Machinery pulls in the buyers

With the devastating news of the second foot and mouth outbreak overshadowing the industry, a combination of good weather and an outstanding range of arable farm equipment drew the crowds at Barbers recent dispersal sale on behalf of Messrs R. & J. Foulkes at Wheathill Farm, Uppington, Telford, with buyers from all over Britain and Ireland present on Friday, September 14.

With equipment ranging from a single-furrow horse-drawn plough to a combine harvester, the star of the show proved to be the 2004 John Deere 6620 with 1,600 hours which fetched £31,000 from a local farmer.

This trend continued with the excellent condition of all the equipment attracting the attention of the farmers. Another notable example of this was the 1997 Master 12-tonne grain dryer, with 1,400 hours on the clock, which realised £7,300 from an Irish farmer.

Other lots attracting strong interest from farming and non-farming buyers were the range of stone troughs, the largest of which achieved an outstanding £800 with the others averaging £200. All were in fantastic condition.

It is not often that the auctioneers come across a combine so well looked after and in such good condition as the New Holland TX66 from 1994 which was the last item to sell on the day reaching in excess of £30,000. With 2,000 drum hours and 2,000 engine hours the combine sold to the new tenant of the land with the excellent price reflecting the condition of the machine.

As the hammer fell on the final lot of the day the auctioneers and the vendors were very pleased with the proceedings and would like to thank all who were involved in making the day a success.

Auctioneer Bernie Hutchinson said "It is really a testament to the farming community who showed fantastic support despite the uncertainty caused by the recent events in the agricultural industry".