4WD Row Crop Tractors and Farmer Narratives Drive Used Equipment:

As July approaches, several key trends are shaping the used farm equipment market, most notably, growing demand for four-wheel drive row crop tractors and the power of storytelling in driving auction success.

Farmers are starting to gear up for the fall tillage season, and that means increased interest in 4WD row crop tractors. According to podcast hosts Casey Seymour and Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson, these high-horsepower machines serve as reliable indicators of the overall health of the used equipment market. When their values rise, it’s usually a sign that combines, sprayers, and implements will soon follow.

A recent example highlights this trend: a 2016 Gold Key John Deere 9420R “bareback” tractor with just 120 hours sold for $320,000 at the Harry and Lola Blackburn farm auction in Iowa—one of only a few similar models to cross the $300,000 threshold. Machinery Pete notes that while auction prices for 4WD tractors dipped last year, well-maintained, pre-DEF models are now making a strong comeback.

“Pre-DEF tractors in good condition are starting to bring in some impressive prices,” Pete says. “They may not reach the peaks of 2021 or 2022, but the numbers are still solid.”

Another factor affecting the market is the ratio of farm auctions to consignment sales. While an uptick in farm auctions can signal financial distress in the ag sector, it also tends to lift overall auction prices.

“Nobody wants to see forced sales, but the reality is farm auctions often bring in higher bids than consignment sales,” Seymour explains.

And while specs and condition are critical, Seymour and Pete emphasize that the personal stories behind the equipment can be equally powerful sales drivers.

“People buy with emotion,” Pete says. “Sharing the human story behind a machine—why it was bought, how it was used—can pull buyers in. It turns a listing into a connection.”

Market Updates and Technology Talk

In this episode, the podcast also covers broader market insights and ag tech developments:

Chip Nellinger, owner of Blue Reef AgriMarketing, offers a look at global commodity trends, including how the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict is influencing oil and crop futures.

Eric Halfman, John Deere’s go-to-market manager for riding lawn equipment and Gator UTVs, shares updates on how precision ag tools—like AutoTrac guidance and field boundary mapping—are being integrated into the 2025 model Gators.

Aaron Fintel, used equipment expert at 21st Century Equipment, weighs in with observations from the Western Plains, echoing the trend toward strong 4WD tractor demand.

Catch the full episode now on YouTube.com. Don’t forget to tap the Thumbs Up and Subscribe buttons to stay updated on the latest insights from the Moving Iron team.