The number of confirmed machinery lots for the upcoming Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) auction has been steadily rising ahead of the big day – which is just under a week away.
In conjunction with the FTMTA’s new partner (auctioneer) – Wilsons Auctions – the event is scheduled for Saturday (February 24) at the Punchestown Event Centre near Naas, Co. Kildare.
Commenting on the upcoming used tractor and machinery sale, Gary Ryan, the association’s CEO, said: “The association is pleased to partner with a firm of the scale, history and reputation of Wilsons Auctions – in further developing our FTMTA Farm Machinery Trade Auction.
“The purpose for us in introducing this new member service during 2017 was to provide an additional sales channel for our members. It is important that we are aligned with an auctioneer that can support that aim to the best possible extent.”
Wilsons Auctions
Speaking about the appointment, Ricky Wilson, Wilsons Auctions’ director and head of Irish operations, said: “We have 82 years’ experience auctioning tractors, agricultural machinery and plant.
Commenting on the upcoming event, the director said that – for continuity and ease of bidding – there will only be one auction ring and auction hall, unlike last year’s event which ran two rings.
Wilson added that the auction will be streamed in ‘real time’ online for both international and national bidding. It will be a public (auction) event, the director said.
Pre-approval for finance
There will also be a pre-approval financing facility for the event, with Finance Ireland coming into the fold.
Sean O’Meara of Finance Ireland explained: “We have held conversations with the FTMTA; we are now going to be available on the day – but we will also be available between now and Saturday for people to contact us, in relation to a particular piece that may be of interest to them, and look for pre-approval.
Based on certain criteria that we would have, if everything is in order, we will pre-approve them to purchase that asset up to a certain amount.
O’Meara noted that Finance Ireland can do an asset evaluation for items of interest, and approve farmers for financing of the item within reason.
It’s a two-pronged approach, O’Meara explained:
“One is, in the days leading up to the event, for people that have spoken to us to get approval before they go up.”
“The second option is if, on the day, someone has spotted something they didn’t realise they would be interested in – but then they decide that they want to put a bid on it – that they will come to us and we will give them an indication of whether they would be approved for finance or not.”
O’Meara warned however: “Naturally it is more difficult because we don’t have a credit function present on the day. But we could maybe give them an indication.
“We will look at second-hand assets, that maybe a lot of other companies will not look at,” O’Meara said. “Generally what we offer is a quick service, a quick decision and a quick turn-around – with regard to invoicing, paperwork, etc.”
The auction will accept lots from all FTMTA member firms, including retail dealers, manufacturers and distributors and, according to the association, will be unreserved in nature.
Viewing will be open at Punchestown on the day prior to the auction – on Friday, February 23. Bidding will be possible on-site, online or through a pre-bid service.
Below is just a selection of the machinery lots that will be offered on the day.
Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture.
For those interested in the lots on offer, further information can be found on Wilsons Auctions’ website.
