MORE than £180,000 of farm machinery was sold at an auction in Sibsey.

A new joint venture by two Boston farming businesses, C and R Needham Ltd and David Ashton Ltd, led to the sale of the surplus equipment held by Brown and Co.

Featuring in excess of 90 lots the auction at Mallows Farm attracted buyers and interest from across the county and as far afield as Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Auctioneer James O'Brien hailed the event as a success particularly in view of the difficult situation facing the economy in general.

He told the Target: "The trade for good quality, second hand farm machinery continues to buck the current economic trend and reflects farmers' confidence.

"The firm's auction sales are attracting large crowds of potential buyers which in turn is demonstrated in the high prices achieved for well maintained agricultural machinery and proving that auction is the best method of sale."

Competitive bidding saw two quality Vaderstad lots sell above expectations with a Super Rapid 300S Box Drill making £11,000 and a 2003 425 Carrier fetching £10,250.

Other key lots that went under the hammer included two John Deere Tractors, a 6300 four wheel drive made £11,400 while a 2850 Power Syncron 2 wheel drive made £8,800. A 1995 TS270 Matbro Telehandler fetched £7,800.

Brown and Co is holding further auctions of farm machinery and equipment in the coming months and for details, call James O'Brien or Elizabeth Allen on 01775 722321 or visit www.brown-co.com