Auction action.

Who moved my cheese? How to swim with the sharks and not get eaten.

Don't you just love the catchy titles they come up with for all the latest business strategy and management books available? Get right down to it and they all are trying to hammer home the same point: we need to be willing to change with the times.

Remember the old days, when you were trying to value a piece of equipment how you would reach behind your desk and grab the old book with the cover almost worn off? Back in those days profit margins weren't so anorexic.

Yes, times have changed and we do need to change with them.

Just the other day I got a fax from an auctioneer in central Minnesota. He had just finished a very nice auction and faxed over the sale prices. The sale featured a 1996 model Case IH 7210 two-wheel drive tractor in good condition with 1,625 hours and duals. It sold for $38,000.

Just the kind of very specific, extremely timely information you shouldn't be without when valuing used equipment on a daily basis. Check the accompanying table for a few other recent auction prices on other tractors in the 130 horsepower range.

Yesterday I talked with an auctioneer in central North Dakota who had a farm sale the day before. The larger pieces sold very well, bring a bit more than expected, but two pieces sold very soft on the sale. A Melroe 1000 plow (10-18) brought just $1,300 and a Summers 350 gallon 90-foot pickup sprayer in like new condition with a Honda 8 hp motor sold for only $2,500 (cost $12,000 new).

Certainly could come in handy to know those sale price facts, especially if you're thinking of taking a similar piece in on trade.

Greg Peterson publishes F.A.C.T.'s Report, a guide to auction prices on all types of equipment. Subscription includes: access to website with five years of auction prices and database of equipment on upcoming auctions; F.A.C.T.'s Report books; listing of your equipment in free dealer database on website, updated monthly; link back to your website. 1-year subscription $395. Call 800-381-0423 or visit http://www.machinerypete.com.

2002 Auction Sale Prices on 130 HP Tractors

Make     Model  Year  Hours  Cond.  Sale Price  Area *

Ford-NH  8730   1992  -      Good   17,700      ECSD
White    145    1991  2200   Exc.   34,000      ECWI
White    2-135  1979  6150   Good   9,700       NCIA
AC       8030   -     3841   Good   18,500      WCIL
MF       3650   1987  3682   Good   13,600      NEKS
MF       3650   1988  8940   Good   17,000      SCIA
Case     2290   -     6311   Good   5,600       ECMI
Case     2290   -     5601   Good   6,100       WCMN
Case     2290   1980  -      Good   6,800       ECND
IHC      5088   -     4600   Exc.   18,000      ECWI
IHC      5088   -     2664   Good   20,000      SCPA
IHC      5088   1980  3600   Good   17,250      SWMN
IHC      5088   1982  2759   Good   18,500      SWIL
IHC      5088   1983  4303   Good   16,000      ECIA
IHC      5088   1984  4398   Good   18,100      SWOH
IHC      5088   1984  5263   Good   21,000      WCIA
CaseIH   2294   1987  6000   Good   10,500      SCMN
CaseIH   7110   1988  12674  Good   18,500      NWWY
CaseIH   7110   1991  5704   Good   25,000      ECND
CaseIH   7110   -     5758   Good   -           WCKY
CaseIH   7210   1996  1625   Good   38,000      WCMN
CaseIH   8910   1998  644    Good   42,000      WCIL
CaseIH   8910   1998  700    Exc.   45,000      SCMN
JD       4440   1978  9100   Good   14,400      NWPA
JD       4440   1979  4500   Good   17,000      NCMI
JD       4440   1979  6300   Good   17,750      SCNE
JD       4440   1979  5470   Good   22,560      NCOH
JD       4440   1979  6375   Good   24,250      WCMN
JD       4440   1980  4025   Good   23,000      NEIL
JD       4440   1981  8527   Good   15,000      NECO
JD       4440   1981  1055   Exc.   29,000      SCKS
JD       4440   1982  5734   Good   20,000      WCIN
JD       4255   1990  10000  Good   25,000      ECWI
JD       4255   1991  3240   Good   38,000      SWIL
JD       7710   1998  2143   Good   46,750      SCMN

Make     Specs

Ford-NH  MFWD, air compressor
White    MFWD
White    Duals
AC       2WD
MF       2WD, duals
MF       MFWD, 1500 hrs on OH
Case
Case
Case
IHC      2WD, Western cab
IHC      2WD
IHC      2WD, Western cab, duals
IHC      2WD, Western cab
IHC      2WD, rear tires shot
IHC      2WD, duals
IHC      MFWD, 1 owner, duals
CaseIH   MFWD
CaseIH   2WD, duals
CaseIH   MFWD, clean
CaseIH   No Sale at $17,000, 2WD
CaseIH   2WD, duals
CaseIH   2WD, dulas
CaseIH   MFWD, Like New
JD       New paint, good tires
JD
JD       New upholstery, duals
JD       Duals
JD
JD       Duals
JD       Duals, full weights
JD       Full weights
JD
JD       MFWD
JD       2WD, 1 owner, duals
JD       MFWD

* Denotes specific region each tractor sold at auction: ECSD =
East-central South Dakota, etc. Each tractor listed sold at auction in
2002.