Despite a softening grain market and economic uncertainty in the ag sector, values for late-model, low-hour farm equipment remain surprisingly firm, and in some cases, stronger than ever. According to a recent article by AgWeb, ahead of a packed fall auction calendar, dealers and auctioneers are seeing renewed confidence in certain categories of machinery.

The article, which recaps a recent Moving Iron Podcast episode featuring Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson, Casey Seymour, and others, points to multiple recent sales that signal ongoing strength in the upper tier of the used market.

At a dealer auction in North Dakota, a 2023 New Holland T8.410 tractor with just 521 hours sold for $237,000, which is the highest auction price ever recorded for that model, according to data from MachineryPete.com. At the same sale, a 2023 New Holland L334 skid steer with 227 hours brought $49,000, also setting a record.

In a separate auction in West Fargo, a 2023 John Deere 9RX 640 sold for $477,278. While that number is slightly below the current average of $488,250, AgWeb notes that this year’s prices have stabilized compared to the steep drop from 2023, when the average fell from $597,000 to its current level.

“There’s different ways to see things,” Peterson is quoted as saying. “That average auction price has remained flat, but if you look back two years the average auction price was about $597,000. So last year was the humongous drop down to $488,250, and then so far this year it’s kind of holding.”

While buyers are clearly responding to well-kept, like-new equipment, sellers and auctioneers are preparing for a highly competitive fall. Seymour predicted “big activity” across the auction landscape, particularly as retirement and farm auctions mix in heavily with traditional dealership consignments.

With so many sales happening simultaneously, both Seymour and Peterson emphasized the importance of strong marketing, digital outreach, and social media promotion to capture buyer attention.

In the same episode, Aaron Fintel, a used equipment specialist with 21st Century Equipment, shared that demand for used combines is heating up. After years of deferred upgrades, many growers are now actively shopping.

“We’re getting to that point where guys haven’t done anything, and now they kind of have to,” Fintel said. He noted that machines priced under $450,000 are seeing competitive interest, while those priced above that threshold are harder to move.

Fintel also mentioned a shift in buying behavior. Farmers are now prioritizing model year over engine hours, signaling a new way of evaluating value in the used market.

The podcast also included commentary from Shawn Hackett of Hackett Financial, who explained that corn prices are currently sitting below $4 per bushel, despite this being one of the rainiest growing seasons in the past 50 years. While that might suggest strong yields, Hackett warned it may not translate so simply into record output.

“You would think that we would get record yields and a record crop, and that’s what everyone is going with, but I wish it were that simple,” he said.

Despite the mixed signals in the commodity markets, optimism remains strong around fall auctions, especially as platforms like Tractor Tuesday gear up for what could be a record-setting season.

With no seller commissions, a growing user base, and highly visible online promotion, Tractor Tuesday is drawing attention from both independent sellers and dealership partners. Listings are already ramping up for upcoming auction dates, and with demand focused on well-maintained harvesting equipment, expectations are high for strong results.

The rest of 2025 may not be easy to predict in terms of crop pricing or weather, but in the used equipment market, one thing is clear: late-model machines with low hours are still commanding attention and getting top dollar.