Auction

JCB Tractor Earns Pete’s Pick of the Week Honors, Fuel Price Starts to Impact Machinery Sales

Mon, 11 May 2026 23:59:48 GMT

This week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week puts a tractor in the spotlight: a 2019 JCB Fastrac 8330, with 4,174 hours, sold for $112,000. Steffes Group, Inc . hosted a reduction sale for KJ Farms in Hoisington, Kan. This is the highest auction price in 20 months for a Fastrac with over 4,000 hours.

Machinery Pete credits the Steffes Group’s marketing plan for getting top dollar for the tractor. The auction listing had 217 photos.

“Give me every angle, good or bad; it just tells potential buyers we are being as transparent as we can,” Machinery Pete says.

Machinery Pete Notices Shifting Prices and Inventory Levels

Machinery Pete is starting to see slight changes in used equipment prices – the shock of diesel prices is starting to sink in. For example, a sale in Ohio on May 9 had a completely restored 1972 John Deere 4000 diesel that sold for only $14,000. A 1984 GMC K3500, also completely restored, sold for $29,000.

While the number of equipment auctions in 2026 is up 19.5% through May 7 compared with last year, the number of one- to three-year-old items sold at auction is down by 19.9% overall, including:

Tillage is down 28.6%.
Planting/seed is down 25%.
100- to 174-hp tractor is down 23%.
Harvesting equipment is down 13.7%.

While it’s too early to know the extent of softening prices and inventory levels, he continues to hear reports of high late-model tractor values. On a recent AgriTalk segment, Machinery Pete and host Chip Flory attributed the increase to:

Farmers have been focused on acquiring the best condition of used machinery.
The cost of new machinery remains high.
The supply of later-model used machinery has been tightening.

Upcoming Machinery Auctions

Looking ahead at the week, Machinery Pete is watching a consignment sale by Adam Marshall Land and Trust Auction in Kearney, Neb., featuring:

2005 John Deere 8120 2WD with 3,301 hours
2008 John Deere 9570 STS with 1,637 hours
2000 John Deere 8110 Tractor 2WD with 6,230 hours
2020 Fast 9553PTF Sprayer with a 500-gallon tank

On Thursday, Ritchie Bros . will be having a sale that features 15 tractors, 14 combines and nine sprayers, including:

2024 S780 John Deere with 480 engine hours
2024 S780 John Deere with 508 engine hours
2023 John Deere X9 1000 with 350 engine hours
2021 Claas Trion 740 with 377 engine hours

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.

The 1999 Bobcat 773 skid steer is a prime example of how low hours on a machine can help maintain its original market value. However, farmers and “bargain hunters” will still look at models with more hours. A Case IH Maxxum 140 with nearly 20,000 hours sold for what Machinery Pete describes as a “respectable price.”

“They have no fear of the hours as long as the purchase made sense,” says Casey Seymour, co-host of the Moving Iron podcast .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

Machinery Pete: Used Equipment Prices Defy Gravity as New Sales Slide

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:03:39 GMT

The farm machinery market is full of surprises heading into 2026, and according to Machinery Pete, some of the shifts are unprecedented. While auction volume is climbing and more farmers are making hard decisions, the story looks very different depending on whether producers are shopping for new equipment or turning to the used market.

Across the mid-South and beyond, financial pressure, longer trade cycles and stubbornly high new equipment prices are reshaping how farmers buy and sell iron.

“Buckle Up and Hold On”

Walk any equipment lot in the mid-South today, and the mood is unmistakable.

“Honestly, I think right now, the general mood of the farmers that I deal with is buckle up and hold on,” says Kirk Witcher, owner of Witcher Auctions, LLC, in Wynne, Ark.

Witcher Auctions, a family auction business, turned 50 in 2022. That same year Witcher and his wife took over the company from his father. He’s watched the cycles of agriculture play out, but it’s the current uncertainty that’s been lingering with little clarity about when conditions might improve.

“We had had some forecasts come out from different media outlets that we could lose as many as 30% to 40% of our farmers here in the mid-South,” Witcher says. “I don’t think it’s going to end up being nearly that bad, but it’s definitely making everybody take a hard look at their finances, whether they want to go ahead and retire now, even if that wasn’t the plan, or maybe they just want to do something else.”

That reckoning, he says, is translating directly into more auction activity.

“There’s definitely an uptick in the number of auctions,” Witcher says.

Three Distinct Waves of Sellers

Witcher says nearly any auction company you talk to is seeing more farm auctions on the calendar for 2026. But not all sellers are arriving for the same reasons. Instead, he says the market is being shaped by three very different waves of farmers.

The first group consists of producers who decided months ago that retirement was coming. The second wave made that decision during harvest. But it’s the third group, Witcher says, that has arrived more abruptly and under more financial strain.

“You’ve got a wave of people that probably right about now are meeting with their bankers hoping that they can farm again because they don’t feel like they can do anything else,” Witcher says.

As winter progresses, he says those conversations often turn more sobering.

“By probably mid-February, you’ll have a lot of guys that’ll come to the realization that either they can’t, or they know it’s madness to try to go ahead and farm again and potentially dig a hole even deeper,” he says.

He adds that selling behavior has changed noticeably over the past couple of years. Instead of just producers looking to unload any surplus equipment they might not be using, he’s witnessing a bigger shift to selling everything.

More Auctions, But Fewer Late-Model Machines

It’s not a trend transpiring just in the mid-South. Greg Peterson, who’s more commonly known as Machinery Pete, is also seeing more auctions across the country. But when he digs into the data, he says the story becomes more complicated.

“The number of auctions is up,” Peterson says. “We saw a 4.5% jump in the raw number of machinery auctions in 2025.”

However, he says the amount of newer equipment sold at auction dropped sharply.

“The amount of new to 3-year-old equipment items sold at auction last year dropped over 50%,” Peterson says. “Tractors were down 51%. Combines were down 52%.”

Peterson says that divergence is partly tied to what happened a year earlier, when dealers flooded auctions with late-model used equipment.

“In 2025, that bullseye shifted to the American farmer and the Canadian farmer who was under financial pressure,” he says. “We’re seeing more people retire at the top end. We’re seeing more restructures. We’re seeing more forced sales.”

He describes the market as increasingly K-shaped. If a producer is on the top end of that “K,” then they are choosing to sell and stop the equity drain, but those at the bottom of the “K” are experiencing lending pressure that’s forcing them to sell.

A Used Equipment Signal Like Never Before

Despite the pressure, Peterson says one of the biggest surprises came late in the year, and it’s something he hasn’t seen in more than three decades of tracking machinery values.

“The end of ’25 and early ’26, I’m seeing something that I’ve never seen before in my almost 36 and a half years now tracking this,” Peterson says. “And basically that’s a little uptick in the value of good-condition used equipment.”

Historically, he says, that signal always meant one thing: a correlation to positivity in new equipment sale, as well.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this disconnect,” he adds.

While new equipment sales on the large-grain side continue to fall sharply, Peterson says used values began stabilizing earlier in the year and then moved higher.

“Toward the end of February of ’25, we started to see some stabilizing, and that held through the year,” he says. “Then we get to November, December, and values went up.”

Longer Trade Cycles Show Up in Hours

Peterson says another unusual trend has been quietly building: Machines are showing significantly higher hours than what the industry once considered normal.

“If you go and look at what used to be the number, like 500 hours [of use,] that’s starting to creep up to 750,” he says. “What used to be 250 hours is now closer to 1,500 to 1,700 hours.”

He says that reflects longer trade cycles and hesitation across operations.

New Equipment Sales Continue to Slide

Those longer trade cycles are mirrored in new equipment sales data. According to the latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers December Flash Report :

Sales of new four-wheel-drive tractors fell nearly 42% over the past 12 months
While sales of self-propelled combines dropped nearly 36%

Casey Seymour, host of the “Moving Iron” podcast, says the price environment is catching up with buyers.

“This is kind of like the chickens coming home to roost on the equipment side of the business,” Seymour says. “The percentages haven’t changed, but the dollars are significantly higher.”

As a result, he says more farmers are choosing to keep equipment longer.

“With all makes all models of 1-year-old combines on the marketplace right now, I’m talking 2025 model year combines ... under 900 are on the market right now. That’s all makes and all models: John Deere, Gleaner, etc.,” Seymour says. “So that’s going to continue to hinder what you see happen as far as feeding the supply of this equipment on the space there.”

He expects that behavior to extend into next year.

“You’re going to see a similar pattern,” Seymour says. “To me, that’s setting up the building blocks for what the new normal looks like.”

Shortage of Used Equipment

Peterson says some auctioneers are now warning about a potential shortage of 7-to-10-year-old used equipment, a segment farmers increasingly want.

“I first threw a buoy in water, I think it was December of ’24, January ’25, in a Farm Journal column I wrote,” he says. “And I just said, hey, things are different now. Basically, dealers worked through that excess inventory. It took them one year this time, which was 2024. And during the last huge, the biggest downturn I ever saw was back to 2013 to 2015. That took three years for dealers to work through that excess inventory. “

With new equipment prices staying elevated, but not as much equipment in the used equipment space compared to 2024, Peterson says farmers have pivoted.

“They’re looking for the best-condition used they can find,” he says. “That’s why we’re seeing auction prices tick up.”

Will New Prices Ever Come Down?

Auction prices might be ticking up, but the price of new equipment hasn’t come down. Seymour says a broad price cut from equipment manufacturers would relieve some pressure today, but warns that could also come with consequences.

“I could see a manufacturer coming up like a trend level of sorts, similar to when you go buy a pickup truck and you have different trim packages: you have XL, XLT, so on and so forth, all the way through platinum,” Seymour says. “I can see something like that coming into play where there’s different tiers of equipment.”

He says a broad-based price cut, like a 15% to 20% reduction, isn’t likely.

“That’s a scenario that would be short-term gain for a long-term pain, just because of the fact that everything on the used market now has to readjust what’s happened in the marketplace,” he adds.

Trump Says Environmental Regulations “Makes the Equipment Much More Expensive”

During a roundtable discussion with farmers in December, President Donald Trump says the administration will soon target environmental regulations on equipment .

“The other thing I’d like to add … we’re going to also give the tractor companies … we’re going to take off a lot of the environmental restrictions that they have on machinery,” Trump said during the roundtable. “It’s ridiculous.”

He argued added systems meant to meet environmental rules have driven up price tags and made equipment harder to operate and repair.

“You buy it, it’s got so much equipment on it for the environmental, it doesn’t do anything except it makes the equipment much more expensive and much more complicated to work,” he said, adding, “it’s not as good as the old days.”

Trump said the administration’s goal is to remove what he called “nonsense” and require manufacturers to pass savings along to farmers, saying “farming equipment has gotten too expensive.”

Machinery Pete says if that does happen, it would send late-model, used equipment prices spiraling.

“That would be the most interesting petri dish of my Machinery Pete career right there, because you’re right, I’ve just been relaying the truth of what this good condition pre-def stuff is selling for. So even the last number of years when it’s been difficult on the grain side, we saw rising prices on pre-DEF,” Peterson says. “That’s what farmers want. That’s the bottom line.”

A Market Finding Its New Shape

Peterson says the industry might already be settling into a pattern it hasn’t seen before.

“We’re kind of in a set pattern here now, a new pattern we’ve never seen before,” he says. “Tighter supply of used, farmers more focused on used, and the big question is whether there’s any action at the manufacturer level.”

Seymour says if corn prices eventually push higher, demand for new equipment could rise, but supply could struggle to keep pace.

“There’s not enough available equipment on the marketplace right now to service a big run,” he says. “There wasn’t a lot of profit on the farm in 2025.”

For now, the divide remains clear: new equipment sales continue to slide, used machinery is finding support, and farmers are navigating a market unlike anything they’ve seen before.

The High-Stakes Math of Machinery Management

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:08:18 GMT

While the equipment industry has largely adjusted to the end of pandemic-era pricing, a new set of financial realities seems to be emerging. According to recent insights from the Moving Iron podcast and the latest year-end data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the “new normal” isn’t just about lower values — it’s about a fundamental shift in how depreciation, supply cycles and machine types dictate the bottom line.

These key trends continue to alter the farm machinery industry as discussed by Casey Seymour and Machinery Pete in a recent Moving Iron podcast:

The “Same Math” is Getting More Expensive

One of the most significant changes in the current market is the sheer scale of capital involved in trading equipment. Historically, depreciation percentages have remained relatively consistent; however, because the base price of new machinery has increased, the dollar amount “lost” during a trade has doubled.

What used to be a $75,000 to $100,000 hit is now frequently a $150,000 to $250,000 hit. While the math remains the same, the actual cash impact on an operation is much more severe, forcing a more disciplined approach to management.

Data Confirms a Looming Late-Model Gap

A specific scarcity is forming in the 2-to-3-year-old equipment category, and the latest sales figures explain why. AEM’s December 2025 report confirms new equipment sales have taken a significant hit.

In December 2025, total U.S. tractor sales were down 15% versus the previous year, with only 14,581 units sold. The year-end totals paint an even starker picture for high-horsepower equipment:

100+ horsepower 2WD tractors: Down 23% for the year.
4WD tractors: Down a 42% for the year.
Combines: Annual sales totaled 3,579 units — 36% below 2024 levels.

Because fewer new machines were sold in 2024 and 2025, there are fewer late-model trades entering the secondary market. This supply vacuum is already starting to firm up values for clean, low-hour machines, shifting the industry’s primary “battleground” to 3-to-5-year-old iron, Seymour says.

Finding Stability in “Practical” Iron

As the market stabilizes, the wide price gaps between different sales channels — auctions, dealer lots and private sales — are disappearing. For equipment in the 6-to-10-year-old range, prices are converging. This means buyers can expect more consistency and fewer wild swings in pricing, as these machines find a stable floor across the board.

Segmenting Tractors Versus Combines

A critical takeaway for modern fleet management is the need to treat different machine types with distinct strategies. Seymour along with fellow machinery enthusiast Aaron Fintel suggests lumping all iron into one depreciation mindset is a mistake:

Combines and Choppers. Despite the 36% drop in new combine sales, these remain high-wear machines that demand disciplined replacement cycles. Falling behind on these rotations can lead to exponential increases in repair costs and downtime.
Tractors. These machines can generally be run longer with fewer efficiency penalties. Farmers are increasingly stretching tractor life to manage interest costs while staying more aggressive on harvester upgrades.

Auctions as the Market Anchor

The relationship between the auction block and the retail lot has returned to historical norms. Rather than retail prices setting the pace, auction values are now anchoring retail expectations. Currently, auctions are clearing within 75% to 80% of retail asking prices. This tight link suggests that retail premiums are no longer driven by speculation, but are strictly tied to the value of dealer services, warranties and risk mitigation.

Catch all things machinery on Machinery Pete’s Facebook and Farm Journal TV .

New Year, New Rules of Used Iron: Scarcity and the Rise of the Practical Machine

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:25:48 GMT

The last two months of the year are historically go-time for auctions. Machinery Pete says that trend rang true to close out 2025.

“It was semi-shocking what we saw in the auction market in November and December 2025. That stabilized market lifted and used values went up,” he says. “There’s a little more activity in January and early February, but early signs are pointing toward prices holding with what we saw at the end of 2025.”

When it comes to the rules of engagement, the current environment is defined by a lack of late-model inventory and a disciplined approach to buying.

As 2026 unfolds, Machinery Pete is particularly watching:

An increase in sales volume typically means prices fall … but that’s not the case right now.
When used auction values are lifting, it usually signals strength for new equipment sales. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen used values going up but new sales are crickets,” says Machinery Pete, referencing his 35-plus years in the machinery industry.

Here are the key trends shaping the used equipment landscape, as discussed by Machinery Pete and Casey Seymour in a recent Moving Iron podcast, which you can find on Farm Journal TV :

1. Scarcity Gap and Replacement Risk.
Used values are currently being propped up by a lack of supply at the top end. Machines with just a couple years of age remain elusive, and there isn’t a significant wave of late-model trades on the horizon to fill the void.

This scarcity is forcing buyers further down the age curve. As a result, clean, documented machines are the first to move and the last to see a price drop.

2. “Diamond-Shaped” Inventory Funnel.
The market is currently experiencing a “diamond-shaped funnel” in terms of inventory distribution. Used equipment for sale is heavily concentrated in the 3-to-5-year-old range, but there is very little late-model iron behind it and a dwindling supply of high-quality older machines to fall back on.

This concentration is forcing buyers into strict age and price buckets. The result? Widening price gaps where premiums are placed on specific hours and conditions rather than just the model year.

3. Auctions: The Great Truth-Teller.
While auction volumes are increasing — a move that typically softens prices — the market for “good iron” remains remarkably firm. Auctions continue to efficiently move clean, practical equipment, representing what buyers are willing to pay.

However, the auction block is also exposing the “laggards” faster than ever. If a machine’s condition is questionable or the specs don’t align with current demand, the market response is immediate and the discounts are steep.

4. Quality Over Commodity.
In the 6-to-10-year-old category, the days of treating machines like interchangeable commodities are over. Buyers are scrutinizing maintenance history, tire wear and overall presentation.

Two machines with identical hours can now see massive valuation spreads based on how they were cared for. “Just right” machines — those with documented service and high-quality wear items — continue to bring a premium, while anything with a “red flag” is punished by the market.

5. Redefining “High Hours.”
Economic pressures are forcing farmers to run equipment longer, effectively stretching trade cycles and flattening depreciation curves. This shift has reset the benchmark for what is considered “high hours.”

As farmers prioritize making the economics work over chasing the newest technology, demand has shifted toward durable, mid-aged machines. This trend places a higher premium on serviceability and uptime. Preventive maintenance and warranties are no longer seen as optional add-ons; they are now essential components of the machine’s total value.

Catch all things machinery on Machinery Pete’s Facebook and Farm Journal TV .

Machinery Pete: I've Never Seen This Trend Before

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:17:13 GMT

Over my 36 years of tracking auction sale prices, every time I’ve seen auction pricing jump significantly higher, it has always equated to strengthening conditions for new farm equipment sales — not this time.

After falling like a rock throughout 2024, auction prices on good farm equipment began to steady back in late February 2025. That mode held until we hit November and December. Then whoosh! Auction sale pricing jumped noticeably higher, yet the appetite for new farm equipment sales continue to lag.

Which Leaves Us To Speculate Why

It could be just how high the price of new equipment has become. Those 15% to 25% price jumps back in 2021, 2022 and 2023 never receded. Meanwhile, the grain farmers have been tightening their belts and stretching the life of their current used equipment fleet. Since they weren’t buying new, their focus shifted to buying the exact used equipment they wanted. Good condition pre-DEF, pre-Tier IV items in particular roared higher.

Here are a few eye-opening examples:

A 2007 Peterbilt 379 with only 20,817 actual “one owner” miles and always shedded sold for $280,000 on Dec. 16, 2025 in Ashley, N.D. It’s the record price on a Peterbilt 379 by a mile.
A 2011 Case IH 6088 combine with 538 sep. hours sold for $178,000 on Dec.17, 2025 in Thompson, Iowa. That’s the highest auction price on a 6088 combine in nearly 11 years.
A 2009 John Deere 8295R with 1,091 hours sold for $230,000 in the same Dec. 17, 2025 auction, marking the highest auction price on a 8295R in 33 months.
A 2000 John Deere 8210 with 3,692 hours sold for $133,250 on a Dec. 3, 2025 auction in Falls City, Neb. It’s the record-high auction price on a 8210.

But it also needs to be said that it wasn’t only the older pre-DEF, pre-Tier IV stuff moving toward higher hard cash auction pricing. Later-model items sold at auction rose as well.

For example, a 2025 Case IH AF11 combine with 217 sep. hours and a pickup header, sold for $1,157,000 CAD on Cut Knife, SK auction on Dec. 16, 2025. This equates to $841,139 USD. That’s the highest auction price ever on a combine.

In that same auction, a 2024 Brent 2598 grain cart on tracks sold for $184,658 USD. It’s the record-high auction price on a grain cart, blowing past the previous record high of $170,000.

The K-shaped economy is a reality in ag country as we sail into 2026. There are still strong balance sheets out there for older farmers who have money to spend on what they want/need — as all the aforementioned recent auction sale price examples testify.

I’ll leave you with one last Machinery Pete thought to chew on hard. This extended dearth of new equipment sales the past 18 to 24 months is beginning to create a shortage of good, used equipment.

You thought used prices were high now. Just wait.

Pete's Pick of the Week: John Deere 7410

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:18:07 GMT

Pete’s Pick of the Week comes from the late Jimmie Lamb’s farm estate auction this past Saturday in Berea, Ky. The hammer price for the John Deere 7410 two-wheel-drive with 1,091 hours and no loader was $156,000 (pictured above). After tacking on a 10% buyer’s fee, the total was $171,600.

The runner-up for Pete’s Pick of the Week sold at a consignment sale over the weekend in Strawberry Point, Iowa. The John Deere 6420 with 3,197 hours and no loader hit $75,500, the second highest auction price ever on that model. You can watch a video of it on Machine Repeat .

A John Deere 6420 with 3,197 hours with no loader that sold for $75,500.

(Machinery Pete)

The consignment sale also featured a 1999 John Deere 893 eight-row corn head. You might be wondering what’s so special about that? This corn head has been on display for 26 years in the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in downtown Chicago and has never been used. It sold for $40,000.

Also on the block in Strawberry Point, Iowa:

A 1982 John Deere 4040 with 21,000 hours sold for $40,500.
A pair of New Holland 358 grinder mixers, like new, brought $25,000 and $23,500.

This past weekend, Mark Younger and Younger Auction hosted Weehler Farms retirement auction in Benton, Iowa. A Case IH Maxxum 150 with 1,050 hours and a loader sold for $135,000, which is an all-time record high.

Case IH Maxim 150

(Machinery Pete)

Other items up for auction:

1971 John Deere 4620 sold for $31,000.
2016 John Deere 9520RX sold for $230,000.
One-owner 2016 John Deere S670 combine with 2,622 engine hours sold for $115,000.
2017 Peterbilt 389 with 213,000 miles went for $112,500.

On Nov. 18, in Canton, Minn., Hamilton-Maring Auction Group had a farm retirement auction for Dave and Alice Turbeast. They sold a John Deere 115 stalk chopper for $19,000. That’s a record by $3,000.

John Deere 115 stock chopper

(Machinery Pete)

At the same sale, a pre-DEF 2009 John Deere 7930 with 2,628 hours and no loader sold for $141,000.

Pre-Def 2009 John Deere 7930

(Machinery Pete)

A 2001 John Deere 7810 MFWD with 4,419 hours sold for $97,000. That’s the seventh highest ever with more than 4,000 hours.

This week, there are two sales in particular to watch:

Ritchie Brothers is selling 63 tractors, many of which are late models.
Ben Higgins Realty and Auction has a tremendous farm auction on Friday and Saturday, in New Bloomington, Ohio, with a wide selection of late-model, well-maintained farm equipment.

Get Ready for a Busy Auction Week with Machinery Pete

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 21:27:22 GMT

It’s a big, big week coming up in the auction world, says Machinery Pete.

Jon and Marcia Kinzenbaw have decided to start downsizing their antique tractor collection and will offer more than 150 original and restored tractors through a no-reserve auction on Nov. 4 . The majority of the tractors have been stored inside, have like-new tires and have been regularly started. The Kinzenbaws will also offer a few construction and agriculture items from the Kinze & Blue Equipment factory.

The antique auction lineup includes:

Four John Deere 4020s. One of them is a hydraulic front-wheel drive with some “big shoes on it, some big ole tires, that’s really driving the online bid. I think it was up over $35,000 on Saturday when I looked,” Machinery Pete says.

The Kinzenbaws are selling four John Deere 4020s, one of which is a hydraulic front-wheel drive with some “big shoes on it, some big ole tires, that’s really driving the online bid,” Machinery Pete says.

(Sullivan Auctioneers)

Low-hour 1978 John Deere 4640 2WD

The Kinzenbaws are selling a low-hour 1978 John Deere 4640 2WD.

(Sullivan Auctioneers)

Pair of 1973 John Deere 4430s
Maybe the nicest Massey Ferguson 1130 Machinery Pete has ever seen. It’s a 1969 model with 4,220 hours.

This might the nicest Massey Ferguson 1130 Machinery Pete has ever seen. The 1969 model with 4,220 hours is selling in Jon and Marcia Kinzenbaw’s Nov. 4 auction.

(Sullivan Auctioneers)

1966 International 1206. “It makes you want to cry, smile or one of the two,” Machinery Pete says.
1975 International 1566

When it comes to late-model, equipment, the Kinzenbaws are selling:

Three Kinze 1421 grain carts
2022 model Kinze 1321 cart
2022 Kinze 3665 16/31 planter
2019 Kinze 3600 16/30 planter
Couple Kinze Mach Till, both 2022 models

This week, we’ll start to test the market on late model equipment, says Machinery Pete. On Wednesday, Ritchie Brothers will host an online auction for Sunset Ventures out of Pennant Station, Saskatchewan. The highlights include:

Two 2024 Case IH Steiger 645 Quadtrac
Three 2023 John Deere X9 1100 combines
2024 Case IH Patriot 4450 sprayer with a 135’ boom
Pair of a Bourgault 3320 76’ air drills
Three 2024 John Deere HD45F 45’ hinged flex draper heads
2012 John Deere 6430 Premium 4WD with 1,881 hours
2019 Western Star 4900 sleeper truck

On Thursday, Wheeler Auction and Real Estate in Paris, Mo., have a dealer inventory reduction auction featuring equipment from more than nine dealerships.

“I think I counted eight combines, all late model, and 20-plus tractors,” Machinery Pete says. “There’s sprayers, planters and heads too.”

As year-end draws near, dealers have been watching and waiting to try and sell. On Nov. 11, Merit Auctions, Fort Madison, Iowa, is hosting a dealer auction with 27 late-model tractors. The auction list includes: 2024 John Deere 8R 410s; 2023 and 2022 9RX 640; 2021 Versatile 405; a pair of 2023 John Deere 8RX 370s; and a pair of John Deere 8RT 370s.

How have prices held up the past couple of weeks? Last Wednesday, Purple Wave had an online auction and a 2020 model John Deere 8R 250 with just under 900 hours brought $250,800.

“The data says that is the highest auction price this year on an 8R 250,” Machinery Pete says. “The average over several years is just about $219,000, and last year, the average was $226,000.”

On Halloween, Elite Auction out of Oklahoma had a sale with some really good equipment. A 2022 Case IH Edge Patriot 4440 sprayer sold for $717, 255. A John Deere 8R370 with almost 4,350 hours brought $180,000. A pair of 2017 John Deere CS690s went for $290,000 (2,022 engine hours) and one with more hours went for $210,000.

Barn Find Bonanza: Low-Hour John Deere 7810 Smashes Record

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:39:14 GMT

If you kick around the used farm equipment world long enough, every now and again you’ll come across the Holy Grail of auction finds: low-hour, premium condition (i.e. like new) pre-DEF machines.

Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson likes to call them “barn finds.”

This week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week is a pristine barn find that brought home a big return for its 89-year-old owner:

Last Wednesday at an online farm equipment auction in Viroqua, Wisc., a 2002 John Deere 7810 2WD row crop tractor with only 915 engine hours (shown top of page) sold for $158,392, which absolutely destroyed the previous record high for a 2WD 7810 by over $45,000.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Another notable transaction from last week was a 1990 Case IH 7120 FWD tractor with over 4,000 engine hours (shown above) that sold for $61,000 at BigIron.com’s Rodney Patterson Farm Retirement online auction in Stratford, Iowa. It represents the second-highest all-time auction result for a 7120 with over 4,000 hours.

And this dealer-owned skid steer set a record for a used Case IH 435:

“You don’t see them very often, but they’re out there, more often than people think,” Pete says of the barn find John Deere 7810 and Case skid steer. “The guy probably retired decades ago and kept it to move some snow or something and it hardly had any hours on it. These pre-DEF, low-hour, barn finds always, always attract big money.”

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And another notable auction result from the Rodney Patterson sale was a 1988 Case IH 1660 combine with 3,801 hours (shown above) that sold for $15,250.

Auction Market Insights

Pete shared a couple observations on the used farm equipment auction circuit during his appearance on AgriTalk this week:

His data shows that farm equipment auctions are up 14.5% through the end of September, year over year. And Pete anticipates an uptick in “whole farm fleet liquidations” in the months ahead and into 2026 due to the ongoing farm economy depression and many farmers aging out of active farming.

“[Right now] we’re just on the front end of this; the end of the year is going to be very busy as far as the number of auctions,” Pete says. “[There’s] all these different stressors and uncertainties out there, and combined with the fact the average age of the American farmer is older than me — and I’ll be 60 in a few weeks … yeah, there’s going to be a lot of auctions.”

Upcoming Auction to Watch

On Nov. 4, McGrew Equipment (Seven Valleys, Pa.) will host an auction featuring 150 skid steers (including an ASV PT100 with 141 hours) and several nice used tractors, like the Deutz-Fahr 5110G in the video above with only 33 hours. You can find more details at mcgrew-equipment.com.

Used Farm Equipment Heating Up: Experts Predict Buying and Selling Explosion Ahead

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:01:58 GMT

Casey Seymour and Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson are encouraged by what they are seeing from farmers-buyers and dealers in the used farm equipment market.

On the farmer side of the coin, Pete says they are using auction price data to understand market dynamics and find good deals for the equipment they need to run their operations. Once commodity prices rebound, he sees momentum building for an explosion of farmer buying activity on dealer lots and at auctions.

“It’s a powder keg sitting there waiting to go off, and that’s where if you’re able to through the rest of the year into ’26, be aggressive and call your dealer about any used equipment on lots you’re looking at updating,” Pete says. “It’s still a good time to do that.”

And on the dealer side of things, Seymour and Pete think increased dealer consolidation has imparted greater efficiency and bounce back upside into the network. There are currently 203 farm equipment dealers with five or more retail stores in North America, so these larger, professional dealer organizations can respond to market forces faster and more effectively today.

“A decade ago, when there were more owners with two, three, four stores, they kind of had to hold on and hope for better days, but it’s just so much more efficient right now,” says Pete.

Seymour and Pete also agree hay tools and livestock equipment — like utility loader tractors — are trending up. That’s because cattle ranchers have enjoyed a solid year profitwise, while row crop farmers are still stuck in a down cycle. And the gap between auction and dealer lot prices has tightened up, leading more farmers to explore both options before pulling the trigger on a buy.

“It’s the tale of two tapes there, but when I’m looking at how things are moving along, that space in between $50,000 to $150,000 and maybe up to $200,000, is really, really attractive [to buyers],” says Seymour. “And a lot of that has to do with, we’re at the bottom of the marketplace.”

Commodities Market Update

Rich Posson, host of the Critical Point podcast, joined Seymour to talk about the general state of the economy and Wall Street as “stagflation” continues to curtail growth in the economy.

“My model is willing to lean on the side of a growing GDP into 2027, but at the same time it’s suggesting this inflation has turned a corner — you can’t see it that way that much yet — but it looks like it’s ready to recover going into next year,” Posson says, adding he’s concerned inflation will actually get worse in 2026 before it goes down in 2027.

What’s Happening on the High Plains?

Dealer sales of new and used hay tools — like balers, windrowers and rakes — were a mixed bag this year, according to Aaron Fintel, used equipment specialist, 21st Century Equipment.

“We had a pretty good flow with new windrowers, and that second [year] never hit the lot and the third was sold right away,” Fintel says. “Balers have not been what I thought they would be this year — there’s been used 3x4s that we get in; those have sold pretty good. And new round balers were quiet this year.”

Fintel adds that forage choppers, typically a machinery segment he jokes an equipment salesman “runs away from” at the dealer level, were a pleasant surprise and sold strong all year long.

Head on over to YouTube to watch the full episode . Go ahead and give it a “Thumbs Up” and hit the “Subscribe” button to get each new episode as soon as it drops.

Your Next Read: Machinery Pete’s 5 Pointers For Equipment Auctions

Record Breaking Used Hay Baler And Seed Drill Headline Pete's Pick of the Week

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:22:49 GMT

Hay and livestock equipment is scorching hot on the used farm equipment auction market. This week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week is a shining example of positive momentum within the segment.

At a Jason Aycock Auctioneering sale Saturday in South Hill, Va., a “really sharp” New Holland BR7060 round baler (shown top of page) with 7,700 bales on it sold for $31,000. That topped the previous record auction price by $2,000.

(Jason Aycock Auctioneering)

In the same auction lot, a Hayduster 107 10-foot no-till seed drill (shown above) with 1,110 acres on it sold for $22,000, which once again broke the previous record high at auction by $2,000.

Here is a video from Machinery Pete’s Facebook page showing both machines being auctioned off:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And a few weeks ago, at a Richie Brothers auction in Saskatchewan, a 2017 John Deere 569 round baler with 5,968 bales under its belt (shown right) sold for $56,000 CA, which equates to just over $40,000 USD. Machinery Pete says that’s the seventh highest price all-time on a John Deere 569.

Used utility tractors with loader attachments also remain in high demand in the livestock/cattle producer markets.

(Jason Aycock Auctioneering)

At the Aycock sale in Virginia over the weekend, a New Holland T5070 with over 4,000 engine hours on it (shown above) with a NH 852 T loader implement included sold for $41,000. Pete says that’s not a record, but it still represents a “pretty, pretty strong price.”

And what about other livestock farming equipment, like feed trucks? Are those machines also bringing big dollar bids at auction? Yes, they sure are, says Pete.

(Purple Wave Auctions )

A 2024 Kenworth C500 feed mixer truck with a Rotomix 7002016 XD mixer (shown above) and 16,424 miles on it sold for $203,500 at a PurpleWave.com online auction last Wednesday.

“Whether it’s a round baler or a loader tractor, one of the things driving the market here is, you know, what’s a new one cost? When you’re buying horsepower on the used tractor market, it’s such a contrast with the price of new to a good used one that, even though it’s a record price, it’s still a big gap between the [price of a] new one. And that makes it awful attractive for used buyers,” Pete says.

Upcoming Auction

On November 4 Big Iron Auctions/Sullivan Auctioneers will be hosting the Jon and Marcia Kinzenbaw “No Reserve Collector Tractor Auction” in Williamsburg, Iowa, and online at BigIron.com. Jon Kinzenbaw founded Kinze Manufacturing Inc.

You can check out the auction docket for that sale here , bidding closes November 4 at 9:00 am CDT.

Your Next Read: Machinery Pete’s 5 Pointers For Equipment Auctions

Farm Equipment Auction Increase Coming Soon, Farmers Must Capitalize Before Prices Jump

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:17:56 GMT

In the used farm equipment auction world, 2024 saw an absolute avalanche of late-model equipment hit bidding sheets around the country. Today, supply of 1-to-3-year-old machines has pulled back dramatically.

“Huge drop offs this year on late-model used,” Machinery Pete says. “That’s why, in part, we’re seeing this huge firming up [in the market]. Of course, not much new is being sold. Dealers are working through inventory, of course they’d like those to be lower, but collectively, it’s night-and-day better than where it was.”

Pete and Casey Seymour are anticipating a very busy November and December on the auction circuit. The number of auctions to date is up 15% compared to last year already, but with late-model supplies relatively low, prices solidifying and demand from farmers still trending up, bidding is still very competitive.

“This is one of those years where everyone is waiting until the last possible minute to get things purchased and push things through,” Seymour says. “We’re still seeing combines being sold at this time of the year — that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, right? It’s a last-minute thing.

Last-minute buying by farmers is not necessarily a negative development for equipment dealers. Pete thinks the wave of dealer consolidation over the past couple years has imparted more efficiency into the dealer network, so dealers are setup to handle an increase in volume.

“To me, the used farm equipment space is moving towards the used automotive space and becoming faster,” he adds. “Again, as a farmer I understand if you don’t like that, you lose one of your local dealers because they consolidate, but you have to be aware of these things because this short period to get to solidifying used values just hasn’t happened before like this.”

Pete says the lag in used equipment values that normally follows a market downturn — putting farmer-buyers in position to capitalize on lower-priced equipment — won’t be here for as long as when dad and grandpa were running the show. You should consider buying this winter versus waiting until late 2026 or 2027.

Commodities Update

Shawn Hackett, president and CEO, Hackett Financial Advisors, believes USDA overestimates to yield forecasts signal a corn price jump in January or February, but many farmers won’t be able to sell at the higher price if they didn’t have room to store harvested grain or erroneous yield projections led them to believe it was better to sell early.

“If we have a $4.80 or $5 corn price, but I already sold at $4 or $3.80 or whatever, now I’ve just locked myself into a financial bind,” he says, adding the current government downturn will levy yet another devastating blow to farmers’ bottom lines.

High Plains Update

Aaron Fintel, used equipment specialist, 21^st Century Equipment, joins Seymour for an in-depth breakdown of the latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) U.S. tractor and combine sales report. You can view the latest data here as you follow along with the discussion.

Head on over to YouTube to watch the full episode. Go ahead and give it a “Thumbs Up” and hit the “Subscribe” button to get each new episodes as soon as it drops.

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Pete's Pick: 21-Year-Old John Deere Tractor Almost Hits $150,000

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:40:07 GMT

This week’s Pete’s “Pick of the Week” is a 20-plus-year-old tractor that came in just south of $150,000, but you can argue the buyer actually secured a nice bargain when you put it in the context of how much a new high-horsepower row crop tractor will run you.

At a farm auction in Asbury, Mo., a 2004 John Deere 8420 tractor with only 1,053 hours on it sold for $146,250. Pete says it’s the 16^th highest auction price of all time on an 8420, and nine of the past 10 high auction prices have all been recorded within the past four years. It’s a trend line that continues to show farmer preference for older, good conditioned, pre-DEF used tractors.

“It was one owner, so it checked all [the boxes],” Pete says. “And to push $150k, 21 years old … it was interesting when I posted this across social media, you get a lot of discussion and people were saying ‘Yeah, it’s a big check, but again for the horsepower and given it’s good condition [used] with a little age on it … the belts are tightening, and it’s sort of indicative of … the gap between a brand new and a good used one, those price increases on the new have gotten so high the past three to four years, you’ve opened this chasm.”

Pete also notes a “beautiful 1980s tractor” from Nebraska that sold last Tuesday in a DPA Auctions online sale.

A 1986 Versatile 1150 with what Pete calls that “beautiful orange and yellow color combo” sold for an even $50,000. It had 8,117 hours on it.

One of the more noteworthy transactions from last week, according to Pete, was a 2025 John Deere 616R sprayer with 127 hours selling for $309,000 in the DPA online sale. This sprayer was noted as “severely damaged – driven into a creek.”

(DPA Auctions)

“Driven into a creek and hard cash, it still goes over $300,000,” Pete says. “For comparison, our good friends at the Steffes Group sold a ‘24 model 616R sprayer with 464 hours in June and that went for $450K. The one that sold Tuesday, if it had not been driven into a creek, it’s going north of $450K. So, if you wonder what does that cost, driving into a creek? Well, you’re talking $150K to $160K. So, now you know.”

As far as rare, unique machinery selling over the past week on the auction circuit, Pete highlights a couple pieces of iron there as well.

A New Holland 1283 self-propelled baler — Pete says you just don’t see many of them around anymore — sold for $6,200, which is the highest auction price Pete can recall on that particular machine.

And in the same Big Iron online auction, an Allis-Chalmers 60 pull type combine with a two row corn head sold for $4,510.

(Big Iron Auctions)

Your Next Read: Machinery Pete’s 5 Pointers For Equipment Auctions

Farm Equipment Auctions Soaring Despite Stagnant Economy: Unpacking What's Next

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:42:58 GMT

Casey Seymour and Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson see a used equipment market that has flipped from last year, when dealers pushed out a glut of late model, used equipment to auction.

Today, the number of 1–to-3-year-old high-horsepower tractors (300 hp and up) on the market is down 60% from last year, and late model combine listings are down 54%, according to Pete. Yet surprisingly, auction activity is up 14% from last year, too.

So, retail sales and the farm equipment market are in a prolonged slump, but auctions are still booming. It’s an odd juxtaposition, and dealers have to figure out how to navigate the uncertainty in the middle of the busy auction season.

“If I’m a dealer, and 2024 was painful and we’re having these huge losses, but we keep talking about [having] this footing – that’s why you’re not having a huge sale – but maybe [you’re] streaming out five tractors on this auction or two on that one,” Pete says. “That’s what I’m seeing. Whereas last year it was just, the spigot was open, and dealer items were everywhere.”

Seymour expected more dealer liquidation auctions in Q4, but dealer reps tell him they are not planning a big push of equipment to auction this year.

“[We] have this stagnant marketplace, where it’s not getting any better, and it’s not getting any worse,” he says. “You’re just kind of stuck in the middle. But to still see the auction activity that we’re seeing and the prices we’re seeing, it feels like we’re at the bottom.”

Pete agrees with that take, pointing to a growing trend of multi-dealer auctions, like the Rich & Rich Red Power Auction this weekend in North Carolina, as another sign the market is down. He is also seeing an increase in farm retirement auctions as farmers try to avoid losing equity.

Pete wonders if the rumored farmer aid package from the Trump administration will spark a dead-cat bounce on used machinery values and farmer buying activity?

“I don’t see that making its way to the equipment side. They’re going to shore up [debts] first, build back up and then probably [buy] inputs, but I guess it depends on if it’s taxable or not,” Seymour says.

Pete and Seymour tried to stick to farm equipment trends and what’s happening in the auction world, but the guys could not ignore the giant elephant in the room. They share thoughts on the impact of social media on political tensions in rural America, and why they think politicians should come down to an in-person auction and have some real conversations with real Americans.

The Rest of The Episode

Commodities analyst Shawn Hackett joins Seymour to break down the impact of the U.S. government shutdown on crop prices, and used equipment specialist Aaron Fintel closes out the episode with a chat about how livestock payments are driving more buying activity on loader tractors out west in his neck of the woods.

Head over to YouTube to watch the full episode. Please be sure to hit the “Thumbs Up” button to “Like” the video and click on the “Subscribe” button to get a notification when a new episode drops.

Your Next Read: Machinery Pete’s 5 Pointers For Equipment Auctions

Machinery Pete's 5 Pointers For Equipment Auctions

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:52:40 GMT

As the guy who has spent more than three-and-a-half decades compiling hard cash auction sale price data points on what all types of used farm and construction equipment sold for, purchasing with a purpose speaks to me.

Here are a few Machinery Pete Pointers when it comes to putting this into practice:

1. Have a Price Point Game Plan. Buying and selling can be emotional. You have your eye set on a piece of equipment. You’ve invested significant time researching it. Now, it’s sale day. The bidding rolls along, but it has crept above what you were hoping to pay. OK, you bid once more. Twice. Well, you’re this close, once more. My suggestion for approaching auctions has remained the same for decades: Be prepared to buy anything but commit to buy nothing. There are bargains on every auction, usually on unexpected items. Those buyers get the deals. If the item you’re after goes too high, let it go.

2. Sometimes the Best Deal Isn’t What You Bought. It’s what you didn’t buy.

3. You Can’t Put a Price on Buying Smiles. Life is short. When I started out, collector tractors were A’s, B’s and H’s. Times change. Now collector models often are 1970s and 1980s vintage. If you’re older and your financial house is in strong shape, the siren call of buying that favorite tractor from when you were a kid can be strong. Here’s my advice: Buy It. Our world is too full of stress and frowns. If you can buy something that makes you smile, that’s winning in my book. Like the beautiful Massey Ferguson 1150 tractor from Danny Kuhn’s collection in Arthur, Ill., that sold for $51,500 on Aug. 19.There are many years of smiles ahead with that one.

4. Buy Extended Warranty Protection. Not much new equipment has been sold the past 18-plus months. Equipment fleets are collectively being pushed to run another year or two. One truth I know is no matter the cycle, farmers want and need reliable equipment to minimize downtime. Our Machinery Pete auction price data continually proves extended warranties add value when it’s time to sell or trade. And in this tight ag economy, insuring your farm against unforeseen repairs is priceless.

5. The 10-Year-Old With Low Hours Factor. You’ve heard me say it many times. What buyers have always wanted, and likely always will, is the nicest condition used tractor, combine, sprayer, skid steer or truck that is more than 10 years old. The rising cost of new equipment is so high that it works to make the nicest 10-year-old stuff super desirable. So, why not be a smart, aggressive buyer of the nicest 3-, 5- or 7-year-old item? This is where the value buy has always been in my book. In a few years, you will own what everyone wants: a sharp, low-hour, 10-year-old unit. That puts you in the catbird seat when selling or trading.

Why Machinery Pete Sees Used Tractor Values Coming on Strong, Plus Weekend Auctions To Watch

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:28:38 GMT

“Finding its footing” is the tag line Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson uses to describe the current state of the tractor segment in the farm equipment auction world.

Pete is seeing value stabilization come into play after the used tractor class weathered a major drop in auction pricing last fall. It’s a boomerang effect on the heels of an aggressive push of used late-model tractors to auction by equipment dealers at the end of 2024. By proactively managing inventories last year, Pete says, dealers now are in a better inventory position and used tractor prices are bouncing back.

“The number of auctions through the [end] of September was up 14.5% versus last year, too,” Pete says. “I think that’s going to increase through the end of the year into early ‘26, just with the way the winds are blowing. Even though the number of auctions is up, we’re finding this footing because of what dealers did last year on this newer late model stuff.”

Pete’s Pick of the Week shows used tractor prices are on the upswing:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Witcher Auctions two-day consignment sale in Arkansas last week, a like-new, full factory warrantied 2022 Massey Ferguson 4710 tractor with a loader (with only 5 operating hours!) sold for $45,495. That’s the highest price Pete has recorded in 2025 for a used 4710.

“There was a note on the Massey, and it just said, you know, the dude had bought it and then just, just didn’t use it,” Pete says. “And you know, it sounds funny – a two-year-old tractor with five hours on it – but I do run across those situations a fair amount more [often].”

A pair of tractors sold in a recent Big Iron online auction also caught Pete’s eye:

(Big Iron Auctions)

A 2024 John Deere 8R250 with 1,897 hours on it sold for $185,500. Pete says that’s the highest auction price all-time for a 8R250 with over 1,500 hours.

(Big Iron Auctions)

And a 2023 John Deere 6R155 4WD model with 693 hours sold for $167,500.

Upcoming Auctions

On Saturday, October 11 in North Carolina, Rich & Rich Auctioneers is hosting a “Carolina Red Dealer Inventory Reduction” sale that brings together machinery inventories from Case IH dealers, B&S Enterprises and Carolina Agri Power. Pete is keeping tabs on a low-hour, low-profile Farmall 105 A loader tractor featured in that sale.

Another notable sale Pete thinks may be worth your attention is also taking place on Saturday: the James R. Cash Auctions & Real Estate Jernigan Farms equipment auction near Springfield, Tenn. Pete is watching a John Deere 8130 tractor and a Claas LEXION 670 walker combine in that sale.

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Machinery Pete Goes Deep on Retro Farm Equipment With Pick of the Week

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:47:31 GMT

Whether it’s an old John Deere combine that grandpa ran for decades or a shiny orange Allis-Chalmers tractor that’s been in the family for generations, vintage farm equipment is a big draw on the auction circuit. The appeal of classic machinery is equal parts nostalgia, old-school craftsmanship and practicality.

This week’s Pete’s “Pick of the Week” selection is a pair of notable classic iron deals:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Rich & Rich Auctioneers sale in North Carolina, a narrow-front Farmall 806 tractor sold for a remarkable $16,000. That’s almost $10,000 over the average auction price, although Pete does mention that two similar 806s (one a rare front-assist model) sold for over $24,000 in recent months.

At the same Tar Heel State auction, a 1988 International Harvester 4586 four-wheel drive tractor sold for $24,250, which Pete says is the second-highest auction price of all time.

And most people that have been to a farm equipment auction know there are all sorts of machinery types that land on the docket apart from your usual mix of tractors, combines and sprayers.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Richie Bros Auction in Tennessee, a 1923 Ford Model T Snowmobile farm truck, which Pete called a “quirky unit” due to it having front skis and rear tracks, sold for $30,000.

And a pre-1920s (Pete wasn’t sure on the exact year) Buckeye 1081 Traction Ditcher sold for $10,500 in St. Charles, Mich., last Tuesday.

Oct. 1 Auction

Pete says the Kiko Auctions “Clean Late Model Equipment” sale in Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 1, has a solid mix of heavy construction and farm equipment from Case IH, John Deere and New Holland available to bid on. You can check that sale out here.