The Estevan-based Mack Auction Company is wrapping up another busy year of farm auctions and other types of auctions in the province.
Norm Mack said they were busy throughout the year, and they did quite a few farm sales for farm equipment and ranches that went pretty well.
“With the fall this year, and with the rains through September and October, and there still being crops left in the field, it was a real challenge for farmers, and we’re going to see what that brings us in the spring with the prices at that time; it could slow them down a bit,” said Mack.
A lot of wheat will be graded as feed, and flax is still in the ground. But farmers are a resilient bunch, and they will regroup.
“It’s been a challenging year for farmers, and it might show with cash flow coming into the next year,” said Mack.
While Mack Auction Company has a diverse range of auctions, about 90 per cent of its activity is agriculture-related, whether it be equipment, ranch or land. The farm sales are getting bigger and bigger as far as money is concerned, even though the amount of equipment on a farm is much less than it used to be.
“With those five, six or seven pieces, each one of them is worth a lot of money, even used,” he said.
Equipment is a big part of their farm sales, but the company is a leader in land sales as well, and Mack believes they have a good system in place.
The nature of the auctions has also changed a lot in recent years. While attendance is often down at auctions, people can watch them online and bid on items from anywhere in the world.
“People are sitting on their phones or on their laptops, giving us their bids, or at home. Farmers don’t have to travel (to auctions) anymore, they can be in their field or their tractor, and still be at our sales, and not take the day off to travel,” Mack said.
Mack Auction had a land auction on Thursday evening in Stoughton. It will conclude their 2019 auction season, but that doesn’t mean they’re finished working for this year. They will still be running in the winter, visiting farms and booking for next spring and summer.
“People might think there’s an off time for auctioneers and auction companies, but there really isn’t. If you’re not selling, you’re usually running around, picturing or listing or getting contracts signed so there’s always work to do, or getting your advertising in place for the winter catalogue.”
Several auctions have been booked for next year, and each day their phone is ringing with people considering a sale.
