Auction
Low-hour, like-new tractors, combines and even skid steers are drawing solid bidding activity, and the guys preview fall auction season and offer their best advice to get your auction in front of the right buyers.
With 259 farm bankruptcies filed between April 2024 and March 2025, it’s clear the financial stress on farms is only growing more severe this year. But there’s been another troubling trend happening in the midst of the downturn.
A pair of 1980s-era John Deere 4440 tractors are prime examples that well-conditioned, pre-DEF used farm equipment continues to hold strong value on the used auction market.
According to Machinery Pete, the price of used high-horsepower tractors fell between 18% and 23% from 2023/24 levels, while regional auctions report used equipment values fell by as much as 40%. So far in 2025, used equipment values found footing, a trend on the verge of reversing due to growing strains in the farm economy.
A used equipment market that was very buyer friendly of late is starting to swing back toward the dealer side of things, and used, late-model combines continue to draw strong farmer interest and dollars at auction.
Get ready for a wave of farm retirement and estate auctions by finding out which farm machines are trending higher in value and which machines might be finding that price sweet spot for fall bargain hunting season.
Find out about this week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week: a 2008 John Deere mid-horsepower tractor that sold for the fourth-highest price all-time at auction, as older equipment continues to be in high demand.
Hear how recent auction results show a used farm equipment market ready to shake off the shackles from two years of depressed farm economics and ride a big, beautiful wave of momentum into fall harvest.
Find out why two 6M Series tractors and a unique “discbine” implement from Ohio caught Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson’s attention over the weekend.
Used skid steers, wheel loaders and excavating equipment are starting to draw strong bids as farmers build out fleets, and learn how one startup auction company is making inroads into the overseas export market.