Used hay tools – whether it’s a pull-behind hay steamer, large round baler or silage chopper – are drawing strong prices on the auction circuit. Right there with them are mid-class combines and row crop tractors.
“It’s a pretty good time of year to be selling a baler, if you have one,” Machinery Pete says on the latest episode of the Moving Iron podcast.
Pete also shared tractor auction transactions that have caught his attention:
On April 13 at a consignment sale in Edinburgh, Ill., a 1996 Case IH 7220 2WD with 713 original hours (pictured above) brought $73,815 — the second highest price recorded for that year and model at auction.
On April 12 in Uniontown, Ala., a customized “Steiger Green” Case IH STX 440 4WD machine with 1,786 hours (shown above) brought $70,000.
“It’s like that ‘county orange’ paint job you see on these lawn tractors when they come through – you don’t know if it’s a Kubota or a Deere until you get up close to it,” jokes Casey Seymour, who brings over 20 years of used equipment auction experience to the table.
Used Equipment Market Update
During the episode, Aaron Fintel, who is a used equipment specialist with 21st Century Wholesale, gave an update on used equipment trends from the dealer’s perspective.
With planting season upon us, Fintel is surprised by the number of customers who waited until the last minute to buy a planter.
“In my 25 years, I don’t recall any last-minute stuff like this,” he says. “If you know what the ‘hurry-up-I-need-a-combine-now’ season is like, that’s what it’s been this spring.”
Seymour adds that often a last-minute buying push will come from farmers who have been “just getting by” with older equipment and suddenly they realize they won’t have time to fix a machine and don’t want to risk being down for repairs during planting season.
Another trend Fintel and Seymour are watching is price strength in used, mid-class combines. Seymour says these higher-hour harvesters normally go for $180,000, but right now they are consistently fetching $225,000 to $250,000 — even sometimes going as high as $280,000.
“That combine in my area is an ’18 to ’20 S7 Series, and it’s because it’s technology upgradeable. That’s what’s pushing them from 180K back over 200K,” Fintel says. “You can upgrade that ’18 combine close to what a new, off-the-line combine is (technology wise).”
The crew agrees used row crop tractors at auction are seeing a slow climb in price, and right now Fintel says he’s seeing a “steady, light flow” as far as sales go.
“Auction values are (like) an elevator: it free falls down and it really slowly climbs back up. You can beat it by taking the stairs,” Fintel adds.
Farm Economy Update
Ag Financial analyst Rich Posson also gave an update on how the farm economy is faring. He says consumer sentiment has almost hit rock-bottom, and consumers appear to think inflation is headed even higher in the near term.
“The consumer is clearly worried about inflation and assuming they’re going to have to pay,” he says, warning we could be heading toward a recession as tariffs accelerate the issue.
Posson’s predictive model on grain price futures is showing strength, but there’s also a harbinger of rough seas ahead in mid-May.
“I’d be cautious as we look toward May, but if we didn’t have all the political and tariff stuff, it looks like it could be higher into the summer,” he says, noting the market could turn bullish if the weather wipes out some acres.
Want more Machinery Pete and feel like taking a deeper dive into used hay tools on the auction market? Check out his recent AgDay segment below.
