrie says.

Continue to check behind the planter as soils and conditions change.

“If you find a seam indicating sidewalls are not being crushed, back off the downforce and see if it goes away,” Ferrie advises.

Precision Planting hydraulic downforce on a Case IH planter responds in milliseconds to maintain accurate seed depth in no-till and strip-till conditions.

(Crop-Tech Consulting Inc.)

Close the Deal

It’s necessary for your planter’s closing system to do three things:

Close the furrow from the bottom up, leaving the moist soil at the bottom and the drier soil at the top.
Crush the sidewall. “If you fail to crush the sidewall, it will result in a seam that will open up later,” Ferrie says.
Firm soil over the seed, so moisture can’t escape. “Moisture is needed for germination and for development of the first and second sets of crown roots,” Ferrie says. “If it rains a day or two after planting, all will be well. Rain will settle the trench and allow the seed to germinate uniformly. But if you get 30 mph or 40 mph wind and 70˚F to 80˚F temperatures, you can run out of water at planting depth in a few hours. If it doesn’t rain for three weeks, furrows that weren’t firmed will be too dry to form crown roots and you’ll have floppy corn.”

The Best System For You

There are many types of closing wheels, designed to close furrows from the bottom up, crush sidewalls and/or firm soil over the seed.

“Rubber-tire closing wheels’ main function is to firm soil,” Ferrie says. “Cast-iron wheels are designed to close the furrow from the bottom up and firm soil. Spoked wheels’ main function is to crush the sidewall.”

Spoked wheels with swept-back tines are good for sidewall crushing and more soil firming. Twisted tines provide sidewall crushing and bottom-up closing.

“Some closing systems are two-stage,” Ferrie explains. ”They have staggered closing disks or spoked wheels designed to close from the bottom up and crush the sidewall, plus a firming wheel. This has been Case IH’s system from the beginning. There are versions from other companies.

“Two-stage systems provide flexibility if you operate across multiple farming systems, such as no-till, strip-till and conventional tillage. They provide more firming in conventional tillage and more sidewall crushing in no-till.

“Today’s technology lets you adjust your planter to handle conventional, strip-till, no-till and cover crop conditions from the tractor cab,” Ferrie summarizes. “Planter setup is more complicated; but the improved ROI from multiple systems that fit each soil type make it worthwhile.”

No matter how much technology you have inside your cab or planter, Ferrie concludes, “It is still crucial for operators to ground-truth. Dig cross sections of the row, checking depth, sidewall smearing and furrow firming. Thanks to technology, you don’t have to spend as much time on your knees as your dad and grandpa did, but you still need to check each of your fields multiple times.”

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Crop-Tech Consulting Inc.

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Crop-Tech Consulting Inc.

Adjust Downforce to Fit Soil Conditions

A Farm Journal study in tilled and no-till conditions illustrated the varying amount of downforce required to keep depth wheels in contact with the surface, firming the soil so trench walls would stand up and seed could be placed at the bottom. In both situations, units exceeded the required 97% ground contact (top photo). In no-till, the average downpressure requirement was 130 lb./ft., compared to 63 lb./ft. in tilled soil.

“Hydraulic downpressure control is especially beneficial in no-till and strip-till because soil firmness changes quickly based on soil type, whether you’re in the center or the edge of a strip, wheel tracks and other factors,” says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. “But it’s also valuable in tilled soil, where you sometimes need to apply negative downforce (i.e., upward force), to take some of the weight off the planter units.”

(Crop-Tech Consulting Inc.)

If Your Seedbed Dries Out

“If a seedbed gets dry down to planting depth, it’s almost impossible to get a trench to stand up long enough to get seed to the bottom of the furrow and close it,” says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. “Dry surface soil will fall into the furrow before the closing system can operate.

“While this is a seedbed problem, not a planter issue, you can help the situation by changing your planter setup. Lower your row cleaner wheels to push the dry soil to the side and let you plant into moisture. This carries some risk: Your plants will be down in a little valley, so if you get a hard rain before or during emergence, the seed or seedling will be covered when rain washes the soil you pushed aside back into or on top of the row. But the only other option is to delay planting until it rains.”

Pete's Pick of the Week: 2009 Stinger Bale Wagon Hits 15-Year Price High

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:26:12 GMT

This week, Pete’s Pick isn’t his typical tractor or combine, but rather a bale wagon. On April 14 in Torrington, Wyo., the Kerr Auction and Tri Brothers equipment consignment auction sold a 2009 Stinger 6500 bale wagon with 53,000 miles for $140,000. That’s the highest auction price on a pre-2010 model Stinger 6500 in 15 years.

On April 18, Jason Aycock Auctioneering had a farm retirement auction for Joe Godwin in Benson, N.C. These auctions continue to prove that machinery in good condition brings strong sales prices:

Rooster RP10 sold for $150,000. It is a root-picking machine described as a land-prep with 180 teeth. “This machine eliminates anything to pick up on the new ground,” says Godwin.
John Deere S670 with 2,150 hours sold for $130,000. This is the second-highest auction price in the last 38 months on this model with more than 2,000 hours.

Meanwhile, on April 17 in Dayton, Ohio, an auction by Wilson National LLC for Bear Creek LLC Farm continues to show how the 8R 340 models are in demand:

2022 John Deere 8R 340 with only 292 hours sold for $350,000. The average auction price for this specific model is up 12.5% this year.
1998 Case IH 9350 articulating 4WD with 2,379 hours sold for $67,000.

Machinery Pete is also anticipating several auctions this week. DPA Auctions is having an online sale April 21 featuring heavy equipment:

1977 John Deere 6030 with only 3,563 hours. The top bid already topped $47,000 as of Monday morning.
2024 Fendt 932 dry machine with 568 hours.
1998 Case IH 9370 QuadTrac with around 7,300 hours.

Used Equipment Gains Traction While New Tractor Sales Face Decline

While Machinery Pete says sales for some used machinery segments are increasing, such as the John Deere 8R 340, new tractor sales are not experiencing the same success. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, total farm tractor sales are down 8.8% this year versus last year. As of March 2025, tractor sales across all segments totaled 36,941; so far this year that number is 33,708. Meanwhile, 4-wheel-drive farm tractor sales are down by 15% as well.

Farming the Frontier: Alaskan Farmer Awaits Arrival of No-Till Air Drill to Beat the Arctic Clock

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Sixth-generation farmer Clayton Griffith is pioneering a new era in Delta Junction, Alaska, by introducing the state’s first John Deere 1890 no-till air drill . Moving from Kansas to the “Last Frontier” five years ago (because of his passion for fishing and hunting), he is transitioning to a no-till system to condense the planting window — a critical shift in a region where winter comes early.

As the equipment travels via a four-truck convoy through the U.S. and Canada, Griffith hopes to prove that modern conservation practices are the key to building a sustainable operation in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

“The idea is to get into the fields quicker, get the crop in the ground as soon as possible,” Griffith says.

How No-Till Can Transform Alaska’s Short Growing Season

In a conventional-till system, Griffith says planting takes three to four weeks. With a short growing season that lasts 90 to 110 days, every day counts for his barley, oats, hay and grass crops to thrive. Using the no-till air drill, he expects to plant 5,600 acres in approximately five days.

“Winter could come as early as September; you can’t predict the weather, so it’s crucial for us to expand the growing season,” he explains.

After an opportunity to locally source an air drill fell through, and with the clock ticking, Griffith reached out to Quality Drills based in Kansas.

“To be bringing something to [Alaska] that focuses on what I view as a really important cause is very rewarding,” says Stefan Alderson , CEO, in regard to helping Alaska agriculture and the people who call that state home.

The two drills along with two tractors headed to Griffith’s farm once belonged to Howard Turner Farm in Muskogee, Okla. After Turner passed away, Quality Drills was tasked with selling some of the farm’s estate.

“His machines and his legacy are going to be a part of something really big in Alaska, where hopefully it’ll live on for a good, long time,” Alderson says.

The convoy of four semi-trucks and a passenger vehicle is traveling from the U.S., through Canada into the Land of the Midnight Sun, where they are expected to arrive in three days.

On the Leading Edge of A No-Till Movement in Alaska

Griffith looks forward to getting to work once the equipment arrives and building soil health as he starts to plant on May 15.

“If you want to build a sustainable local food network, you have to be efficient,” Griffith says. “Using variable-rate applications is crucial to saving on fertilizer and herbicide costs.”

Due to his location, the only fertilizer Griffith can get in bulk is dry fertilizer, such as urea and phosphorus. Not to mention, fertilizer and herbicides are more expensive.

Eventually, he hopes his neighbors will be convinced to invest in no-till practices and equipment. He compares farming in Alaska to “farming on the moon” because the only equipment he has is what he brought with him.

“If we have the same kind of equipment, we can help out with parts, etc.,” Griffith explains.

In Alaska, there is heavy competition for the small labor pool. Between the pipeline, mining and Fort Greely , it can be hard to find good help. That is why no-till practices and machinery are crucial to farming.

“Having machines that can get the job done quicker, be more efficient, and save costs on fertilizer is a huge advantage,” Griffith says. “This has been a long time coming. It’s a great opportunity for the state of Alaska.”

The Grain Weevil Robot Takes On One Of Farming's Most Dangerous Jobs

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:33:40 GMT

From the depths of a grain bin, a robot is doing the dangerous work once performed by farmers. As it scurries across the grain, the Grain Weevil breaks up hardened surface crust and ridges, leveling out the grain and improving airflow. From outside the bin, the farmer can now remotely control the robot as it completes the once-dangerous task.

“Cleaning out grain bins and leveling grain is by far the most dangerous thing we do, so to be able to stay physically out of the grain as much as we can, that’s a huge improvement in safety,” says Zach Hunnicutt, a farmer from Giltner, Neb.

The History of the Grain Weevil

The Grain Weevil’s story begins in 2020 when Chad Johnson and his son, Ben Johnson , started working on a project to teach kids workforce skills through innovation, such as building robots. When a local farmer saw what the duo had created, he asked if they could build a robot that would keep him out of the grain bin.

From there, the father-son duo made a 3-D printed robot, complete with duct tape, and showed it to a group of farmers gathered to watch the “Silo” movie. The Johnsons took that feedback home, and in 2021, they officially started working on their Grain Weevil business.

“We knew that’s when we were going to be able to turn this little project into a startup, and now into a company that has over 100 robots deployed,” Chad says.

After five years in business, they’ve sold more than 100 Grain Weevil robots – each with the goal of making it safer for farmers when working with grain in storage. Along the way, they’ve had the support of Ag Launch for marketing, testing and getting the product to market.

“We built this robot to help keep farmers and workers out of the grain when there’s a situation where they could get hurt, entrapped or any of the dangers that go along with it,” Chad explains.

How Technology Can Involve the Next Generation

While the Johnsons have been working together in the garage since Ben was a child, seeing their partnership expand into a company has been surreal.

“It’s great, we get along very well … you couldn’t ask for any better situation than to be able to build robots with your kid,” Chad says.

Now, the Johnsons’ invention has opened doors for more parents and their children to work alongside one another. Hunnicutt is a fifth-generation farmer growing corn, popcorn and soybeans. He says it’s a challenge to include young children when working with grain because of the risks.

However, with the Grain Weevil, the robot is controlled from outside the grain bin, away from the danger.

“Without having to physically enter the grain is a pretty neat thing to be able to do, still keeping them working, but not putting them in danger,” Hunnicutt says.

Hunnicutt draws comparisons between operating the Grain Weevil and video games .

“They have a lot of similarities to video game controls, so I think it’s pretty instinctive to someone who’s played any kind of video game,” he explains.

According to Purdue University , there were 22 fatalities in confined spaces such as grain bins. Now, the Grain Weevil robot, which looks like a bug with augers instead of wheels, is working to keep farmers out of harm’s way.

Pete’s Pick of the Week: Alva FFA Restores John Deere 4020

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:48:02 GMT

An FFA chapter in Alva, Okla., has earned Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week by restoring a tractor. After logging more than 2,500 hours, the students were able to bring the 1968 John Deere 4020 back to life. On April 15, the FFA group will sell the tractor via a PurpleWave.com auction.

In a video interview with PurpleWave , one student described the tractor “as about unusable as it could be.” It had numerous issues, such as a cracked cylinder liner, flaking paint, an irreparable cab and flat tires.

During the process of restoring the 4020, the students learned valuable skills such as teamwork, patience and problem-solving. Student Clay Schafer worked on the tractor every day.

“It kind of feels rewarding to see all of the hard work we put into it just to be used,” Schafer says.

His classmate Jaxon Headle was also heavily involved in the project – from the initial teardown to the mechanical restoration and final bodywork.

“Getting to see a second wind for this tractor means a lot; letting it have another chance at being useful again is just really rewarding,” Headle explains.

With the combined efforts of teachers, community members and education, anything is possible, he adds. All sale proceeds will be donated to Alva’s FFA chapter.

A 1972 John Deere 4020 diesel PowerShift, with more than $50,000 spent on a professional restoration, sold for $74,900 on April 11. Machinery Pete’s “co-pick of the week” sold on the second day of the fourth annual Kraft Spring Antique Truck and Tractor Auction Day in Valparaiso, Ind. That’s the second-highest price ever on a John Deere 4020.

The Used Equipment Sweet Spot: Why Age and Hours are Redefining Value

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:25:19 GMT

Classic and late-model iron has been a hot commodity with recent auctions breaking records. For example:

A 2023 John Deere X9 1100 with 1,132 engine hours sold for $510,000. “That’s the highest auction price I’ve ever seen on an X9 1100 with over 1,000 engine hours,” Machinery Pete says.
A 1982 International 5288 two-wheel drive, with 6,498 hours sold for $30,000.
A 1993 Case IH 7110 with 4,436 hours sold for $45,500.

Despite the age of the machine, Casey Seymour says these older models still hold value for farmers in need of equipment.

Sweet Spots for Machinery Demand

The “sweet spot” in used equipment continues to be the 10-year mark, according to Machinery Pete . Everyone is looking for a 10-plus-year-old tractor in good condition with low hours, he adds.

Seymour broadens the sweet spot to the eight- to 12-year-old gap. A recent auction in Rock Rapids, Iowa, featured a 2004 John Deere 8120 with only 897 hours that sold for a record high of $158,000.

“That was almost 10,000 over the highest I’d ever seen,” Machinery Pete adds.

When it comes to the sweet spot, both Machinery Pete and Seymour agree the most value lies in the three- to -seven- year age range. At the moment, supply is limited, so machines might be harder to come by.

Then there’s the pre-DEF equipment.

“In 2015 and 2016, people weren’t going back and trying to buy a 2012 or something like that; it wasn’t on the radar, but today they are,” Seymour says.

When it comes to condition, the dollars add up when the equipment has been well maintained.

“If you want to trade, your dealer is going to be able to sell it immediately,” Machinery Pete explains.

He once heard of someone who “washed the cab with a toothbrush,” which says a lot about how the machine was maintained. Gold Key tractors, a John Deere machine whose owner participated in a special factory tour and drove it off the assembly line, also maintain their value. Going to the factory or providing specific maintenance details can make a huge difference, Machinery Pete explains.

Listen to the latest Moving Iron podcast for more from Machinery Pete and Seymour on the evolution of the buyer’s intent in tractors.

‘Farmville for Real:’ How Autonomous Tech is Rebranding Tractor Drivers as Digital Operators

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:25:32 GMT

For George Grote, a typical day doesn’t involve a steering wheel or a dusty cab; instead, it looks like he’s glued to his phone or tablet. From the climate-controlled comfort of a pickup or while strolling between the crop rows, Grote monitors a fleet of autonomous tractors as they navigate with precision. It’s a scene that Agtonomy CEO Tim Bucher calls “Farmville for real,” where gripping the steering wheel is being replaced by the quick-twitch reflexes of the gaming generation.

As the agricultural industry grapples with a deepening labor crisis and an aging workforce, companies such as Agtonomy are betting that high-tech autonomy is the key to recruiting Gen Z. By rebranding traditional tractor driving as “digital operation,” the California-based startup is leveraging app-based interfaces to transform farming into a tech career.

Raised on a dairy farm, Bucher coupled his love of agriculture and machinery with a career in the tech field to create the prototype that would become the company’s first autonomous tractor. Today, as a farm owner and father of three, Bucher says it’s not likely his children will return to the farm. With this technology, he hopes to attract the next generation to his farm and the industry.

“The younger generation doesn’t want to be in the dirt and the dust because there are other opportunities for them,” he says.

(Photo provided by George Grote)

The Gaming Advantage: Why “Fast Hands” Matter in the Field

Grote, a 30-year-old field engineer with Agtonomy, does not have a farming background, but he always knew he wanted to work outdoors. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in crop and fruit science and now works alongside Agtonomy customers. He says being able to process information on a screen while being fast with his hands is something he picked up from gaming.

“I can tell you [gaming] 100% helped me, being able to toggle between different features in the app and being quick with technology,” Grote says. “If you can play a video game, then you’re more than capable of running five, six, seven or eight tractors at once while sitting in your truck and watching them run autonomously.”

8.14.25_agtonomy-102

(Agtonomy)

Marc Di Pietra, regional service maintenance manager for Treasury Wine Estates , says the cutting-edge technology can help bridge the labor gap, provide upskilling opportunities and reduce physical demands.

“New technologies are making it incredibly dynamic and attractive for younger generations,” Di Pietra says. “With a younger workforce, I expect that evolution to accelerate. There’s a natural comfort with technology, and a willingness to challenge legacy processes, which is critical.”

Adding this technology has been game changing in the wine business, De Pietra says, and it can shape the rest of the agricultural industry as well.

“These technologies allow us to be more precise with our farming, winemaking techniques and sustainability efforts, effectively creating safer environments for our employees, reducing our emissions and producing better quality wines,” he explains.

Agtonomy_George Grote

(Agtonomy)

How Agtonomy Works

At this point, Agtonomy is being used on fruit and nut tree, grapevine, avocado and citrus operations. The company works with Bobcat , specifically the Doosan Bobcat CT 4045, for more versatile utility and maintenance tasks, and Kubota to automate narrow-track diesel tractors, such as the Kubota M5N series.

Agtonomy’s software is embedded into a tractor’s OEM control system at the factory. Outfitted with the technology, the machine can autonomously handle repetitive tasks, such as mowing, spraying and seeding. Using cameras and sensors, tractors can “see” their surroundings, allowing them to navigate rows and avoid obstacles. Sensors and data links also ensure that sprayers or mowers are working at the correct intensity and height. When an issue occurs, a notification is sent to a smartphone and/or tablet, complete with details to help the tractor decide what to do when it deviates from the original instructions.

Deere & Co. Reaches $99 Million Settlement in Multiyear ‘Right-to-Repair’ Litigation

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:08:30 GMT

On April 6, Deere & Co. announced a settlement agreement resolving the “right-to-repair” litigation before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The company will pay $99 million (plus interest accruing since Jan. 15) into a settlement fund for the benefit of the settlement class. In a press release , the company states the agreement brings the case to a close with “no finding of wrongdoing.”

The agreement marks a pivotal moment in the multi-year legal battle, aiming to compensate producers for repair restrictions while avoiding a formal admission of liability. While Deere marks the move as a step toward better customer support, the settlement fuels a debate with advocates who argue the payout fails to address control over farm machinery repairs.

Under the terms of the settlement, Deere will establish a fund to cover administrative and legal fees, with the remainder distributed to eligible class members. Deere says it remains committed to supporting customers with access to manuals, diagnostic software and specialized tools.

“As we continue to innovate industry-leading equipment and technology solutions supported by our world-class dealer network, we are equally committed to providing customers and other service providers with access to repair resources,” says Denver Caldwell, vice president, aftermarket & customer support. “We’re pleased that this resolution allows us to move forward and remain focused on what matters most – serving our customers.”

Industry Advocates Raise Questions Amid Settlement Announcement

Despite the settlement, some are still skeptical.

“I suspect there is a lot less to this deal than meets the eye,” says Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of the Repair Association .

She has questions, including: In the settlement, Deere agreed to make available to farmers for 10 years “the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis and repair” of large agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines and sugarcane harvesters. What does that mean for other John Deere equipment?

In response, John Deere says its latest digital self-repair tool, Operations Center PRO Service, launched in July 2025, is designed to enhance how John Deere equipment owners use, maintain, diagnose, repair and protect their equipment. The tool provides support capabilities across John Deere’s agriculture, turf, construction and forestry equipment portfolio.

Yet unknown, Gordon-Byrne says, are the outcomes of 16 right-to-repair bills that cover ag equipment filed this year in 16 states.

“Several are likely to pass with much stronger requirements,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Willie Cade, Repair Association board member and a consultant on the case since it was filed in 2022, says he believes Deere will continue to move the goalposts and keep farmers reliant on their “monopolistic” repair policy.

“It’s too little, too late, and it will not fundamentally change the monopolistic repair environment that Deere enjoys,” he says.

The settlement must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Pete’s Pick of the Week: 2004 John Deere 8120 Sells for Record High $158,000

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:07:19 GMT

Entering March, machinery auction volume rose by more than 5%. According to Machinery Pete , the current market is nuanced: While the tractor market remains strong and combines are holding steady, the planter market has shown less consistency.

Despite the conclusion of the year’s busiest month, used equipment prices remain robust in early April. For example, Doug and Mary Berg’s farm retirement sale in Rock Rapids, Iowa, conducted by Zomer Company Realty and Auction , featured Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week — a 2004 John Deere 8120 with only 897 hours, which set a new record-high auction price of $158,000.

Older iron has also commanded impressive prices in recent weeks. On April 4 in Wawaka, Ind., Schrader Real Estate and Auction saw strong results for the following:

1993 Case IH 7110 with 4,436 hours sold for $45,500.
1982 International 5288 2WD with 6,498 hours sold for $30,000.
1983 Case 2290 with 2,787 hours sold for $18,000.
1968 Case 730 with more than 4,900 hours sold for $8,000.

Similarly, the Macke Bros Inc. auction in Bellmont, Ill., hosted by Schmid Auction on March 31, saw high demand for classic John Deere models.

1981 John Deere 4440 with 6,260 hours sold for $45,000.
1986 John Deere 4050 2WD with 3,794 hours sold for $41,200.
1958 John Deere 720 diesel sold for $22,100.

North of the border in Radisson, Saskatchewan, Ritchie Bros ’ EP Farms Ltd. auction featured relatively new, high-capacity machinery:

2024 Case IH 715 Quadtrac tractor with 812 hours sold for $491,830.
2024 Case IH 9250 combine with 704 engine hours sold for $355,410.

Looking ahead at the week, on April 7, in Brillion, Wis., an auction by C.A. Tesch Equipment with 92 tractors will sell:

2021 John Deere 8R 280 with 763 hours.
2011 John Deere 7930 with 1,780 hours.
1974 IHC 1468 with 6,242 hours.

On April 14, an online auction in Kearney, Neb., by Adam Marshall Land & Auction LLC will have equipment from the Old Cellar Vineyard in Arapahoe, Neb., including a 2000 New Holland Braud SB64 grape harvester with 4,681 hours.

Old Iron, New Beats: How an Iowa Farm Family is Retrofitting Legacy Tractors for the Digital Age

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:07:31 GMT

Frustrated by the lack of modern technology in older machinery, a fifth-generation farm family in northeast Iowa took matters into their own hands. After cycling through unreliable aftermarket transmitters, the Herbert family developed the Cab Radio Upgrade Kit , a solution designed to bring modern connectivity to legacy equipment.

The project was a collaborative effort between T.L. Herbert, his wife, Rochelle, and their three teenage sons: Thomas, Mason and Colin. The idea sparked when Mason and Thomas grew tired of subpar audio options while working on their row-crop and cattle operation.

“We tried a bunch of different designs. We tried cheap radios that we could find in stores, and nothing really worked out,” Mason explains.

CabTech Family

(CabTech)

The brothers brought their vision to their father, T.L., who contributed 20 years of experience working for major tractor manufacturers. By combining the sons’ innovation with the father’s technical expertise, the family designed a professional-grade kit.

“We decided to design our own, and we decided it was actually a pretty good design, and we were going to try to sell it,” Mason says.

Just picked one of these up for the 8120! Pretty stoked! Plus supporting a couple young entrepreneurs. https://t.co/L81YI8l6xl pic.twitter.com/jIgJwJPzud
— Michael Steeke 🌾 (@steeke7) March 24, 2026

The kit features a dedicated screen that allows operators to wirelessly connect phones for music and hands-free calling. Perhaps most importantly, it integrates two camera feeds to improve visibility. Currently, the kit is specifically engineered for John Deere tractors in the 7000 to 7030, 8000 to 8030 and 9000 to 9030 series. The Herberts use the technology daily on their own farm, noting the camera system is a game-changer.

“When we’re dumping corn from the grain cart to a wagon, we can look over at the screen and see exactly how full we’re getting because it’s faced right down into the wagon,” Thomas says.

The kit is already gaining traction with other producers, including Ben Bonson, a fourth-generation farmer in northwest Iowa. For Bonson, the kit offers a cost-effective way to modernize a fleet without the price tag of a new machine.

“Putting this newer technology in an older tractor kind of gives it a whole new feel,” Bonson says. “Taking these old tractors and merging them with that new technology for so much cheaper is a great investment.”

Bonson also appreciates that when calling and talking over the Bluetooth mode, he sounds clearer, and the hands-free functionality allows him to focus on other work.

“Say you’re doing something like you’re on a silage pile. You can’t really take your hands off the wheel to call someone,” he says.

T.L. appreciates the ability to easily stream podcasts and audiobooks to help pass the time in the tractor cab.

While the Herberts hope to expand the kit to other tractor models in the future, their current focus remains on perfecting the offerings for their supported John Deere models. Beyond the business success, Rochelle notes the venture has strengthened their family bond.

“Being able to learn together, being able to create a stronger family together, will take us to the next level where we can start expanding the product,” she says. “Being able to celebrate together, seeing the success they’ve had … has been really, really cool.”

The Midas Touch: How a Golden Tractor Captured the Spirit of National Ag Day

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:02:56 GMT

Hundreds of farmers, ranchers, growers and industry leaders gathered at the White House last week to celebrate National Agriculture Day.

Iowa farmer Ben Riensche, who attended the celebration, noted the overwhelming sense of community on the South Lawn.

“It was an amazing celebration,” Riensche describes. “It just grabbed you, pulled you in and embraced you that you were on the lawn of the White House.”

Standing prominently to the left of the President’s platform was the event’s unofficial star: a golden tractor. The tractor’s presence was a fitting symbol for an event defined by its deep agricultural roots.

AGCO Fendt Golden Tractor at White House

(AGCO Corporation)

While the celebration featured several major policy announcements, the tractor — outfitted with bright red tires and a window mural depicting a farm worker with a child — frequently stole the show. It was showcased in various iconic locations across the grounds, most notably near center stage at the base of the White House steps.

“We all knew President Trump likes gold, so that was a plus,” says Brandon Montgomery, senior brand manager for Fendt .

The golden machine also served as a showcase for American manufacturing. Although Fendt was originally founded in Germany in 1930 and later acquired by AGCO Corporation in 1997, it now maintains a significant American footprint with factories in Minnesota and Kansas. This specific tractor, manufactured at AGCO’s Fendt facility in Jackson, Minn., is composed of nearly 100% American-made parts.

AGCO Fendt Golden Tractor at White House

(AGCO Corporation)

The vehicle has a storied recent history. It made its public debut at last year’s Commodity Classic, where Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins added the first signature to its frame. From there, it traveled to the U.S. Capitol at the Great American Farmers Market in 2025, collecting signatures from notable figures including Ambassador Monica Crowley, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Lara Trump. After a stop at the National FFA Convention, it received its final invitation to the White House.

“It was a celebration of American farmers, American manufacturing, and our ’Gold Star’ customer care ,” Montgomery explains.

While President Trump did not sign the tractor himself, Fendt presented him with a miniature scale model of the golden machine.

Fendt Golden Tractor

(AGCO Corporation)

In an ironic twist, the tractor has been sold and is now bound for Europe. However, its legacy will remain in the United States. AGCO is retaining the signature-covered hood, which will return to the Jackson facility where its journey began. The impact of the display is already being felt, as Montgomery noted that several farmers have already called asking how they can secure a golden tractor of their own.

Pete’s Pick of the Week: 2010 Case IH Magnum 245 Sells for $120,000

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:07:14 GMT

As the busiest month for machinery auctions draws to a close, several high-profile sales caught Machinery Pete’s attention. Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week took place on March 24 in Currie, Minn., where the Steffes Group conducted the Bill Maher farm retirement auction . A 2010 Case IH Magnum 245 with 4,052 hours sold for $120,000 — the highest price ever recorded for that specific model and hours.

On March 26 in Tallula, Ill., Sullivan Auctioneers and BigIron Auctions hosted the Hincrich Farms retirement auction . Machinery Pete notes this event underscores the intense demand for well-maintained equipment, regardless of age:

1988 John Deere 4450 2WD with 5,028 hours sold for $53,400 – the third-highest auction price ever for this model with over 5,000 hours.
1994 John Deere 4960 with 8,321 hours sold for $70,000 – the second-highest auction price for this model with over 7,700 hours.
2012 John Deere 9410R with 2,694 hours sold for $230,500 – the third-highest auction price ever for this model with over 2,500 hours.

By March 28, the momentum shifted to Lebanon, Ohio, for Steiner Auctions’ 20th annual Warren County consignment auction . A fully restored 1964 John Deere 4020, featuring a complete nut-and-bolt restoration and an engine overhaul, sold for $42,500.

On the same day in Kevil, Ky., Harris Real Estate & Auction conducted a retirement auction for Ingrum Farms, where a duo of tractors saw strong results:

2016 John Deere 8320R with 2,439 hours sold for $187,000.
2017 Claas Lexion 740 combine with 977 separator hours sold for $116,600.

The annual spring consignment auction by Kyle Kelso Auctioneer in Adair, Ill., saw a record price on Saturday as well:

2022 John Deere 6R 140 with a loader and 777 hours sold for $163,500 - a record-price for this model.
2021 Case IH Steiger 540 4WD tractor with 1,199 hours sold for $285,000.

Finally, in New Holland, Ohio, Schrader Real Estate and Auction held a retirement sale for Butch and Carol McCoy. A 2008 Case IH 2577 combine with 1,815 separator hours sold for $82,000. This marks the third-highest auction price recorded for this model in the past 39 months.

March Auction Volume Surges as Used Equipment Values Hit Historic Highs

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:48:59 GMT

March continues to be a busy month for equipment auctions. According to Machinery Pete , there has been a 5% increase in the total number of machinery auctions so far this year. As producers shift away from buying new equipment, the search for high-quality used machinery with fewer hours has intensified.

Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week highlights this trend, showcasing record-breaking sales and historic prices over the past month.

“The number of auctions is up, and a big part of that is driven by the guys at the top of the chain who maybe would just keep farming because they love it to their core,” he observes.

A standout example of this demand is a 1986 John Deere 4850 with 4,100 hours that sold for a record $80,500 on March 21. Despite a volatile global geopolitical landscape, Casey Seymour adds that auction values have remained remarkably resilient.

“The one thing we’re seeing so far with auction values is that they’re staying ‘stable’ compared to everything else around them,” Seymour explains.

The “Gravity” of Mid-Age Iron: Why Farmers are Flocking to Five- to 10-Year-Old Machinery

Farmers are increasingly gravitating toward equipment in the five-to-10-year-old range. Dealers report that this specific inventory is moving rapidly, with some lots selling out entirely. Conversely, one-to-two-year-old models remain scarce in the marketplace.

Seymour warns that this trend could leave buyers “stuck in a box,” as they are forced to compete for a tightening supply of premium older machinery.

“As you’re seeing these things come up, it’s like more and more gravity is being put on these pieces of equipment that are five to 10 years old,” Seymour says.

Machinery Pete notes that this market dynamic is unique in his 36-year history of tracking data.

“This is the first time in my 36 years I’ve seen values move higher when there’s not a component of corn and beans going up behind it,” he says.

Industry Experts Brace for Shifting Demographics and a Potential Drop in Active Buyers

The industry is also keeping a close eye on buyer demographics over the next 24 months. While older farmers are currently the most active participants at auctions, their imminent retirements raise concerns for future market demand. Seymour suggests these producers might begin stretching out trade cycles and making their current equipment last longer before finally “hanging up their boots.”

“I don’t feel like there’s going to be as many buyers as there are today, as we see come to [auctions] today,” Seymour concludes.

Listen to the latest Moving Iron podcast for more of Machinery Pete and Seymour.

Solving the Labor Gap: How Autonomy is Changing the Game for Ledford Farms

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:28:25 GMT

Kyle Ledford, a third-generation farmer, is using autonomous technology to lighten the operational load on his family’s Pontiac, Ill., farm.

Ledford Farms has consistently prioritized staying at the forefront of agricultural innovation. Alongside his father, uncle and cousins, Kyle farms 3,000 acres of corn and soybeans.

To maintain their commitment to modernization, the family put the OutRun|Tillage system by PTx Trimble and AGCO to work this past fall. They deployed the technology with a chisel plow across 1,200 acres. As an autonomous retrofit system, OutRun outfits existing tractors with fully driverless capabilities. The system’s impact on the industry was recently recognized with the 2026 Davidson Prize at Commodity Classic .

Darcy Cook, senior director of autonomous systems for PTx, expects autonomous adoption to mirror autosteer based on a Purdue University report that shows autosteer adoption grew from 5% in 2004 to 90% by 2018. While autonomous technology is used on very few farms, PTx believes growth will accelerate in the next decade.

How Autonomous Systems Empower Farmers to Multi-Task

For the Ledfords, the shift toward autonomy was driven by a tightening labor market.

“It is difficult to find part-time help during the season,” Ledford says.

Since the OutRun system is fully autonomous and controllable via smartphone, the team can effectively multi-task.

“It was huge — not having to pay someone to be in the cab, and then being able to go do something else while the autonomous tractor is running,” Ledford explains.

While the tractor worked the fields, Ledford and his father were able to haul and spread fertilizer, completing two or three jobs simultaneously.

Illinois farmer Chad Baker recently ordered an OutRun retrofit tillage system with the hopes it will help him address the labor shortage.

“The goal is to improve productivity, while lessening the labor force that we need to operate day to day,” Baker explains.

Navigating the Realities of Autonomous Farming

While the technology worked with few issues, Ledford remains cautious in fields that require complex decision-making.

“If field conditions are good enough, it’s great. But you have to make sure you aren’t running into a wet spot — stuff like that makes me a little hesitant,” he notes.

However, the tractor’s integrated camera system provides a comprehensive view of the land before the machine is “cut loose” on a field.

The only technical hurdle the Ledfords encountered involved a pattern issue where the tractor attempted to get too close to a pre-set boundary. When the system stopped, it sent an alert to their phones, requiring a quick trip to the field to reboot the system. The issue occurred only three or four times across 1,200 acres.

Adapting to the Ease and Challenges of Driverless Technology

Ledford encourages other farmers to explore autonomous machinery to combat the time-sensitive nature of modern agriculture.

“When you can put an autonomous system on a task to get it done quicker, you aren’t just making money — you’re saving money,” he says.

Meanwhile, Baker says the system, whether operated by your tablet or phone, is “easy” to operate. However, he warns farmers will have to learn to adapt to and trust this new form of technology.

Baker says it’s all about trusting the machine to do the work without someone in the seat, while also learning how to properly set up the system for success.

Pete’s Pick: 40-Year-Old John Deere 4850 Shatters Record

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:27:26 GMT

Just as temperatures are shattering records across the country, used tractor prices are heating up. At a sale hosted by Polk Auction Company on March 21, in Rantoul, Ill., a John Deere tractor set a new auction record. This Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week comes from the Albert Warren living estate auction, where a 1986 John Deere 4850 with 4,100 hours sold for $80,500 - beating the previous record by almost $15,000.

BigIron Auctions also saw record-breaking results during the Tom Keig Estate Auction out of Auburn, Neb., on on March 18:

2003 John Deere 9320 with 1,837 hours sold for $212,500 - the last record at $193,000 held for 15 years.
2013 John Deere 8360R with 1,226 hours sold for $227,500 - the highest auction price in 13 months.
2019 John Deere S770 HILCO Sidehill combine with 478 engine hours sold for $396,250, the second-highest auction price ever.

On March 19, coming in at the second highest auction price on record, a 2017 Versatile 260 with 733 hours sold for $103,400. The online farm retirement auction was hosted by Schmid Auction .

Cultivating Trust: How the Agriculture Industry is Bridging the AI Adoption Gap

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:58:51 GMT

For California farmer Joe Del Bosque artificial intelligence was once a foreign concept. Today, he uses AI for autonomous weed control and water management.

According to McKinsey & Company analysis , AI can create economic value by improving labor and input costs as well as yield to the tune of $100 billion and by increasing sales and productivity by as much as $150 billion across the agriculture industry. However, most farmers continue to approach AI with a mixture of cautious optimism and skepticism.

“We have increasing costs all the time, we have challenges with pests and with the climate, so we’re looking for AI to help us,” says Del Bosque, who grows cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew and Galia melons on 2,000 acres.

It’s crucial for farmers and technology companies to come together to find solutions for some of agriculture’s most pressing concerns with AI, he adds.

Building Trust Through In-Field Results

In her work as chief product officer for Avalo, Inc , a crop development company creating climate-resilient crops, Rebecca White recognizes the investment price tag for technology is a significant barrier for producers. For example, autonomous and robotic systems can cost hundreds of thousands to a million dollars per unit, she says.

That financial scope can heighten caution around new technology – a point addressed at the recent World Agri-Tech event. As industry leaders emphasize, for trust to form, the technology must first prove its reliability in the field.

Bridging the Gap Between Data and Action

AI requires data – and lots of it. The council for Agricultural Science and Technology explains data is, “commonly fragmented, distributed, heterogeneous and incompatible,” which makes it challenging to use in a way that can be readily analyzed with AI.

The real value in data lies in how it’s returned to the producer, says Ryan Gilbert, a consultant with Deep Root Strategies LLC , a company that drives innovation in agriculture through adopting new forms of technology.

“The foundation [of success] is the data being generated by the companies selling the products and how they deliver that data to farmers to be able to use” Gilbert says. “The question is: What can AI do to actually increase the quality of the information and deliver it when the farmer wants it and in the format they want to achieve the outcomes they need to remain profitable?”

Unlocking AI’s Potential Through Teamwork

The next generation could play a role in building trust. At the Center for Digital Agriculture at the University of Illinois , Jessica Wedow says students are working on several projects that connect AI and agriculture. She says having one foot in each discipline could help form a stronger sense of trust.

If you’re able to involve students who have an understanding of the problems in agriculture and the need for the end users – the farmers and the growers – when building AI-enabled tools that’s a win-win, Wedow explains.

Fredy Diaz, deputy chief data officer for USDA, also believes collaboration, sharing research and insights, will strengthen the role of AI on the farm.

“It is all about teamwork; we’re really big on a partnership between government, industry and academia. It’s something we practice almost every day in my office,” Diaz says.

For example, USDA is working with students from various universities and Amazon Web Services to create technology that solves problems in real-world agriculture.

Bizarre Tractor Theft on Iowa Farm Leads to Manhunt, Wild Bust

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:47:28 GMT

At 4 a.m., with heavy snow piling and mercury crashing, Sawyer Wise woke to the unexpected rumble of a diesel engine on his isolated Hawkeye farm. Roused from bed, he shuffled toward wide kitchen windows overlooking the property and caught the blink of red tractor lights fading into darkness a quarter mile down his driveway.

Surrounded by a tightknit rural community of row crop growers and cattlemen, Wise’s reaction was gratitude. A kindhearted neighbor, he assumed, was already clearing driveways. Thankful for a helping hand, Wise, 30, eased back across his home, checked on two toddler daughters, and slipped under the covers beside his wife.

Five hours later, storm ebbing, Wise layered up and exited his backdoor, expecting a morning of chores. Instead, he confronted telltale signs of trouble: visible boot prints and a drive still covered in deep snow.

Trailing prints stamped in fresh powder, dread and anger danced up Wise’s spine, along with the realization of theft: a John Deere 4430 tractor gone from the machine shed, a zero-turn Ferris mower buried in drifts, and a missing bag of Milwaukee tools. Brazen larceny in blizzard conditions and subzero temps—on a farm located in the back of beyond.

A manhunt was about to commence, and Wise was standing dead center of a surreal crime spree and fundamental violation of farm and family.

On the Fringe
On the night of February 19, 2026, in the extreme corner of northeast Iowa, a skip from the Minnesota line, Winneshiek County nightshift deputies were overwhelmed by wild, winter weather. Past midnight, scattered across a rural region characterized by plentiful hills and pastures, vehicles were sliding and stacking alongside highways and backroads.

At 2 a.m., Sheriff Dan Marx’s cell rang with news of stranded motorists and snowplows slipping sideways, all with only one wrecker service covering 690 square miles of hazard.

Climbing into a Chevy Silverado pickup, Marx drove away from his home, out of a valley, and into what some locals later described as one of the worst storms in 40 years. Hekuva night for Marx: freezing temps and 30 concurrent vehicle incidents.

John Deere 4430 tractor tire tracks told their own tale.

(Photo public domain)

By 9 a.m., Friday morning, February 20, the chaos had ebbed. En route to assist deputies with a stalled vehicle in the northern reaches of Winneshiek County, Marx received a peculiar call from Detective Chris Wuebker, regarding a John Deere 4430 tractor and Ferris mower stolen in the northeast neck of the county.

Marx’s truck diverted east, along semi-passable roads flanked by bluffs and woods, bound for the remote 220-acre farm property of Sawyer Wise. With Det. Wuebker almost on his heels, Marx was first on scene.

“It was really remote, very pretty and hilly. There was a long, long lane leading to the farm. I drove down it to speak with the farmer and about halfway along or so, I saw a lawnmower in the snow. It was stuck off the side of the lane and looked like someone had tried to drive it away. Literally, it was buried in snow and if it hadn’t been mentioned in the initial report, I might not have known specifically what it was.”

Having dealt with every facet of crime across a 27-year career in law enforcement, Marx was about to connect the ill-fitting pieces of an odd puzzle. “There’s no limit to the nature of what we see in this line of work,” he says, “but this one was on the fringe.”

Pickups and Pistols
Perched roughly 1 mile from the closest neighbor and 30 miles from the nearest town of Decorah, Sawyer Wise’s farm property, in proximity to trout streams and abundant hills, is a piece of God’s country: 220 acres covered in-season by corn, soybeans, and alfalfa, along with a cow-calf operation.

Wise’s property via Google Earth. “Don’t tell me this is about a stolen tractor or stuck van,” he says. “I’ve got a young family and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them.”

(Photo by Google)

His ranch-style home, a half mile off a gravel road, hides beside a detached garage, barn, and several sheds, along with multiple silos and grain bins. “We’re got a pretty large grove of pine trees around us that are tall, about 60’,” Wise describes. “You really can’t see our house or farm buildings from the road. You don’t accidentally find this place.”

In the pitch black of early Feb. 20, Wise stirred to the grumble of a John Deere 4430.

“I looked out my kitchen and could see flashing lights about halfway down the driveway of what looked like a tractor,” Wise recalls. “But I couldn’t tell if it was mine or even what kind it was. We live in wonderful place and people are always doing helpful stuff. Thinking the best of where I live, I thought for sure one of my friends was plowing snow. Neighbors helping neighbors, with no thanks needed, is normal for this area.”

“Also, I had no tractors plugged in that night,” he adds. “My tractors are older, and in our northeast Iowa winters, generally, if you don’t have a tractor plugged in, it’s probably not going to start if it’s an older machine.”

Hours later, finding his farm robbed of machinery and tools, Wise hopped in his pickup and began following the tire tracks of his own tractor. On his side, a pistol. Bullet in the chamber.

Facts and Felonies
“Right off the bat, I found my Ferris zero-turn buried up to the seat,” Wise recalls. “I kept going, turned out of my driveway onto the road, and about a mile down, I saw a red minivan that had clearly been stuck, and tractor tires leading directly to it. No driver or passengers around.”

The minivan carried Clayton County (caddy corner southeast to Winneshiek County) license plates. Wise rubbed down the windows, peered through the glass, and saw junk, trash, and—Milwaukee tools.

“That tractor had sat all winter, not plugged in, and now I’ll have to find out what kind of damage he did by running it with no warmup,” says Wise.

(Photo courtesy of John Deere)

“Looked like an out-of-towner. Looked like drug-related activity. My mind immediately went to one guy who lives in our immediate area with a history of methamphetamine. In some way, I figured the van was connected to him. This wasn’t about getting a van unstuck. There was much more going on, despite how this was portrayed by the media.”

As initial details emerged, news coverage and social media shaded the narrative of a coldhearted farmer, overzealous sheriff, and an innocent man stuck in a snowbank who borrowed a tractor. No malice; just misunderstanding.

However, the stubborn facts point to felony.

Bagging a Thief
Standing beside his farm structures at roughly 10 a.m., Wise gave Marx and Wuebker a rundown of the suspect’s entrance and exit. “I pointed out where my property was stored because things were in separate buildings, and I’d tried not to touch a thing, because I wanted the sheriff to see the situation as I’d seen it.”

Sheriff Dan Marx, left, and Det. Chris Wuebker.

(Photos by Winneshiek County)

While showing Marx and Wuebker the boot prints and shed locations, Wise’s phone rang.

His wife, inside the house and staring out the bay windows, was calling. “She said, ‘Do you see it? There’s a tractor parked toward the end of our driveway. I can’t see anyone, but it’s parked out there.’”

At Wise’s physical distance, he neither had seen the tractor approach or heard the engine. As Wise relayed the surprise, Marx hustled to his truck and spun up the lane in hot pursuit.

“Sure enough, there was a John Deere sitting hundreds of yards away that hadn’t been there just minutes before,” Marx recalls. “The tractor was empty, but a window was busted out and there were footprints leading away. I couldn’t see anyone, but I kept driving.”

Turning onto the road, Marx saw a figure legging up the shoulder. “He wasn’t running, but he was moving, certainly trying to flee. I caught up behind him and he raised his hands and gave up.”

And the whodunnit suspect? Timothy Schmitt, braced with a rap sheet including firearms, drugs, and theft violations.

In detention, Schmitt recounted his tale to Wuebker, portraying himself as a stranded motorist who borrowed ag equipment to pull a vehicle out of ditch during extreme weather, and then returned the machinery.

Per the subsequent police report: Schmitt admitted that during the snowstorm he got his minivan stuck in the ditch about a mile away. Schmitt admitted that he took the zero-turn lawnmower to pull his stuck minivan out of the ditch, but got the lawnmower stuck in the driveway. He then went back to the machine shed and took the 4430 John Deere tractor to pull his minivan out of the ditch. Once Schmitt successfully had the van out of the ditch, the van remained stuck in the snow on the roadway. Schmitt then drove the tractor to a nearby friend’s house for a few hours. Upon attempting to bring the tractor back to the victim’s machine shed, Schmitt then put the tractor in a different ditch, breaking a window out of the cab. Schmitt proceeded to maneuver the tractor out of the ditch and made it about halfway down the driveway before realizing deputies were at the residence. Schmitt left the tractor and fled on foot.

Who ya gonna believe? Me or your lyin’ eyes?

Damning Tools
The tractor tire tracks told their own tale.

“First of all, in my opinion, drugs were either being taken or dealt, or both,” Wise says. “The tractor tracks led right from the minivan to my distant neighbor who has a documented meth history.”

“This wasn’t about getting a van unstuck,” says Wise. “There was much more going on, despite how this was portrayed by the media.”

(Photo courtesy of John Deere)

“At some point in the night, Schmitt got his minivan stuck. He walked to my place and stole the riding lawnmower to pull himself out? No. That’s not logical. That tells me either drugs or something else is at the root. We know he got the riding mower stuck, left it, and then stole the tractor to pull himself out.”

After extricating the minivan, Schmitt then drove the tractor to a third location approximately 4 miles to the home of Wise’s neighbor, where the vehicle remained for roughly five hours.

“The tracks led right to my neighbor with a prior for meth,” Wise says. “And I believe that’s the only reason the tractor was returned in the first place. At some point, I suspect my neighbor told Schmidt something like, ‘Get this tractor back where it belongs because I don’t want any trouble coming to my house.’”

The 4430 had visible external damage. The left side window was shattered and the front side shield dented. Wise was far more concerned with the internals. “That tractor had sat all winter, not plugged in, and now I’ll have to find out what kind of damage he did by running it with no warmup.”

While the tractor and tracks provided a roadmap of evidence, the tools were damning.

Either during the theft of the mower, or during the theft of the tractor, Schmitt entered a separate shed and stole an assortment of machine tools.

Per the police report: Upon further investigation Schmitt also admitted to stealing Milwaukee tools from an outbuilding. Deputies were able to recover the tools that were still in his minivan stuck in the snow on the roadway.

“It’s plain,” Wise says. “He helped himself to a bag of tools. He sure wasn’t bringing those back. The media’s story they ran with was an innocent guy who just made a couple of bad choices in a snowstorm. Nope. This guy is a thief and put my family in jeopardy.”

“Truth Got Flipped”
Timothy Schmitt was charged with a Class C felony for third degree burglary and an aggravated misdemeanor for operating a vehicle without owner’s consent.

However, Wise predicts the case will end with a revolving door.

“Here’s the problem, and it’s the same problem other communities in other states face. We’re lucky to have a great county sheriff and his deputies that are very diligent. They support rural people and protect us, and support us protecting ourselves. They catch the criminals and do their job. But when they turn those same criminals over to the court system, that’s where unreasonable leniency happens. There’s a slap on the wrist and the bad guys are right back on the street and right back to victimizing someone else. It ends up where the judicial system undermines the power of our local law enforcement.”

“And then to make things even worse, you have the media running headlines that make the sheriff’s office look they’re playing rough, make me look cruel, and make the thief look like an unfortunate bystander stuck in a storm,” Wise adds. “The truth got flipped.”

And the truth, Marx echoes, is found in Schmitt’s actions.

“First, in my opinion, this was never, never about a man down on his luck,” Marx notes. “It’s important to remember this guy stole several hundred dollars’ worth of Milwaukee tools that he had no intention of returning. Second, my opinion, also, is that the tractor wasn’t returned because doing so was the right thing. Third, Schmitt left that tractor damaged with a broken window and offered the farmer no explanation and no compensation, and he was more than willing to leave the farmer’s lawnmower completely buried in the snow and potentially damaged.”

“Bottom line,” Marx concludes, “if everything was innocent, he would have stuck around and made things right. My opinion is this was far, far from an innocent situation.”

Tolerance Ends
The theft of Wise’s property ended with tractor damage. However, Wise emphasizes, the next family may not be so fortunate. As in, things go sideways in a hurry when a criminal steals from a farmer under cover of darkness and passes within feet of the house and rooms where a wife and children sleep.

Schmitt was charged with a Class C felony for third degree burglary and an aggravated misdemeanor for operating a vehicle without owner’s consent.

(Photo by Winneshiek County)

“Don’t tell me this is about a stolen tractor or stuck van,” Wise says, in a measured, but firm tone. “I’ve got a young family and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them. We’re armed around here and we know how to handle a firearm. I’m not looking to shoot anyone dead, but if I’d have realized someone was prowling around where it’s my right and duty to keep my family safe, things would have ended very differently.”

“I can handle a lot of things and extend mercy. I hope the guy who did this gets help and straightens out his life,” Wise concludes. “But when my wife and kids are put any level of risk, my tolerance ends.”

For more from Chris Bennett (@ChrisBennettMS or cbennett@farmjournal.com or 662-592-1106), see:

When Conservation Backfires: Landowner Defeats Feds in Mindboggling Private Property Case

Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

How the Deep State Tried, and Failed, to Crush an American Farmer

Game of Horns: Iowa Poacher’s Antler Addiction Leads to Historic Bust

Ghost Cattle: $650M Ponzi Rocks Livestock Industry, Money Still Missing

March Madness: More Auctions, More Opportunities to Buy

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:01:00 GMT

March is here, which means it’s one of the busiest times of the year for machinery auctions. A quick visit to the auction calendar on MachineryPete.com reveals more than 110 auctions scheduled from March 13 through the end of the month.

According to Machinery Pete, auction volume is up roughly 4.5% from late 2025 and is still climbing, driven heavily by retirement sales.

More auctions means more opportunities for farmers to update their equipment lineup. As evidenced by Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week , farmers are willing to pay top dollar for the right iron.

“These solid auction prices … I think it’s structurally tied to the fact there just aren’t as many one-, two-, and three-year-old items in the used chain,” says Machinery Pete, co-host of the Moving Iron podcast.

Familiarity often dictates buyer behavior, adds Casey Seymour. He says it’s not uncommon for farmers to search for the same tractor model they currently own but with fewer hours.

This trend ties into a broader shift toward downsizing equipment inventory. Rather than keeping a couple of extra tractors or implements on hand, farmers are focusing on right-sizing their machinery lineup to operate more efficiently, Seymour adds.

Retrofit Equipment Is a Challenge to Value

Whether you call it a retrofit or an update, that seems to be the theme for 2026. The growing practice of retrofitting planters and other equipment with newer components creates a unique valuation challenge.

“A 2015 planter with 2025 row units isn’t a 2015 and it isn’t a 2025. It’s something in between, and the market hasn’t fully standardized how to price it,” Seymour says. “The opportunity and the risk are the same: If you understand exactly what was done, why, and how it performed, you can move that machine up the value scale. If you let it sit in a listing without that context, buyers assume the worst and keep scrolling.”

Autonomy Options Might Impact Resale Value

As farmers live in the here and now, progress is being made on autonomy in agriculture. Seymour says we could see more options to make machinery autonomous in the not-so-distant future.

With a stated goal of an autonomous farm by 2030, John Deere, for example, continues to make progress on autonomy kits. Those kits, as Seymour explains, will only work on certain model years. The same is true for Case IH and AGCO kits. That move could significantly influence future resale values for tractors.

Pete’s Picks of the Week: Red and Blue Oldies But Goodies

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:30:13 GMT

At an auction hosted by Joel’s Tractors and Auction in Strawberry Point, Iowa, a trio of tractors caught significant attention, including that of Machinery Pete. Here are the details on Pete’s “Pick of the Week,” which sold on March 5:

1975 International 1568 with 4,510 hours sold for $55,000 – the third-highest auction price ever for that model.
Ford TW-35 two-wheel drive with 5,000 hours sold for $33,500 - the second-highest auction price ever, and the highest since August of 2000.
Ford 8730 sold for $36,500, setting a new record.

That same day in Bloomville, Ohio, Walton Realty & Auction held a farm sale for Kenny Kalb. The event featured three tractors that landed in the top 10 all-time high category for their respective models:

1995 Case IH 7240 with 4,379 hours sold for $76,500
1991 Case IH 7110 2WD with 3,350 hours sold for $50,000
1970 Farmall 1026 sold for $25,500

Additionally, a 2009 Case IH 7088 combine with 3,017 engine hours sold for $82,500 — a record high for a 7088 with over 3,000 hours.

On March 7, in Delhi, Iowa, Hoge Auctioneering conducted the Sands Farm retirement sale. Several tractors brought noteworthy prices:

IH 1086 with 4,054 hours sold for $38,500 - the third-highest price for that model.
1973 IH 766 with a 414 motor sold for $18,900.
1953 Farmall Super M sold for $10,500.
1947 Farmall M sold for $4,200.
4366 IH four-wheel drive with 5,715 hours sold for $15,000.

That same Saturday in Murphysboro, Illinois,, Canning Auctions held its 42nd annual spring auction. A 2001 John Deere 9200 4WD with 3,260 hours sold for $102,000, making it the fifth-highest auction price ever and the highest price for that model in 12 years.

RB Global Expands Ag Footprint with BigIron Acquisition

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:50:51 GMT

Farmers who are buying or selling equipment could have more tools at their disposal with a new deal between two auction companies. To deepen its roots in U.S. agriculture, RB Global is set to acquire BigIron Auctions .

Formerly Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, RB Global provides insights, services and transaction solutions for commercial assets, vehicles and heavy equipment. BigIron is an online marketplace specializing in connecting farmers who are buying and selling land, livestock, equipment and other assets.

Machinery Pete has known and worked with individuals at both RB Global and BigIron through the years.

“Ron and Mark Stock, owner/founders of Bigiron.com , got their start in the auction biz in 1984 as two young bucks in eastern Nebraska,” Machinery Pete says. “They built Stock Auction Company over two and half decades up to their founding of www.Bigiron.com in 2009, a completely online auction equipment market. That’s a full 11 years prior to the pandemic of early 2020 when the whole auction world was forced to go online only. Looking back in time, it is hard to state accurately how very ahead of their time Ron and Mark Stock were in starting and committing to www.Bigiron.com in 2009. Revolutionary.”

Consolidation is happening across the agricultural industry. According to Machinery Pete, a high percentage of auction company owners are 60-plus years old, so it’s not surprising that auction firms are selling or merging. Also behind the emerging trend of mergers/sales in the auction space is the increasing need for auction firms to continually evolve and employ cutting-edge digital marketing tools and capabilities to better serve their buyers and sellers.

“It no longer is enough to simply market the auction event itself. Those days are gone,” he says. “Market share is at play and attainable for the auction firms who win on this new digital precision reach front.”

According to RB Global, BigIron processed more than $850 million in gross transaction value, which includes $520 million from vehicles and commercial assets. Agricultural land and real estate transactions totaled $365 million.

The acquisition is expected to be complete in the second half of 2026. Until then, both companies will continue to operate independently.

“BigIron brings a talented team with deep ag sector knowledge and an established sales footprint that will continue operating as a stand-alone brand while being complemented by the Ritchie Bros. industrial footprint,” says Jim Kessler, CEO of RB Global. “This will create opportunities to serve even more customers through a combination of onsite, offsite and digital channels and solutions.”

Mark Stock, the Co-Founder of BigIron, says this deal will allow them to serve even more customers.

“RB Global values our culture and shares our respect for the agricultural community. Through this combination, we gain a larger platform and additional resources, which is expected to help us deliver even greater choice and liquidity to all the sellers we serve,” Stock explains.

The acquisition does not change BigIron’s goals, says fellow Co-Founder Ron Stock.

“We look forward to continuing our mission to serve our sellers, buyers and employees for years to come, and to continue operating BigIron as a stand-alone brand with Mark and I involved in the business as usual,” he says.

Shallow Tillage: A Strategic Reset Tool For Conservation And Conventional Systems

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:32:12 GMT

Tillage decisions have long been framed by some farmers and equipment manufacturers as an either-or choice. But on many farms, tillage needs don’t fit neatly into either camp. Crops vary, soil conditions change, and some problems in the field simply don’t yield to an all-or-nothing approach.

That’s where shallow tillage is starting to gain traction—as a strategic middle ground between conservation and conventional tillage practices.

“Shallow tillage sits between no-till or zero till and conventional tillage,” says Josh Metsker, chief sales and marketing officer for Kelly Tillage.

A Practice That Helps Preserve Soil Structure

Shallow tillage focuses on working the top 1” or 2” of soil while leaving the deeper profile largely undisturbed. That differs from traditional, primary tillage tools that often work 4” or more into the soil, which can disrupt soil structure. By contrast, shallow tillage aims to create an active, well-mixed surface layer while preserving the structure that lies beneath.

Shallow tillage also differs from vertical tillage. Metsker says vertical tillage tools are typically designed to cut and size residue while minimizing lateral soil movement. He believes that approach, while useful, doesn’t always go far enough for what many growers need.

“A lot of your vertical tillage is good at cutting residue, but it doesn’t really level much, or terminate weeds, and it doesn’t incorporate fertilizers,” he explains. “You get a lot of stalk destruction, but not necessarily those other things.”

Metsker says the Kelly Tillage System is built around a chain of ground-engaging discs, with options tailored to different soils and cropping systems. “The secret to the sauce behind a Kelly is our ground engaging discs,” he notes. “We’ve got about seven different disc options, and we can tailor those to fit your farm.”

Shallow tillage represents an approach to working the soil that acknowledges both the long-term benefits of reduced disturbance and the short-term realities of weed pressure, residue and seedbed demands.

For farmers, the appeal lies in its flexibility. Shallow tillage does not require abandoning no-till principles or reverting wholesale to deep conventional tillage. Instead, it offers a calibrated option — a way to bring iron into the field when it is truly needed.

“By going shallow, we’re preserving subsoil moisture, subsoil organic matter and nutrients and soil structure and all those things that you have worked so hard to build into your soils,” Metsker says. “We’re helping preserve that by not going deep, but still getting the benefits of deeper tillage.”

Practical Solutions To Persistent Problems

For many no-till or zero-till farmers, the decision to consider shallow tillage often begins with a problem rather than a philosophy.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are one prime example. As more weed species develop resistance to herbicide active ingredients and chemistries become more limited or more expensive, corn and soybean farmers are increasingly looking for another tool to bring to the fight.

“If you’re a no-till or zero-till farmer, you sometimes end up with weed problems that only tillage can fix,” Metsker says. “You know, weeds can’t resist iron.”

In that context, shallow tillage becomes another mode of action for control. A well-timed pass can uproot or bury small, emerging weeds, interrupting their life cycle without resorting to deep inversion tillage.

Seedbed preparation is another area where shallow tillage can play a key role. Even well-managed no-till systems can struggle with residue hair-pinning, planter bounce, and inconsistent seed placement, particularly in heavy-residue situations. Metsker says this is where shallow tillage with a disc chain harrow, like those offered by the Kelly Tillage System, tends to shine.

“We’re able to create a perfect layer of soil for your planter to run on,” he says.

A smoother soil surface helps the planter maintain optimum depth, achieve uniform spacing, and help deliver more even crop emergence across the field. In a competitive environment where every bushel counts, that kind of consistency can make the difference between average and top-end performance, Metsker says.

In summary, Metsker offers five reasons farmers might want to consider shallow tillage and the Kelly Tillage System, specifically:

You want to stay mostly no-till but need a “reset” tool: Occasional shallow passes can help farmers manage residue, level ruts, or address compaction at the surface without the need for farmers to abandon the long-term soil health benefits they’ve built, Metsker reports.
You battle herbicide-resistant weeds: He says using shallow tillage means using iron strategically to terminate small weeds and reduce dependence on chemistry alone.
You want to develop a better seedbed and the opportunity for more consistent crop emergence. Shallow tillage can help you create a smooth, uniform surface that improves planter performance and stand establishment.
You want to avoid the full cost of conventional tillage. Metsker says the Kelly Tillage System can reduce fuel consumption and equipment wear while preserving soil moisture and structure.
You are looking for tillage flexibility for changing conditions. Having an “intermediate” tillage option allows you to adapt to wet falls, heavy residue crops, or weed flare-ups without committing to deep tillage.