I’m trying hard not to be the grumpy, old guy, but I’m growing weary of our constant shouting at each other and everyone thinking their way is the only way. Opinions are free, but today everyone has a 24/7 megaphone at their disposal. Social media’s twisted algorithms amplify the harsh, argumentative posts, and it’s become so tiring. One of the cornerstone truths we were taught as kids in rural America: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
The problem is people think things should be simple, with the right answer in black and white, but the truth often lies in shades of gray. Take the current used self-propelled sprayer market for example. There isn’t one short sound byte statement that can synopsize this market.
There are two trends that have been happening at the same time you should be aware of:
- Increasing price pressure on very late model, used sprayers with softening auction prices
- Strong buyer demand for good condition sprayers over 10 years old
Softening Late Model Values
Proof of the first trend came last December at a farm auction in Bible Grove, Ill., as we filmed our “Machinery Pete” TV show. A 2022 Hagie STS12 sprayer with 182 hours sold for $428,000. It’s true — that is the second highest auction price ever on an STS12, but it’s also true that nine months prior, on a March 2024 online auction in Hamilton, Ill., another 2022 model STS12 sold with triple the hours (549) for $480,500.
Strong Buyer Demand For Good Condition Units Over 10 Years Old
Seven weeks later, I was in Seven Springs, N.C., filming another farm auction for the TV show. The hottest item there was a 2013 John Deere 4730 sprayer with 3,334 hours. It was very sharp and sold for $104,000. That’s the third highest auction price ever on a 4730 that had more than 3,000 hours (the highest price was just $1,000 more).
Another example was the 2014 Miller Nitro 5240 with 825 hours that sold for $270,000 at a Dec. 30, 2024 farm auction in Mendon, Mich., — the highest ever auction price on a Miller Nitro.
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