Pete's Pick

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: 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.

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.

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

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

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.

Your Next Read: How the Greatest Car in Television History Was Lost and Found

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.

Pete's Pick: 3 Used Loader Tractors Draw Big Bids, Plus A Heartwarming Classic John Deere Buy

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 22:55:59 GMT

The used farm equipment auction market continues to show robust demand and strong resale prices for good condition, used loader tractors .

That’s exactly why Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson highlights three strong loader tractor transactions as his most recent Pete’s Pick of the Week.

At a Purple Wave online auction, a 2022 New Holland T5.110 tractor (885 engine hours) with a loader implement (pictured top of page) sold for $61,600. Pete says that is the highest auction price ever for that year/make/model, according to MachineryPete.com sales data. The machine was from Broken Bow, Okla.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Younger Auction Company sale in Rockport, Mo., a 2014 Case IH Maxxum 125 tractor (2,135 hours) with a L756 loader sold for $72,500, which Pete says is the second-highest auction price ever for that model with a loader and more than 2,000 engine hours.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And at another Purple Wave online auction, a 2021 John Deere 6155M tractor (860 hours) with a 640R loader implement sold for $135,300. Pete says that is the third-highest auction price of all time with a loader and more than 500 hours.

“Dollars are tight all across ag and, you know, not much new stuff is selling — and we understand why,” Pete says. “I think [we saw] more layoffs at the manufacturer level last week , unfortunately. So when this continues to stretch out, but you [still] need horsepower and equipment on the farm, what you tend to look for is the best condition used [machinery].”

Pete also shares this nice story out of Plain City, Ohio, where a young farmer named Wyatt bought his great grandfather, Don Hess’s, old John Deere 430 tractor at an auction for $900. It was also the young man’s birthday, so quite the 24 hours for that auction goer out in Ohio.

“It was just very cool, and it made a lot of people happy to see a young person interested in their great grandfather’s history and tractor, and keeping that in the family,” Pete says.

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Pete's Pick: 29-Year-Old Used Case IH Skid Steer, 2000 John Deere 8310 Draw Strong Bids

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:19:57 GMT

This week’s Machinery Pete “Pete’s Pick of The Week” comes to us from the world of construction equipment.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, at a retirement auction in Gaines, Mich., a 1996 Case IH 1845 C skid steer with 1,745 hours (see Facebook post below) sold for $20,700. Xyz Auction Service handled the bidding.

“Now, if I had a nickel for every time someone told me: ‘Hey, Pete, my favorite skid steer model is an 1845 C’ I’d have a lot of nickels, [and] this one was nice,” Pete says. “I thought, you know, getting up almost over $21K for an almost 30-year-old skid steer, [that’s] pretty good stuff.”

Last Thursday must have been a good day in the used equipment auction world, because another transaction that day also caught Pete’s attention.

At the Tom Mix farm retirement auction near Clay City, Ill., a well-maintained 2000 John Deere 8310 tractor with 4,222 hours (see Facebook post below) sold for $111,200. According to MachineryPete.com sales data, that is the fourth-highest price all time on a used 8310. Schmid Auction handled the bidding there.

Upcoming auctions
On Tuesday, Steffes Auction Group is hosting the Rost Farms Retirement Auction in Ivanhoe, Minn. Bidding for that sale (see Facebook post below) closes tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT.

And on Wednesday, in Dyersville, Iowa, the Alex Lyon and Son Auction Co. Rental Fleet Construction & Utility Equipment auction will feature a healthy selection of heavy duty machines pulled from rental fleets from around the country. Pete will be attending that sale in person, so be sure to say hello if you’re also checking out the auction in person.

“There are 13 skid steers on the docket, 17 excavators, 13 wheel loaders, and eight tractor loaders/backhoes,” Pete says. “I love covering all types of auctions and any chance I get to hang out with Jack Lyon and his son, Alex, I’ll take. They have sales all over the U.S. and the world, and it will be fun to have him in Iowa.”

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Classic Tractor Shines: 1989 John Deere 4455 Hits $80,750 at Iowa Auction

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:11:34 GMT

Machinery Pete’s Pick of the Week didn’t shatter any auction records, but it’s worth noting considering this week’s machine of honor is almost 40 years old.

At a Nate’s Tractor consignment auction on Thursday, Sept. 4, in Riceville, Iowa, a 1989 John Deere 4455 tractor with 3,066 original hours sold for $80,750. It’s the 17^th highest price Pete has recorded for what he says is a classic tractor with an average auction price of $44,751.

“Five years ago [the average auction price] was just under $37,850, and 25 years ago it was at $37,765, so we’ve jumped [up] here in the last five years,” Pete says. “There’s a lot of love for those 4455s out there.”

The all-time record for a used John Deere 4455 was set last year at an auction in Berlin, Wis. That was a 1992 model with 2,260 original hours, and it sold for $160,000. The previous record high for a 4455 was set in 2023 and it sold for $97,850.

You can take a look at all the historical sales data for used John Deere 4455 tractors over at Machinery Pete by clicking this link.

Fall auction season heats up this week

Machinery Pete says the number of used farm equipment auctions is starting to increase. He believes that is partly due to two factors: high used machine inventories on equipment dealer lots, and more farmers hitting retirement age and deciding to call it quits and sell off the fleet.

Pete says the next seven days represent “a market testing week” and there’s a handful of sales he wants interested buyers to be aware of:

Merit Auctions is hosting its large dealer auction online and in-person on its inventory yard in Ft. Madison, Iowa, on Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT. Pete says that sale has a lot of late-model equipment and a wide variety of equipment makes to choose from. It features 31 used tractors, five combines, five skid steers and five sprayers.
Richie Brothers is hosting an online only, timed auction on Tuesday featuring a collection of classic machinery from noted John Deere collector Norman Balzer up in Duke, Alberta, in Canada. There is a 1953 John Deere Model D Wide Front “Streeter” antique tractor that drew Pete’s eye in that sale.
Hoenig Auctions is hosting its online Sievers Equipment Inventory Reduction auction currently , and the bidding closes at 1 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Sievers is a Case-IH dealer, and Pete says there is a pair of 2012 Steiger 450 4WD tractors and a 2008 Case IH 2588 combine among many good quality machines in that sale.
TractorTuesday.com is auctioning off a 1978 John Deere 4840 Powershift tractor out of Ohio among the 394 active listings on its website. TractorTuesday offers zero sellers fees on listings, Pete says.
DPA Auctions has an online-only auction that starts Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT. There’s a nice 2023 John Deere low-hour 8RX 410 tractor in that sale that could be a winner for someone looking for a bargain on a late-model machine. There are also some classic Alice Chalmer and Farmall tractors available.

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Steiger 715 and Gleaner S98 Steals: Machinery Pete’s Latest Used Farm Equipment Auction Deals

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 21:57:47 GMT

The passing of Labor Day Weekend always signifies a special time in the farm community. The long, hot, dog days of summer are finally in the rearview, and the vast potential of another harvest season is on the horizon ahead

In the used farm equipment buying world, post-Labor Day is also a special time. Machinery Pete says it’s “almost always” the best time to be a buyer in the market, and this fall is shaping up that way once again.

“I would say that for ’25, if you’re thinking about updating your used equipment, I think it’s a tremendous time right now to call your local dealer or go be aggressive on the auction market,” Pete declares.

Pete has over 30 years under his well-worn leather belt in the used equipment auction world. He’s confident telling buyers to go out and pound the pavement for deals because he’s crunched the data over at MachineryPete.com . Right now, he says, pricing is starting to solidify on late-model, used equipment, so there are some good deals to be had.

With that in mind, Pete also shared his “Picks of the Week” on Monday’s episode of “AgriTalk.” His highlighted picks turned out to be a 2025 Case IH Steiger 715 Quadtrax tractor and a 2006 Gleaner S98 combine.

First up, the Steiger.

That bad boy came in with only 250 engine hours and it sold for $609,000 at a DPA Auction in Iowa. While that price tag would seem high to most, it’s actually below the average used auction price for a 2025 Steiger 715. And the thing is basically brand new.

(BigIron.com)

And the almost 10-year old Gleaner combine, from Abilene, Kan., with 664 seperation hours on it, sold for $191,251 at a Big Iron online retirement auction.

“Again, for a 9-year-old machine to push $200K like that, it was in beautiful condition, but that’s a pretty strong hard cash price right there,” Pete says.

Upcoming auctions to watch

Looking ahead, Pete is excited to keep tabs on the Sep. 9 Merit Auctions online live “Large Dealer Auction” sale. You can find details on the sale and get registered to bid here.

“It’s a great lineup of equipment,” Pete says. “Five combines, 31 tractors, five sprayers and five skid steers, all late model. To me, it’s a great opportunity because I think if we go another year or year-and-a-half with these tight times, and nobody buys any new [equipment], what will happen is whenever corn and bean prices go up, you’re gonna have everybody at the same time wanting to update. And that’s when prices become unhinged.”

And here is another auction on Sep. 9 Pete is keeping his eye on:

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Pete's Pick: Almost 20-Year-Old Case IH Ohio Combine Nearly Breaks Record

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:38:33 GMT

Greg “Machinery Pete’” Peterson has noted the strong performance of well-conditioned, pre-DEF used combines on the farm equipment auction circuit this summer, and “Pete’s Pick of the Week” checks that box yet again.

At an auction on Friday in Oberlin, Ohio, a 2006 Case IH 2388 combine with 2,361 engine hours and no header included (pictured top of page) sold for $120,000. That’s the second-highest auction price for a used 2006 Case IH 2388 since 2013, according to MachineryPete.com auction data.

The all-time record price came in on a like-new model with only 98 operating hours that included a corn harvesting head on Feb. 2, 2007. That record-setting machine brought $155,000 at an auction in Henderson, Ky. Here’s a link to the historic data on used 2388s sold since 2007.

“[Just] more confirmation of maybe one of the biggest trends of 2025, which I would say is the increasing buyer demand on really good condition, pre-DEF combines,” Pete says. “Of course, in green country, you know, it’s been a tough year, tough two years, because the price of new is so doggone high. When times are tight like this, folks tend to look for the nicest used [machines]. And, of course, pre-DEF you can work on them yourself.”

Upcoming Auctions To Watch

Pete has a pair of auctions he wants interested buyers to check out this week, both taking place Thursday, Aug. 14.

First up is Rebel Auction Co.’s Monthly Construction & Farm Equipment Auction in Hazelhurst, Ga., kicking off at 9 a.m. EST. That sale will feature over 450 machines across 1,400 lots, Pete says. You can check that sale out here.

And BigIron Auction/Sullivan Auctioneers Premium Equipment Online Auction is also wrapping up on Thursday. Online bidding is open now and the bids will close Thursday at 11 a.m. CST. Head here to check out the auction docket and get registered to bid .

Here’s Pete’s Facebook post with some pictures of the machines that are available in that auction:

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Pete's Pick: Two John Deere Tractors in Illinois Shine in Used Farm Equipment Auction

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 16:51:00 GMT

Older, used pre-DEF equipment in good condition continues to hold its value on the farm equipment auction circuit. This week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week is a shining example of that trend.

On Tuesday in Mt. Sterling, Ill., a pair of 1980-era John Deere 4440 tractors brought solid returns to the Kerr Auctions Mt. Sterling 2025 Summer Sale.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

The first 4440 to hit the auction block (shown above) was pushing just under 10,000 operating hours (9,183) and it fetched $25,500.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

The second 4440 (shown above), which is this week’s “Pete’s Pick of the Week” selection, only had 3,163 engine hours on it. That tractor, which was purchased after the original owner won the Illinois state lottery, sold for $40,000, which Machinery Pete says is “very solid.”

“Todd (the previous owner) told me he was hoping for $35,000,” Pete says. “And Alex Kerr, the auctioneer, said he was hoping for high $30s. The older stuff in good condition, like we’ve been talking about, is holding very solid.”

Here’s video of the two John Deere 4440s selling at auction from Pete’s Facebook page:

And it’s not just older machines moving the needle on the auction circuit. Pete is also seeing sales data come in on late model, high-horsepower row crop tractors showing “some pretty good buys” for farmers at the moment. For example, Pete watched a pair of John Deere 8R tractors, one a 2023 model and the other a high-hour 2024 model, sell at auction last week for $333,500 and $280,000, respectively. Consider for a second what a brand-new John Deere 8R tractor costs off the dealer lot right now, and those are both actually very solid deals for the buyers, Pete adds.

Pete also shared a Deutz Auctions sale on Tuesday in Minneota, Minn., where he says a 2007 John Deere 9760 STS combine with 31,167 engine hours sold for $50,000.

“The pre-DEF combines are up in value because, again, there’s (price) pressure in green country on the 1-2-3-4-year-old ones,” Pete says. “There’s, you know, there’s just some good buys happening there, but the nice, older ones, it’s competitive bidding on those, too, no doubt.”

Upcoming auction to watch

After spending the bulk of last week on the road at farm equipment auctions, Pete will spend a week tending to things on the home front before heading off to Bronson, Iowa, on Monday, Aug. 11, for the Chuck Widman Family auction. That sale features four used Versatile tractors (three of them are 300 hp or higher) and two low-hour used New Holland CR combines.

You can check that sale out and get registered for online bidding here.

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Unbelievable Find Alert: 40-Year-Old John Deere Combine With 675 Hours Up for Grabs

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:35:48 GMT

If you had “40-year-old combine with under 700 hours” as this week’s “Pick of the Week” on your bingo card, go down to your local corner store and play your lucky numbers.

That’s because this week’s spotlight shines squarely on a relic of the past you just don’t see every day, or even every few years: a 1985 John Deere 6620 combine (shown below) with a pickup head and just 675 operating hours. The harvester is out of Baudette, Minn., and it spent a good chunk of its life in barn storage while the original owner used it to cut a small plot of wheat.

(MachineryPete.com)

This particular “Pick of the Week” is also unique because it isn’t listed with any of the major auction companies. Its new owner (the combine belonged to the listing agent’s uncle) quietly uploaded photos and listed it for sale by owner for $21,500 on MachineryPete.com.

That small act opened the proverbial online floodgates, and now interested buyers from all over the Midwest are reaching out to let Pete know they intend to bring that bad boy home to their own barn.

“We posted this (combine) across our social media this weekend and there were 5,000 clicks on it just last night,” Pete says. “I’ve got people that I know pinging me like, ‘Greg, I want to buy that thing’. It just shows you can’t find them like that (anymore). It was really kind of an interesting item.”

While some might view the price tag as a bit steep for a four-decade old machine, those that know about such things can spot a good deal in the wild, Pete says.

“I think $21,500 — I mean, that’s why I’m getting phone calls like, ‘My checkbook’s out, I want to buy it’. That’s what I suspected (would happen),” Pete says. “It’s difficult to price it now, and we always encourage people to go to our website to look for a (anything) comparable. But it’s hard to find a comparable on a 40-year-old combine with 675 (hours).”

If you’re interested in bidding on this week’s Pick of The Week, there’s still time. Head over to MachineryPete.com and get registered.

“You just don’t find them at that age and that nice,” Pete says. “So again, there’s a lot of heat when you find an older one that’s in great condition like that.”

This Week’s Auction To Keep An Eye On

Machinery Pete will be in Mt. Sterling, Ill., on Tuesday, July 29, for the conclusion of the Mt. Sterling Summer 2025 Auction. Kerr Auctions is handling the bidding, and owner Alex Kerr and his team have pulled together a nice auction docket featuring eight John Deere 8R tractors and a fleet of used harvest headers.

Check out the auction preview video above from Machinery Pete’s Facebook page and get registered to bid online over at KerrAuction.com.

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Machinery Pete: John Deere Tractor Shows Farmers Value Pre-Def, Older Machines at Used Equipment Auctions

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:36:52 GMT

This week’s Pete’s Pick of the Week is a used green and yellow machine from a tractor class Pete says is “just red hot” now.

On Wednesday, July 16, a Big Iron Auctions online sale auctioned off a pre-def, mid-horsepower 2008 John Deere 7730 tractor (16,161 hours) for $150,250. The machine (pictured above) came from Henderson, Iowa, and it garnered the fourth-highest auction price ever on that make/year/model despite being nearly 20 years old.

“The real Machinery Pete stat I would leave you with is this model 7730 is pre-def, so it’s 15-plus years old now,” Pete says. “The nine highest auction prices ever (on pre-def machines) have all come in the last four years. It just shows the sharpening and increasing farmer demand for good condition, used pre-def tractors.”

Pete adds tractors in the sub-200 to 150 mid-horsepower segment are “the hottest thing going in the used market,” and he thinks that’s at least partly due to the versatile machines being driven up in value by livestock producers riding strong balance sheets with cash to spend.

Upcoming auction action to watch

For Pete, the end of July is an interesting time on the used farm equipment auction circuit. Dealers will typically begin moving more machines off the lot and onto the auction circuit to free up retail space and sell equipment farmers in their local service area have not shown interest in buying.

There are two sales to watch this week that fit that bill.

On Wednesday, Merit Auctions is holding an online auction that combines inventory from H&R Agri-Power, a Case-IH and New Holland dealer with stores in Kentucky and four other states, and Trueland Equipment, a John Deere dealer with stores in Indiana and Ohio. The sale kickoff is set for 10 a.m. CT online. You can check out the lineup of equipment here.

Here is a video preview for the Merit Auctions online sale Pete pulled together and shared on Facebook:

Also on Wednesday, McDougal Auctioneers is holding a no-reserve, preharvest sale in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan that kicks off at 11 a.m. CT. The docket for that sale features 39 used combines and a fleet of draper heads and other fall harvest goodies. Check out the full auction lineup for that sale here.

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Pete's Pick: Pair of John Deere 6M Tractors, Mower Conditioner Take Top Billing

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:13:28 GMT

This week’s Machinery Pete “Pete’s Pick of the Week” comes from a farm estate auction sale that took place over the weekend in Rogers, Ohio.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At the James D. Bowersock auction, which was helmed by Kiko Auctions, a 2023 John Deere 6120M tractor with a 600R loader attachment (65 hours) sold for $122,500, which is a new record-high auction price for that model.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And a 2023 John Deere 6140M with 252 hours (no loader included) sold for $112,500. Pete says that is the second highest auction price of all time on a used 6140M tractor without a loader.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

That same sale also had a used John Deere 630 9’x9" discbine mower conditioner implement sell for $17,250.

If you’re interested in what else sold at that Ohio sale, you can check out the full report over at MachineryPete.com.

Although Pete had to record his AgriTalk segment (embedded above) from the road this week, he did have a second to offer up some quick advice on how farmers can make their used equipment stand out on a crowded auction docket. A personal touch is the key, Pete says.

“Our auction price data has shown over the years very clearly that when you personalize what you are selling — whether it’s private for sale by owner, at auction or through a dealer — it sells for more money,” Pete says. “It attracts more potential buyers.”

Big Online Sale Tuesday
Speaking of attracting more buyers, Merit Auctions is holding its first virtual consignment sale from its Bainbridge, Ga., equipment lot on Tuesday, July 15, starting at 10 am E.T.

Check out Pete’s Facebook post for more information.

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Pete's Pick: Used Equipment Trio Turns Heads

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:31:09 GMT

This week’s “Pete’s Pick of the Week” is a trio of used farm machines that sold at two separate auctions in the Dakotas.

And stay with us until the end as Machinery Pete has a line on two upcoming auctions that you need to check out if you’re in the market for some nice, late-model equipment.

Pete’s Pick of the Week for July 7, 2025

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Last Wednesday, the team at Big Iron Auctions held a sale in Flandreau, S.D., where a “very sharp” 2020 Kubota M6141 tractor with a loader attachment (shown above) and just 846 hours on it sold for $85,000. According to Machinery Pete, that’s the third highest price all-time for that make/model of tractor on the used auction market.

“It’s kind of interesting,” Pete says. “The only two higher (prices) were both from back in ‘22, which as we have talked about often, that was clearly the highest watermark I’ve ever seen in the used farm equipment market.”

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Another item that caught Pete’s eye in that same auction is a 2023 Schaffer 6680 T telescoping wheel loader (237 hours) that sold for $81,000.

And in a Steffes Group auction near Williston, N.D., that took place last Monday, a 2005 John Deere 8320 tractor (3,561 hours) sold for $122,000, which is the highest auction price on that make/model of tractor in 2025 thus far.

“I’ll be really interested to see (auction prices) from July and on,” Pete says. “I don’t think we’re going to see quite the heavy volume (we saw in 2024), but there are definitely some dealer auctions with more volume starting to appear.”

Bonus Video: Looking for a used combine for harvest this fall and want to find the price “sweet spot”? Check out this recent AgDay segment where Machinery Pete breaks down three harvester transactions:

Upcoming Auctions To Watch
On July 14, Machinery Pete will be making the drive out to Mandan, N.D., for the Burger Cattle Company/Freddie Burger Estate Auction. Brent Ulmer and Ulmer Auctions will be handling the bidding there. A quick video preview is available below if you’re interested:

“I’m sure many of you knew Fred. He passed away in January. He was only 67, but Fred had an amazing life,” Pete says. “Fred was well known throughout the country in the cattle sector and also in bull riding. I think he had been inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, last year.”

You can check out the auction docket and get registered for online bidding on that sale here.

The Adam Marshall Land & Auction Company is also holding its statewide sale loaded with used farm equipment pulled out of farms and dealer lots across Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. That is a no buyer premium/fees, no reserves auction, Pete adds.

You can check out the details on that online sale here.

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Red, White and Tractors: Machinery Pete’s Fourth of July Farm Equipment Highlights

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:59:16 GMT

Get ready to wave that flag, wave it wide and high!

It’s the official midway point of the summer growing season. The week of the Fourth of July is finally here, and Machinery Pete is feeling the USA Pride. He’s high-steppin’ like Uncle Sam with four “Picks of the Week” to share after a busy end of June on the used farm equipment auction market.

The first “Pick of the Week” comes to us from the Donald Bergquist farm retirement auction in Edmor, N.D. Pete recently talked about the high auction prices that well-maintained, pre-DEF equipment will often garner at retirement auctions, and this particular transaction set a new high for 2025.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Donald Bergquists’ 2011 John Deere 9770 STS combine (above) in “beautiful condition” with only 446 hours sold for $187,500. That’s the third-highest auction price of all time on a 2011 9770 STS, and the top result for that make/model over the last six months.

“You expect that to sell high, and of course that’s pre-DEF,” Pete says. “I’ve been writing and talking a lot for the last year or so about how late-model combines have been adjusting downwards pretty aggressively for a couple years now, yet despite that fact these older pre-DEF combines in good condition, wow, they are really hot.”

Pete says the “sparks were flying on that one” because the combine sparked a fiery debate among his Facebook followers. Some used equipment aficionados claim it is a bargain because many farmers today prefer the 10-to-15-year-old used combines in good condition versus newer, harder-to-DIY models. Others claim old machines that haven’t been used much of late are “problematic to put back in use.”

Pete’s second “Pick of the Week” set a new all-time record, and it came off a consignment auction in Dalton, Minn.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

There, a one-owner 1982 Case IH 2290 tractor with 2,576 hours from the Glesne Farms retirement auction line out of Underwood, Minn., sold for $27,500. The previous record high for a Case IH 2290 was $26,250 set in 2023.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Pete’s third “Pick of the Week” also generated a lot of discussion on social media. On Saturday, in Huntertown, Ind., a 2003 John Deere 7810 mechanical FWD tractor with 12,110 hours on it sold for $137,000. That’s the seventh-highest auction price of all time on a 7810 mechanical FWD, Pete says.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And last but not least, Pete’s fourth Pick of the Week is a bit of a curve ball. At a Lake Benton, Minn., auction a unique, three-legged John Deere “Farm Implements” sign sold for $8,500.

Want more Machinery Pete? Check out the video segment above from “AgDay.” Pete highlights a pair of pre-DEF, used loader tractors he finds interesting.

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Machinery Pete: Versatile Skid Steers, Used Tractors Are Hotter Than Fish Grease

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 21:07:15 GMT

What goes well alongside sweltering summer Midwest heat and humidity?

Well, if you answered used farm equipment auctions, you’re on the same wavelength as our used equipment-obsessed friend, Machinery Pete. He hit the road last week, capturing all of that sweet, sweet iron moving at auction.

All jokes aside, the extreme heat and humidity that hit the Upper Midwest this weekend can indeed be a bad omen for farm auction results, Pete says. Good thing there’s plenty of online auctions this summer so you can avoid the sweaty, sunburned crowds while still getting down on all the bidding action.

Here’s a quick sample of what Pete says stood out from the past seven days of red-hot farm equipment auction sales:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

In an online Pifer Group auction that pulled used farm equipment from Minnesota and the Dakotas, a 2024 John Deere 335 P-Tier skid steer (pictured above) with 275 hours sold for $94,000. Pete says that’s a pretty good deal considering the only comparable model listed for sale at MachineryPete.com right now is a 2025 335 P-Tier. That bad boy starts at $159,000, though.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And a 2009 John Deere 325I skid steer with only 124 hours on it sold for $36,000 at the Harry and Lola Blackburn farm estate sale in Iowa.

On the tractor front, on Tuesday of last week, the folks at DPA Auctions moved a pair of late-model John Deere tractors that originated from farms in South Dakota.

(DPA Auctions)

In that sale, two 2024 John Deere 8R 280 MFWD tractors, one with just under 1,200 hours (pictured above) and another with 1,451 hours on it, sold for $315,000 and $296,000, respectively.

“Those were both above the average auction price this year, which is just over $282,600,” Pete says. “And interestingly, that’s up from last year’s average which was just over $258,000.”

And finally, Pete’s “Pick of the Week” is a pair of used tractors:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At the Blackburn estate auction in Iowa, a Gold Key Certified 2009 John Deere 7230 Premium 2WD tractor (above) with only 1,076 hours sold for $94,500.

And at the Al Bruhn farm auction sale Saturday in Mapleton, Iowa, a vintage 1968 International Harvester 756 German diesel tractor set a new all-time record at $29,000. The previous high for that year/model was $21,000.

Auction to Watch This Week

Sullivan Auctioneers and Big Iron Auctions is having a “No Reserve Dealer Inventory Reduction” online auction for Sinclair Tractor featuring a huge collection of machines from the dealer’s Iowa stores. Check out the video preview from auctioneer Dan Sullivan above.

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Load ’Em Up: Used John Deere Tractors Set Auction Records in New York

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:51:49 GMT

An auction in Whitesville, New York, featured a pair of record-setting John Deere utility tractors, making the pair of farm workhorses Pete’s “Pick of the Week.”

The Scott Acomb & Family Dispersal Auction, where the two loader tractors were sold, was facilitated by auctioneer Adam Fraley with Fraley Auction Company.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

The first machine to smash a record was this John Deere 6430 utility tractor (shown above) with only 278 operating hours. It sold for $128,000, beating the previous record for that make/model by $5,000.

(MachineryPete.com)

Pete shared the screenshot above showing the Top 5 high prices at auction on John Deere 6430 tractors.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And another John Deere utility tractor with a loader, a 2003 7420 model, sold for $122,500, beating the previous record-high by $18,000.

“Even in a belt-tightening ag economy, the nicest used stuff with a little age on it is still red hot,” Pete says.

Here is a list from Pete showing the Top 5 auction results all-time on a John Deere 7420:

(MachineryPete.com)

You can listen to Pete’s full appearance from Monday’s AgriTalk episode via the media player below.

Upcoming Auctions To Watch

Pete is gearing up for a big week on the used equipment auction circuit.

On Saturday, there are two notable auctions he says will have some nice machinery scores for farmers. Machinery Pete will be making the trek out to the Harry and Lola Blackburn Farm Sale in Lime Springs, Iowa, to check out an “amazing list of low-hour machines.” You can check that auction out here.

Also on Saturday, the Al Bruhn Farm Auction in Mapleton, Iowa, features six John Deere Hillco Sidehill combines. You can check that auction out here, and Pete shared this video preview for the sale on Facebook:

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Vintage Vibes: 4 Old Tractors Make Pete's Pick Of The Week

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:53:07 GMT

The vintage trend is hot in 2025, but who knew it goes for farm tractors, too?

Well, Machinery Pete knew, that’s who!

For this week’s “Pete’s Pick of the Week”, Machinery Pete highlighted a handful of vintage tractors as living proof that old machinery is still in high demand — especially when the price is right.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

First up is a 1968 Oliver 1950T mechanical front-wheel drive tractor (shown above) with 5,040 hours that sold last week for $35,000 in a Steffes Group farm estate auction for farmer Bob Donowski. Pete says that is the highest auction price ever on a Oliver 1950T. The previous record high was $26,000.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Pete was also intrigued by a 1989 White 185 mechanical front-wheel drive tractor with 38,163 hours that brought $21,750.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And a 1984 White 2-155 2WD tractor with 31,181 hours that sold for $16,750.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Rounding out the Steffes Group auction was a 1997 White 6085 mechanical front wheel drive tractor with 21,135 hours that sold for $16,250.

And finally, at a Union, Iowa, auction helmed by Mid Iowa Auction Company, a 1972 John Deere 4020 front-wheel drive power shift tractor (above) sold for $45,500.

Auctions This Week
On Tuesday, June 10, Pete says it might be worth checking out the Adam Marshall Land and Auction no reserve, online equipment auction. The Nebraska-wide sale will also pull in used machinery from Kansas and Colorado.

Specifically, Pete is watching a 1987 Case IH 2594 2WD tractor with 44,145 hours on it in that sale.

Another promising sale on Tuesday is the Weiman Land & Auction Company annual summer farmers and dealers consignment sale. Pete says there are some nice, low-hour items as well as some interesting, hard-to-find machines in that sale — like a 1980 Big Bud tractor he says is “really sharp.”

There is also a retirement auction in Mapleton, Iowa, for Al Bruhn on Saturday, June 21, that Pete says you don’t want to miss. Iowa Machinery Man is handling the bidding for that sale.

And on the same day, a farm estate auction in Lime Springs, Iowa, for Harry and Lola Blackburn features low-hour John Deere equipment, including a 2009 Gold Key-certified, one owner JD 7230 tractor. Joel’s Tractor & Auction will handle the bidding there.

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Swathers to Sprayers: Strong Oklahoma Auctions and Machinery Pete’s Ratio for Fair Used Farm Equipment Deals

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:14:53 GMT

This week, Machinery Pete takes us on a trip down to Oklahoma, where he tracked “a bunch of good sales” over the last week, including his Pete’s Pick of the Week winner:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Last Wednesday, at a sale in Waukomis, Okla., a 2019 Case IH WD2104 swather with only 330 hours sold for $128,100, which Pete says is a new record high for that model. The previous record price was $107,200.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Pete also notes a 2021 Case IH Maxxum 150 tractor with a loader (700 hours) sold for $123,900 in the same auction. That’s the sixth highest auction price of all time for that make/model, he says.

“I think the (high) price of (a) new (swather) has probably made that pretty attractive,” Pete says. “And sometimes people buy new stuff — it might be for tax reasons, who knows — and they kind of drift for a couple years and don’t use it that much, knowing that when they do have their retirement sale that low hour stuff holds its value tremendously.”

Also of note last week in the Sooner State was a Big Iron Auctions farm retirement sale near Forgan, Okla. A trio of well-maintained, high-hour machines caught Pete’s attention there:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A 2012 John Deere 8360R tractor with 8,079 hours sold for $106,250. Pete says that’s the highest auction price “by a mile” he can find on a tractor with more than 8,000 operating hours.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A 2016 John Deere S670 combine with 28,106 engine hours sold for $80,750.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A 2017 John Deere R4038 sprayer with 23,101 hours sold for $116,500.

“Even though these all had higher hours, the farmer who owned them, Max Huling, obviously he took tremendous care of his equipment,” Pete says. “So, whether it’s low hours or higher hours, if you take great care of your stuff, it pays off when it comes time to sell it.”

The Machinery Pete Ratio Explained
Pete crunched the latest numbers at MachineryPete.com to show where used combine and tractor prices sit today in relation to his Machinery Pete Ratio theory.

The Machinery Pete Ratio is a metric Pete came up with to show that the price of a well-conditioned, late-model, used machine at auction should usually fall roughly between 70% to 75% of the dealer advertised price for the same machine brand new. If the ratio is too high, the price of used is inflated. And if it’s too low, the seller is not getting full market value.

Today, Pete says, the average auction price on a used John Deere S780 combine is $250,781, and the average dealer advertised price on a brand-new one is almost $433,000. That’s 60% less that the buyer has to spend to buy the used S780, on average, than it costs to get one brand new. That’s a good deal for the buyer, but the dealer on the other side of the deal might think they are leaving extra money on the table.

For comparison, the average auction price today on a used John Deere 8R 410 tractor is $334,578 while the average dealer price for new is $450,430. That’s a 76% ratio, which falls slightly over the target zone established by the Machinery Pete Ratio.

That metric would tell you if you’re a dealer and you have an excess inventory of used 8R 410 tractors cluttering up your lot now, it might be a good time to move some to the auction market. Or, if you’re a farmer looking for a bargain on a used 8R 410, you might think about waiting to see if the average auction price drops.

“It does look like prices are dropping, the key question now is we just passed June 1, which for me, that’s the buoy in the water,” Pete explains. “It’s when dealers take a collective breath, because customers have seed in the ground, and there’s five months on the books (in 2025) and they go, ‘Ok, how are we sitting on our used inventory, and what are our plans for the rest of the summer and fall to work this down?’ Last year, we saw an avalanche of dealers pushing stuff into the used auction market. This year, I don’t know if we’ll see as big of a push. I don’t think we will, but there’s going to be a lot of stuff that does get pushed. So again, tractors have a little more room to adjust downward, I think.”

Upcoming Auctions to Watch
Pete will be keeping his eyes focused on a pair of auctions this week.

On Tuesday, the folks at Del Peterson Auctions (DPA) will kick off their monthly online auction for June. There’s a 2024 Case IH TV620B skid steer with super low hours (15.6) listed in that sale.

On June 26, in Merritt, Iowa, there is a Zomer Company Realty & Auction farm retirement sale for Joe and Diana Rota that features nice, late-model used Case IH farm equipment.

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