Taking place on the 29th September at the family farm near Wellington, the sale included over 600 lots, including tractors and a vast array of other vegetable growing equipment.

Oliver Godfrey, Director, Cheffins comments:

“The Coles sale was a storming success with six-figure sums paid for a number of the best tractors and equipment on offer. Buyers were from throughout the UK and Ireland and also mainland Europe. There was a particularly good trade for tractors which is indicative of the confidence in the farming sector despite the uncertainties which lie ahead around subsidies and the industry’s transition post-Brexit. In addition, the prices paid at the Coles sale demonstrate the lack of good quality, second-hand machinery currently available on the market and the subsequent demand levels from both domestic and overseas buyers. There has been a notable increase in the number of buyers bidding online rather than in person and we have been greatly encouraged by how well the market has adapted to purchasing via online systems. This uptick in online bidding has allowed us to generate some strong trade for machinery both at on-site sales and at the monthly machinery sale at Cheffins.”

Highlights of the sale included a series of Fendt and John Deere tractors, some of which made six figure sums on the day. A 2019 Fendt 724 Vario with 1708 hours on the clock sold for £111,000 whilst another of the same year, make and model with 1808 hours sold for £110,500. A 2018 Fendt 930 Vario with 4,377 hours sold for £105,500. Amongst the John Deeres, a 2017 John Deere 6155R with 5,260 hours and loader made £60,500 and a 2015 John Deere 6155R with 6,448 hours sold for £49,000. 

Amongst the other lots, the 2011 ASA-LIFT self-propelled swede/root harvester with 7,560 hours sold for £120,000. A 2009 Bateman self-propelled sprayer with 10,822 hours sold for £27,000.

In addition, spreaders, trailers, lorries, ploughs and destoners all also made high prices. These were offered alongside a wide range of implements, mini-buses, coaches and HGVs. There was also close to 5000 one-tonne swede/potato boxes which sold at an average of £76 per box.

Oliver Godfrey, Director, Cheffins comments: “The Coles family operated as one of the largest growers of swede, peas and broad beans in the UK, supplying all major supermarkets. After much deliberation, they made the decision to cease swede growing and concentrate on other farm diversification projects and the arable side of the business. This was a major sale of well-maintained, valuable machinery and equipment and we were glad to achieve such healthy prices for the Coles family on the day.”

Packhouse equipment including wash lines, grading and packing machinery and forklifts, is being sold in a timed online auction which will finish on Monday 12th October. This can be viewed at https://www.cheffins.co.uk/machinery-vintage-auctions/auction-calendar.htm

Prices reported are hammer prices, not inclusive of 2.5 per cent buyers’ premium or VAT.

For more information please visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767. 

For further media information, please contact Sophie Richardson, PR Manager at Cheffins, Sophie.richardson@cheffins.co.uk