It’s not a shock to anyone when I say over the last 5 years auction activity has greatly increased. At the end of 2014, used equipment inventories where at all-time highs. The auction market became a dumping ground for all kinds of equipment — late model, high hour and everything in between.

In 2013, the signs of a looming collapse were becoming clear. In Farm Equipment, Dr. Jim Weber had been writing a series titled “The Business of Selling.” An article from the series “Gathering Storm Clouds” was posted in July 2013. I am paraphrasing but, in the article, Dr. Weber talks about low return on sales, dealerships dependence on volume and market share payments. Because of the low returns, dealerships should have been failing in droves. But because of record high commodity prices, record low interest rates and record on-farm income, dealerships were able to spike margins with new and used wholegoods.

My outlook for the 2018 used equipment market is going to be the same as 2017 to slightly better. I think good quality used equipment will sell and condition and hours will be the main seller of this equipment. The 1-5 year old stuff will be the sweet spot.