50 items of machinery sold following closure of D H Patten Contracting
13th December 2025
A sale of agricultural equipment earlier this month, held after the closure of Somerset-based D H Patten Contracting, saw high prices paid for modern machinery.
Running from 2nd December for ten days, the timed online sale hosted by Cheffins saw bidders take part from across the UK and Europe, competing for the fifty lots of premium and well-maintained machinery on offer, following a change in farm policy from D H Patten Contracting business.
Charles Wadsley, director at Cheffins, said: “The last timed online and onsite auction conducted in 2025 by Cheffins proved to be a real stocking filler, with quality modern tractors, combines, trailers, balers and various other machinery from leading manufacturers on offer.”
Highlights from the sale included a 2023 John Deere 6R250 tractor, which achieved £115,920 when sold to a local farming business. This was followed by a 2016 New Holland combine harvester, which achieved £95,220 when sold to a farmer from the Midlands, and a 2014 Krone Big Pack trailed baler, sold for £62,100 to a contractor.
Similarly, a 2019 NC 3500 vacuum tanker achieved £28,980, and a Smyth Field Master silage trailer sold for £19,665 when they were sold to an Irish buyer and a local farmer buyer, respectively.
Upcoming auctions
Mr Wadsley continued: “Throughout 2025 we have continued to see strong demand from end-user buyers in the agricultural sector, helping to support robust prices.
“These buyers have been competing with purchasers from Europe, many of whom have been using the wash-down facility based at the Cheffins Machinery Saleground at Sutton, Cambridgeshire, to ensure machines are prepared correctly for export.
“Recent months have also seen a noticeable uptick in farmer buyers from Scotland, bolstered by the Basic Payment Scheme and a recent record harvest, looking to renew their fleets or upgrade machinery for the year ahead.”
The expert explained that the demand for quality second-hand kit and increased sales to Scotland and further afield has helped to underpin machinery prices, keeping them buoyant in spite of the current political landscape, while still offering a significant saving in comparison to buying new.
Cheffins will be hosting two timed online machinery sales over the Christmas period, with a modern machinery auction on behalf of Cambridgeshire farming business P J Lee & Sons running from the 22nd December to 8th January and offering over 120 lots of surplus machinery, including potato-growing equipment and irrigating equipment, arable machinery, mowers, vehicles and spares.
In addition, there is a timed online vintage sale running from 22nd December to 6th January, which will include vintage and classic tractors, portable steam engine, classic commercials, vintage motorcycles, enamel signs and associated items.
For more information, please visit Cheffins’ website or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.
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