On Wednesday 10th September, Cheffins will host a machinery sale on behalf of Eastern Farms, Cambridgeshire, expected to gross over £2m.
The sale has been prompted by a shift in farming systems, which has led to a comprehensive fleet renewal. Charles Leadbetter, owner of Eastern Farms Limited, has therefore decided to part with nearly half of the machinery on-site.
He intends to shift all 2,700ha of arable and grassland ground to direct drilling, reducing establishment costs and helping the business remain viable when producing combinable crops and forage.
Around 200 lots will be on offer, with highlights including 2023 John Deere 9RX 640 tractor which has an estimate of £300,000; a 2019 John Deere 9620 RX tractor with an estimate of £180,000; a 2022 John Deere X9 1100 combine harvester, estimate £300,000; a 2021 JCB 435S loading shovel, estimate £100,000; two John Deere 6R 215 tractors from 2024 and 2022 which are estimated at £130,000 and £90,000 apiece and a 2020 Richard Western GR25 chaser bin which is set to sell for £40,000.
Charles explains: “Farming is facing a period of major transition. Between extreme weather patterns, labour challenges, and rising input costs, the direct drilling and low disturbance cultivations approach not only helps protect us against establishment costs but also delivers stronger returns than conventional methods.
“We are still actively seeking all farm business tenancies and contract farming opportunities, and it is our belief that economies of scale are the way forward for long term sustainability. With strong demand and prices in the second-hand machinery market, now is the right time to streamline our fleet and invest in equipment tailored to the demands of sustainable farming.”
Oliver Godfrey, director and head of machinery sales at Cheffins adds: “This sale is a major undertaking, and will bring a series of highly desirable tractors, combines and other equipment to the market. Charles has been exemplary in how he has cared for his kit, with all of it dealer maintained and kept under cover, and I am sure that the effort he has put into this will be reflected in the prices achieved on the day.
“Second-hand machinery prices have continued to grow, however they still represent a serious financial saving in comparison to buying new, and this sale is an example of how farmers can turn to auctions to purchase the best in class of machinery to support their farming operations. We are delighted to be able to offer these quality machines to the market and are sure that the John Deere 9RXs and the John Deere combine are sure to be of interest for farmers and contractors not just in the UK, but throughout Europe.”
For more information go to www.cheffins.co.uk
