A MACHINERY dispersal sale on a West Somerset farm has seen some of the items find new homes as far away as Poland.

It was the end of an era as auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt (GTH) dispersed machinery on behalf of Eric and Lucy Parker, of Eastbury Farm, Carhampton, including seven tractors, two JCBs, a combine, Land Rover, and other farming items and livestock equipment and effects.

Previously, the firm had sold off the couple’s dairy herd and had strong links with the family for many years.

The sale was attended by a huge numbers of the local farming community as well as many travelling from across the Westcountry, in addition to online bidders who were active on Marteye, an online bidding portal.

Bidding saw a tractor heading to Wales and a batch grain dryer sold to a buyer in Poland.

Leading prices for the main vendor included £26,000 for a 2011 Case Puma 155, £14,500 for a high-houred Case MX 135, and £11,700 for a Valtra 6400 showing more than 18,000 hours on the clock.

The machinery lines were keenly contested, selling to £6,200 for a McConnel Batwing Topper and £6,000 for a HiSpec 2300 slurry tanker.

GTH auctioneer Tom Mellor said a large run of cattle and sheep equipment was also sold, comprising hundreds of lots, sold to a bumper crowd of purchasers with too many prices to mention.

In addition to support from buyers travelling to the sale, neighbours also took advantage of the on-farm auction, entering a number of good quality items which met with a great deal of interest.

Prices of note included £30,000 being achieved by a John Deere combine, purchased by a Somerset farmer, £14,800 for a 2008 JCB Loadall, and £11,800 for a McConnel PA 5565 hedge trimmer.

Mr Mellor said: “It has been a delight to work with Eric and Lucy over previous weeks, culminating in the sale.

“The popularity of our vendors was evident when so many attended to support them, both with their presence but equally with their bids and purchases.

“The sale epitomised what an on-farm sale should be, with circa 600 lots being sold over the course of about four hours, with a fantastic clearance rate and excellent feedback from all those who attended.

“A pat on the back to the vendors for their hard work in pulling the sale together and the GTH sales team for processing it.”

Mr Mellor said anybody with surplus items of equipment to sell, whether it was a single item or a whole dispersal sale, should contact GTH’s specialist team on 01278 410250 who would be happy to help, navigating the pros and cons of on-farm or on-site sales as well as online timed sales.

The National Farmers’ Union has for some time been highlighting the numbers of UK farmers who were considering leaving farming due to financial strain from Government policies, such as the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive and changes to inheritance tax.