Used Farm Equipment Prices Split as Technology Drives Late-Model Values

Article originally published in Successful Farming magazine on September 14, 2026.

In this episode, Andy Campbell, director of insights for Tractor Zoom, and Ryan Roossinck, digital marketing specialist for Tractor Zoom, focus on the postharvest machinery market outlook.

Heading into the fall harvest of 2026, dealer-driven auctions have decreased due to inventory corrections through 2024 and 2025, with manageable equipment levels on many dealer lots. However, the equipment pricing gap between late-model, high-technology machinery and older units is growing. This is particularly noteworthy in the self-propelled sprayer market, with strength in late-model pricing for 3-5-year-old units with advanced technology.

“One of the trends that I saw this summer was the lack of dealer auctions,” Campbell said. “Dealers are really reluctant to go to auction and reduce their inventory. They don’t have too because a lot of them went through that pain last year.”

There has been an inventory normalization in certain machinery categories. “I saw planters really start to normalize,” Campbell said. This comes on the heels of a 3-4-year lull.

Dealers worked through excess combine inventories the last couple of years, and the market for combines and headers has stabilized.  “We really haven’t seen combine values drop.”

Utility tractor values held strong through 2025 due to the strong cattle market and auction prices for high-horsepower row crop tractors have remained strong as farmers have shifted from buying new. There are buying opportunities in the 4WD high-horsepower tractor market as the prices of previous-generation units continue to soften.

Whether corn can sustain prices above $5.00 to $5.50 per bushel—will serve as the ultimate catalyst for postharvest equipment buying in late 2026. If farm margins hold, replacement demand could tighten used inventory levels before the year closes.

“Post-harvest, you’re going to have increased buyer activity if we see $5 corn continue.”

— Andy Campbell

Meet Andy Campbell

Andy Campbell is director of insights at Tractor Zoom. As a past engineer, professor, and entrepreneur, Campbell is passionate about bridging the gap between data and action for farmers, dealers, auctioneers, and ag lenders. He continues to help operate his family farm in Iowa.

Tractor Zoom was started in 2017 to help farmers and other decision makers have access to current equipment values and make data-driven decisions about heavy equipment.

Meet Ryan Roossinck

Ryan Roossinck manages Tractor Zoom’s digital marketing and writes the Interesting Iron blog. He grew up on a fruit growing operation in West Michigan, and is passionate about tractors. He believes every tractor has a story to tell.

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Episode Highlights

• The Dean Darnell auction held southwest of Rochester highlighted the demand and strong pricing for pristine, low-hour older equipment
• Producer interest in in-furrow technology and automated upgrades is accelerating planter trade-in cycles
• Higher feeder cattle prices are forcing producers to balance equipment capital against livestock costs