Sale attracts European buyers

Buyers travelled from as far away as Poland and Ireland to attend a successful sale of tractors, vehicles, farm machinery, plant and small tools in Shropshire.

The quarterly collective sale at Forton Airfield, Montford Bridge, near Shrewsbury attracted an entry of 1,150 lots, with quality machinery in great demand.

Auctioneers Halls introduced a warranted tractor section for the first time and a reduced buyer's premium, which were well received.

Top prices in the warranted tractor section were £12,800 for a 1998 John Deere 6610 4WD model and £6,900 for a 1994 Ford 5030 4WD. Other leading prices were £6,400 for a 1996 John Deere 6200 2WD tractor, £6,000 for a Manitou 626 telescopic loader, £2,500 for a John Deere 1360 mower conditioner, £1,825 for a McHale mini wrapper, £1,650 for a Kuhn Topper and £1,500 each for a Kuhn power harrow and Kvernland four-furrow plough.

Manure spreaders sold up to £4,000, silage trailers up to £2,800 and horse trailers to £1,425.

The sale attracted entries from Shropshire and bordering counties, Mid Wales and as far away as Lancashire.

For Halls, Nick Hyne said trade at the March sale was excellent due to a national shortage of good-quality used agricultural machinery and equipment. Many of the items bought at auction would be exported to Eastern Europe.

He added that the auction was an ideal place for farmers to sell a wide range of items that were surplus to requirements.

* To enter an item in the next collective auction on May 4 call Nick Hyne on 01743 462620.