An online sale on behalf of the Somerset firm, D H Patten Contracting, resulted in strong interest and high prices paid, according to Cheffins.
Running for ten days from the 2nd of December, it saw bidders from across the UK and Europe competing for 50 lots of premium machinery, instigated by a change of policy within the contracting business.
Charles Wadsley, director at Cheffins, comments: “The last timed online and onsite auction conducted in 2025 by Cheffins proved to be a real stocking filler, with quality modern tractors, combines, trailers, balers and various other machinery from leading manufacturers on offer.”
Highlights from the sale included a 2023 John Deere 6R250, achieving £115,920 and going to a local farming business; elsewhere, a 2016 New Holland combine harvester made £95,220 and will head to the Midlands; and a 2014 Krone BigPack baler was purchased by a contractor for £62,100.
Other machines included a 2019 NC 3500 slurry tanker (£28,980) and a Smyth Field Master silage trailer (£19,665).
Charles continues: “Throughout 2025 we have continued to see strong demand from end-user buyers in the agricultural sector, helping to support robust prices. These buyers have been competing with purchasers from Europe, many of whom have been using the wash-down facility based at the Cheffins Machinery Saleground at Sutton, Cambridgeshire, to ensure machines are ready for prepared correctly for export.
“Recent months have also seen a noticeable uptick in farmer buyers from Scotland, bolstered by the Basic Payment Scheme and a recent record harvest, looking to renew their fleets or upgrade machinery for the year ahead. Demand for quality second-hand kit and increased sales to Scotland and further afield has helped to underpin machinery prices, keeping them buoyant in spite of the current political landscape, while still offering a significant saving in comparison to buying new.”
Cheffins will host two more timed online auctions over the Christmas period, with a sale on behalf of Cambridgeshire farming business P J Lee & Sons running from the 22nd of December to the 8th of January, and a vintage sale running from the 22nd of December to the 6th of January.