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A 2017 John Deere S680 combine harvester topped a successful clearing sale at Munglinup last week, attracting $415,000.

Held by Landmark Brindley & Gale, Esperance on behalf of Neil and Mary Wandel, Willawayup Farms, the sale grossed more than $2 million, as auctioneer Neil Brindley deftly handled the 247 registered bidders through an orderly process of cattle and sheep disbursements (See pages 106 and 108 respectively) before attacking the machinery lines.

A crowd of about 350 farmers watched intently – and in silence – as they witnessed the S680 header go under the hammer.

It was considered a good buy as it had only recorded 600 engine hours and 470 rotor hours. 

It came with a 12.2 metre 640D front and RTK guidance and was in good condition.

At one stage bidding stalled at $400,000 with Mr Brindley declaring a phone bid had not reached its reserve price.

With the phone bidder waiting, a quick conversation with Mr Wandel saw Mr Brindley declare to the phone bidder: “It’s yours for another $15,000.”

Second top price was recorded for a 2012 John Deere 9510R 4WD tractor (5010hrs) on 800/70R38 tyres. 

The buyer was Bullfinch farmer John Nicoletti.

Another John Deere tractor, a 2009 FWA 8330 (7350hrs) in good condition, also triggered some spirited bidding with a cheeky opening bid of $25,000 moving to a final bid of $70,000.

Two bidders obviously had their eyes on the John Deere 4440 tractor (12,493hrs) as they sparred until a final bid of $13,000 won the day.

An ‘old faithful’ John Deere 8440 4WD tractor with PTO went to a good home for $4000.

Not surprisingly, a John Deere 770CH dual axle road grader (13,980hrs) with new tyres and front blade, found favour with a pocket of bidders pushing the final bid to $84,000.

Paying slightly higher, was a bidder on a 104 kilowatt (140 horsepower), 2017 TF 42.7 Merlo teleporter (1050 hrs) with a 2.5 cubic metre bucket and forks. 

It was knocked down for $90,000. 

There was no shortage of bids either for grain handling equipment.

A 2013 25 tonne single axle Grain King chaser bin made $50,000, while a slightly older 30t Trufab Grain King chaser bin with a fire unit attracted a final bid of $40,000.

A 24t dual axle Norrish Chase Mor chaser bin with extension auger, topped out at $35,000.

A Vennings self-propelled auger (12.2 metres x 25 centimetres) with a 23kW (31hp) electric-start Vanguard engine went for $13,500, while a Grain Commander (12.2m x 25cm) auger with a Kohler engine was snapped up for $4500.

Harvest equipment included a Mainero 2230 PTO-drive bag loader, selling for $6500, while a selection of open top gravity discharge mobile field bins ranged from $50 for a 25 tonner (twice), up to $14,000, for a PTO-driven 85t Parker open top model. 

On the hay side, a 4m John Deere 956 MoCo mower conditioner made $19,000 while a John Deere 590 round hay baler notched $6500.

And 200 bales (8 x 4) of oaten hay weighing about 500 kilograms, was sold for $170 a bale.

A total of 117 rolls of pasture hay went for $80 a roll.

Topping the vehicle section was a licensed 1995 FH12 Volvo prime mover (791,000km) which was knocked down for $13,000. 

A 2009 Toyota Prado (390,000km) with a 3 litre diesel engine replaced at 295,000km went for $6000, while a licensed 1995 80 Series Toyota Landcruiser with new tyres, clutch, handbrake, injectors, wheel bearing and diff seals was passed-in on a final bid of $5000.

That price, however, was enough to secure a licensed 2009 Nissan tray top ute with a 3L diesel engine.

Trailers are always handy and a licensed tandem axle model (2.9 x 1.8m) with metal sides and storage box went for $7250, with bidding pushed no doubt by the losing bidder on the previous lot, a licensed 2.7x1.5m similar trailer which snuck away for $1700.

The bargains in the sundries lines saw eight buckets of 120 millimetre Cyclone coupling clips knocked down for $80; 70 scarifier points made $350; a 20t-capacity jack made $100 and a pallet of five-studded Toyota Landcruiser tyres (four) and rims (eight) cost $325.

A collector’s item saw a Levermatic wool press paired with a Sunbeam dual box electric wool press leave the premises with the new owner parting with $20.

Big ticket items that failed to make the reserve prices included a 2015 John Deere R4045 self-propelled boomsprayer (2230hrs) which was equipped with RTK guidance, a 4500L tank and a 36m boom. 

An 18.2m DBS precision seeder with an Ausplow Multistream air seeder also failed to make the set reserve after a flurry of inquiries before the sale. 

Bidding stopped at $45,000 for a John Deere D450 swather (300hrs) and at $9000 for the accompanying John Deere 615P doubled-belted, pick-up front.

Mr Brindley said the sale format attracted a good crowd from throughout the State.

“It was a very positive result,” he said. 

On the sheep, bidding was very strong and they were pleasing values reflecting the wool market.

Mr Wandel, said he was happy with the sale.

“We met the market and the good stuff sold very well, including some tractors,” he said.

“I thought the chaser bins were good value and the oaten hay attracted a good price.

“And the header achieved what I thought was good value.”

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