One of 2024’s first significant Midwest equipment sales took place on Jan. 9 when Illinois’ Schmid Auction held its Rutland Farms Farm Equipment Retirement Auction. The no reserve, no buyer’s premium event was held exclusively on Schmid’s online bidding platform. Offered were 31 lots of well-maintained, shed-kept equipment, including tractors, combines, trucks, trailers and agricultural machinery.

The auction opened with five John Deere tractors and combines. The first lot, receiving the auction’s highest sum of $161,300 from nearly 400 bids, was a 2007 John Deere 9230 4WD tractor with 5,073 hours. It featured five remotes, power-beyond, steering valve, Starfire 3000 globe, Brown Box, big 1000 PTO, and quick hitch. Tires were Firestone 18.4R46 front duals at 80 percent and rear Firestone 18.4R46 duals at 20 percent.

Next came a 2000 John Deere 8410 MFWD tractor with 6,386 hours. It was outfitted with a Brown Box, ATU 200 steering wheel, Starfire 3000 globe, four remotes, quick hitch, big 1000 PTO, rear inside wheel weights, 480/80R46 rear duals at 80 percent, and 420/90R30 front tires. Bidding went to $121,100.00 from a staggering 781 bids.

The third tractor was a 1992 John Deere 4960 with 4,867 hours (737 hours on the Deere-rebuilt engine). Other refurbishments included a new water pump, new crankshaft damper, rebuilt cylinder head, bushing, and overhauled front half of the transmission. The tractor featured Power Shift MFWD, Brown Box, ATU 200 steering wheel, Starfire 3000 globe, big 1000 PTO, LED lights, 12 front weights, and rear inside wheel weights. Tires were Michelin 480/85R46 rear duals at 90 percent and front 420/85R30 at 90 percent. Nearly 640 bids chalked up $77,200.00.

The last tractor was a 1996 John Deere 8770 4WD bareback with 5,712 hours. It had three remotes, Brown Box, ATU 200 steering wheel, Starfire 3000 globe, quad range, 520/85R38 front tires at 75 percent, and rear duals at 50 percent. Bidding went to $58,800.

Next in line was a 2010 John Deere 9770 STS Bullet Rotor combine with 3,236 machine hours and 2,314 separator hours. The unit featured 4WD, HD extended-wear package, Maurer hopper extensions, Alliance 520-85R42 front duals at 40 percent, and Firestone 600/65R28 rears at 20 percent. Bidding was competitive, with over 600 bids ringing up $85,500.

After the tractors and combine came five trucks and trailers, including a 2004 Freightliner Classic 120 Day Cab semi-truck, with 800,000 overall miles. A 2020 overhaul included repainting the frame and truck; the tac now indicated 148,000 miles. The 210-inch wheelbase rig was powered by a Cat C-12 diesel with 430 hp and an Eaton Fuller 10-speed transmission with 3.73 gear ratio. On the front were Dunlop 11R24.5 steer tires with 12k miles and excellent tread; rears were Dynacargo 11R24.5 with 40k miles. Over 200 bids took the truck to $37,500.

Hitting $35,500 from over 300 bids was a 2000 International 8100 6x4 grain truck with 358,620 miles. It was powered by a Cummins 15M-280 diesel paired with an Eaton Fuller 10-speed transmission. It featured an 18-foot bed, 64-inch’ sides, roll tarp, twin screws, air ride, cargo doors, and metal floors.

A 2012 Kenworth T600B Day Cab semi-truck with an 182-inch wheelbase and 477,889 miles also did well, selling for $28,200 from nearly 200 bids. It had a PACCAR MX-445 engine, Eaton Fuller 10-speed transmission, wet kit, power windows and mirrors, and aluminum rims. Front tires were 295/75R225 with 12k miles; rears were 295/75R22.5 with 40k miles.

Various pieces of agricultural equipment sold impressively, including a 2017 Kinze 3600 16/31 ASD Planter that reached $91,000 on 386 bids. It featured bulk fill, two hoppers, new disc blades, no-till coulters, ground drive, and Kinze DigiStar Scale Link SL220. The KPM-III acreage monitor indicated 4,531 acres lifetime.

Roughly 300 rounds of bidding landed $59,800 for a 2021 Unverferth 1019 X-Treme grain cart in excellent condition. It was outfitted with a 20-inch auger, big 1000 PTO, adjustable spout, scale and scale head, rear camera, roll tarp, four hydraulics, and Mitas SFT900-60R32 tires. A 2014 John Deere 635FD HydraFlex™ draper head also did solidly, at $40,100 from 140 bids. Specifics included 800 acres of soybeans per year, single-point hookup, and spare sickle.

Noteworthy at this auction was that nothing sold for less than four figures. Two almost identical EZ Trail 3400 gravity wagons with Brumleve roll tarps, 1074 gears, and seed augers sold for $4,400 and $3,800. An Anderson 13 knife anhydrous bar, with good knives, and a Dickey-John controller, went for $3,300. And a 20-foot EZ Trail 672 head cart, while hitting the auction’s low, still came in at $2,400.

For information on Schmid’s upcoming auctions, visit www.bidschmid.com.