From Business Weekly UK
In a two-week period in February, Cheffins’ machinery sales operation sold more than £6 million of farm and contractors’ equipment across the UK in Cambridgeshire, Shropshire and Devon.
Some exceptional prices for used agricultural machinery along with huge attendances have distinguished Cheffins on-site sales so far this year. A weak pound and the soaring costs of new machinery have contributed to increased demand from the UK and throughout the Europe.
Cheffins’ sales year started on February 10 in Shropshire with what will probably be the country’s largest on-site auction sale of this year. On behalf of Wilson Farming – crowned Farmers Weekly’s ‘Contractor of the Year 2010’ – Cheffins was instructed to dispose of no less than nine forage harvesters, eight Fendt tractors, seven material handlers and an extensive range of machinery as part of their ongoing fleet renewal policy.
Wilson Farming operates the largest fleet of self-propelled forage harvesters in Europe totalling an impressive 30 plus machines all serviced in-house. These late registered machines – mainly 2005/2006 – were sold mainly to farmers and contractors at prices ranging from £62,500 for a 2005 Claas Jaguar 870 to £66,000 for a 2005 Claas Jaguar 850.
Also sold on the day was a 2008 Fendt 927 Vario tractor at £66,500 and a 2007 JCB 416S Agri Farm Master sold well at £59,500. With an imposing selling rate and worldwide interest the sale grossed a staggering £1.2 million – a new record for Cheffins on-site auction team.
This major sale was followed a week later with one of the largest sales in the West Country in recent years with a collective sale at Newton Abbot, Devon. The sale was by direction of local vendors, farmers and contractors. With more than 20 tractors and an excellent show of trailers, grassland and cultivation machinery it made for a busy day’s selling, despite very wet, muddy conditions.
Highlights went to a 2007 John Deere 6930 at £32,000, same again but with a Chilton MXT15 front loader at a resounding £36,000, a 2006 6420S topped £23,000, a super sharp 2007 7930 with new boots hit £45,800 and a late entry a 2007 John Deere 7530 sold well for £34,800. A bright pair of 2008 McCormick’s sold for £33,400 for a TTX230 and £24,600 for an MC135.
With close to another £1million chalked up and, following a record Cambridge Machinery sale, the on-site sale team began their journey eastwards but not before conducting another sale at Bristol of vintage and classic tractors. All in all, a rather hectic period – and our sales calendar is building rapidly for the rest of the year.
