Merit Auctions held an Ag-Pro pre-harvest equipment auction Aug. 20 featuring late model combines, tractors, harvesting, and other equipment. In full, 109 exceptional items, located in multiple locations in Georgia and Ohio, were offered via Proxibid. They included 27 tractors, 14 combines, 11 drapers and grain platforms, and 19 corn heads.

John Deere was prominent but other brands including Case IH, Drago, and Massey Ferguson were represented. The auction was conducted with no reserve. Warranties conveyed on many units, and financing was available to qualified buyers for qualifying items.

The results were significant with 24 items selling for six-figure sums. Six of them exceeded $300,000. Landing the auction’s highest bid, at $400,000, was a 2023 John Deere S770 combine, with just 12 engine hours and one separator hour. The 2WD unit featured a premium cab, premium visibility, select technology package, 3-speed electric shift transmission, power folding covers, Powercast tailboard, 580/85R42 front duals, and 750/65R26 rear tires.

Bidding went to $360,000 for a 2022 John Deere S790 combine, with 468 engine hours and 338 separator hours. The 4x4 was outfitted with a premium cab, leather seat with swivel, premium LED and exterior lights, premium radio, Gen 4 command center, Pro Drive transmission, Harvest Smart, extended wear grain handling, power folding covers, Powercast tailboard, 650/85R38 front duals, 750/65R26 rears, and a tracks-ready axle.

Bids on two additional Deere combines also exceeded $300,000. A 2022 model S780 with 431 engine hours and 300 separator hours bid to $350,000. The 4x4 unit had a premium cab, coarse grain package, leather seat, premium LED lights, premium radio, Gen 4 command center, Pro Drive transmission, Harvest Smart, power folding covers, Powercast tailboard, 650/85R38 front duals, 750/85R26 rear tires, and a tracks-ready axle. It carried an emissions warranty through June 2027 or 3,000 hours.

Coming in at $315,000 was a 2022 John Deere model S760 with 158 engine hours and 60 separator hours. It was 2WD, with a premium cab, cloth seat, standard lights, basic radio, Gen 4 command center, 3-speed electric shift transmission, extended wear grain handling, power folding covers, manual-adjust tailboard, 800/65R32 front and 600/70R28 rear tires.

Things continued in the $300,000-plus range with a 2022 John Deere 8R 340 tractor/loader with 911 hours, selling for $310,000. It was outfitted with a 700M loader with joystick control, E23 transmission, ILS front end, five premium rear remotes, Active Seat II, premium comfort, premium visibility, 84-GPM pump, 420/85R34 front tires, and 480/80R50 rear duals.

Hitting $302,000 was a 2022 John Deere 8R410 tractor with 1,167 hours. The Signature Edition model had an E23 transmission, cold weather package, Ultimate Comfort air seat plus cab suspension, Ultimate Visibility, Active Command steering, 2ILS front end, six premium rear remotes, 420/85R34 Firestone front tires, and 480/80R50 rear duals.

Eighteen additional pieces of equipment sold for six-figure bids, including $295,000 offered for a 2022 John Deere 8R370 tractor with 1,211 hours. The rig was outfitted with an IVT transmission, ILS front end, five premium rear remotes, premium comfort, Active Seat II, premium visibility, 420/85R34 front tires, and 480/80R50 rear duals. A final $100,000 was bid for a never-used 2023 John Deere C12R corn head, with 30-inch row spacing, non-StalkMaster, S-series combine (MY20+), standard side sheets, and RowMax chopping stalk roll.

In the five-figure range, bidders picked up equipment like a 2017 John Deere S680 combine, with 2,146 engine hours and 1,610 separator hours, picked up for $80,000. The 4x4 had a premium cab, leather package, AutoTrac ready, GS3 touch display, Pro Drive transmission with Harvest Smart, extended wear grain handling, manual extensions, Powercast tailboard, 650/85R38 front duals and VF750/65R26 rears. Another $80,000 secured a 2013 John Deere S680, with 2,025 engine hours and 1,366 separator hours. The 2WD combine was outfitted with a premium cab, premium radio, AutoTrac ready, HID lights, manual-adjust tailboard, Pro Drive transmission with Harvest Smart, T250/45R32 front, and 750/65R26 rear tires.

The first item to dip below the $50,000 mark was a 2020 John Deere 6120E tractor, with 1,098 hours that went for $48,000. It offered a Power Reverser transmission, standard cab, air suspension seat, triple deluxe SCV, standard drawbar, loader-ready package, beacon light, 340/85R24 front, and 460/85R34 rear tires.

Two drapers went for $45,000 each. One was a 2019 John Deere model 745FD, with dual knife drive, Polytine pickup reel, reel tine flip-over kit, and spare coarse-tooth knife. The other was a 2017 John Deere model 640FD, with dual knife drive, Polytine pickup reel, and reel tine flip-over kit.

Around the $25,000 mark came two Massey Ferguson tractors. One, a 2016 model 4610 tractor/loader with 1,948 hours, was won for $26,000. The 4x4 had a Power Reverser transmission, 12.4-24 front and 18.4-30 rear tires. Coming in at $21,500 was a 2016 model 4607M tractor loader with 904 hours. It was open station, with Power Reverser transmission, 11.2-24 front, and 16.9-30 rear tires.

Bids started bottoming out around $1,000-$1,500 for items like a 1988 John Deere 643 six-row corn head with 30-inch spacing, picked up for $1,300. Another Deere six-row corn head, a 1990 model 643, went for $1,200. Finally, three J&M grain wagons – two 250s and one 350 – sold from $550 to $800 respectively.

For information on upcoming Merit Auctions, visit: meritauctions.com.