At the Auctions: Bargains to be had at Kent dispersal
It has been a busy month around the farm dispersal sales and auctions, with farmers and dealers both on the hunt for good value, tidy machinery.
Tight cereal margins – despite a slight shift upwards in grain prices in September – and the weaker pound have influenced hammer prices, report auctioneers, but the large crowds at sales across the south east suggest the appetite for used kit remains unsatisfied.
The best machinery may have a few years of use clocked up but continues to attract prices not far off what some vendors originally paid for individual items.
Grassland and livestock kit has been less strong, but purchasing of such machinery is often done on a more seasonal basis.
Export buyers have been in contention again and are a welcome force with sterling valued at €1.16 at the end of September.
Auctioneers expect to see overseas buyers’ presence continue over the coming weeks as other European farmers face the same squeeze on margins.
See also: At the Auctions: Classic tractors take £154,000
This 2010 Richard Western SF 16t grain trailer with sprung drawbar and floatation tyres made £11,500 through Hobbs Parker.
Harvesting assets… The 2012 Case IH 7120AFS combine pictured made £91,000 at the recent sale on behalf of J Lanyon & Son, Great Dunmow, Essex, reports auctioneers Cheffins.
Well travelled… This 87,000 mile 1992 Big A triple-wheeled spreader – an entered lot at David Barnett Farms’ recent sale at Brackley, Northants – made £2,950, reports Brown & Co.
Hammering out a good deal…£210 secured this anvil at Cheffins’ Lanyon sale.
Right on track… Offered by Belvoir Fruit Farms last weekend this Y-plate Case-IH STX440 Quadtrac with 6,500 hours clocked and 30% front tracks and 70% rears made £35,750, reports Shouler & Son of Melton Mowbray.
Sowing the seed… This 2009 Vaderstad Rapid A 600S drill offered on behalf of A Frith & Sons of Abbots Court Farm, Burmarsh, Kent, by auctioneers Hobbs Parker made a solid £30,000 last week. A big crowd and strong prices predominated throughout the sale, reports the company.
A Simba Solo 330 cultivator made £5,000 (Hobbs Parker Frith sale).
Autumn sprays are on arable growers “to-do” list, which helped this Bateman RB25 24m 3,000-litre unit with 5,800 hours make £29,000 (Hobbs Parker’s Frith sale).
With John Deere celebrating 50 years in the UK recently this 1997 JD8100’s price tag of £20,500 at Hobbs Parker’s Lanyon sale reflected the brand’s lasting appeal.
