Record-breaking prices given today for premium iron

Take a 2016 Deere 9570RX with 1,126 hours that sold today for $310,000 during an online sale conducted by Steffes Auctioneers. My research finds that is the highest price ever paid for a comparable tractor (by both age and hours). Mind you, this was a five-year-old tracked tractor that brought over $300,000!

But tracked tractor sales were brisk during this online auction of equipment being sold by Kibble Equipment.

READ MORE: Over 100 online iron auctions the first part of April

For example, a 2015 9570RT with 2,190 hours went for $202,000. Otherwise, a 2018 Deere 8370R with 2,000 hours sold for $261,000, and a 2015 8295R with 1,480 hours went for $169,000.

Strength in tractors sales this close to planting starting in the Midwest is understandable.

But how do you explain the $72,500 paid for a 2018 Deere 645FD draper header? True, the header was fully loaded and appeared to be in pristine shape. Still . . .$72,500?

That price makes its another record breaker for three-year-old Deere draper headers.

It turns out that all draper headers were of high interest online during this auction. Other draper sales included:

• $56,500 given for a 2017 640FD
• $40,500 bid on a 2015 640FD

Combine values were equally strong at today's Steffes auction. That may be surprising for a Midwest sale. But remember that:

1. Online sales of late-model, low-hour equipment from the Midwest are always strong. It is not unusual for 60% or more of the high-horsepower, late-model equipment at a live auction selling online and often to buyers located several states away.
2. Wheat harvest isn't that far away considering it will be in full swing in Texas by mid-June if not sooner.

Evidence of strong harvester values was seen in the $198,000 sale of a 2016 Deere S680 with 989 separator hours. True, this harvester was fully loaded. But I saw comparable newer combines selling the last several years for $140,000 or less.

This particular sale is a harbinger: Low-hour combines in cherry condition are going to bring premium prices either at auctions or in dealers' lots from here on out.

READ MORE: No April Fools! Nine online iron auctions today

Other combines' final bids at today's sale included:

• $159,000 for a 2018 Deere S770 with 1,036 separator hours
• $146,000 for a 2016 S670 with 1,055 separator hours
• $145,000 was the final bid for a 2015 S670 with 684 separator hours

There are a slew of online auctions being held the first week of April as a result of previously scheduled live sales being canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Almost all of these auctions were subsequently moved online and rescheduled for the first two weeks in April.