The summer of the late-model track tractor.

That’s what it feels like to me. Seems two or three times each of the past few weeks I’ve either been out covering machinery auctions featuring very nice late-model track tractors, or else I’ve had auction sale price reports stream in with prices on track tractors.

I’ve always been fascinated by these tractors. How much more or less will they sell for than non-track models? Are they more popular and therefore worth more money in certain geographic areas? Is there a point at which used track tractors begin to depreciate faster? Would that be 2, 3, 5 or 10 years old, or not at all?

As I said, interesting stuff.

The nice part is the answer to all these questions arrive in the form of these auction sale prices. So last week for example, on 2 farm auctions by Steffes Auctioneers, came these 2 gems:

• June 24 sale in north-central Minnesota: 2008 JD 9630T, 1,168 hours, 36″ tracks, Premium cab, 18 speed PS, 4 hyd., wide swing drawbar, HID lighting, power mirrors, beacon, 26 front weights. Sold for $216,500.
• June 25 sale in east-central Minnesota: 2003 Caterpillar Challenger MT765, 6,172 hours, 4 hyd., 3pt., 24″ belts (50%), set at 120″, 20 front weights, 16 front idler weights, rebuilt drivers and idler wheels, quick hitch, PTO, power mirrors. Sold for $85,000.

On that same June 25 auction in east-central Minnesota, was a 2001 JD 9400T with 4,026 hours, 36″ tracks, less than 200 hours on complete engine overhaul w/ receipts, $20K in work orders, 24 speed, 4 hyd., Greenstar ready, buddy seat, extra lights, wide swing drawbar, 75% undercarriage. Sold for $71,000.

Ok, so now we know what they sold for last week, but how do those sale prices compare to others sold? See for yourself. Click on the link below to view other sale prices I’ve compiled on JD 9400Ts, including ones sold in California, North Dakota, Iowa and Ohio.

A day after two senators from the Northeast, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, introduced the American Power Act, their version of a bill to slow global warming was blasted by their Midwestern colleague, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

“It just seems to me there’s too much emphasis in this bill on going down the nuclear and fossil fuel route,” Harkin told Agriculture.com in a press conference Thursday.

Harkin pointed out that the bill provides $54 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear power as well as a 10% tax credit for nuclear power plant construction. And it encourages offshore drilling of oil with a revenue sharing program, although individual coastal states would have some power to veto drilling up to 75 miles out from shore.