Once the rush of planting season ends, the hunt for used equipment will intensify. Current economic conditions could push used equipment prices up to new levels this year. On the other hand, many farmers made significant equipment investments the last two years, making the most of record crop prices. So used equipment prices may be softer than they were in 2007 and 2008.

Whichever trend the industry follows, knowledge of pasts pricing standards will help buyers make good decisions about used equipment.

Our reports for used grain heads are rather slim and the heads that were sold were mostly older models. Here’s what we saw.

Minnesota and South Dakota reported the largest number of grain heads sold in 2008, which was 20 and 15 respectively.

The most expensive grain head sold in Minnesota was a Case IH 1063 1999 six-row that went for $9,500 in January 2008. Depending on the condition of the equipment, that seems like a good deal for the buyer. This model has been listed for as much as $18,500 at Midwest equipment dealers.

Four different John Deere 212 12-foot grain heads sold in Minnesota in January, April and August 2008. The heads sold in January went for $1,450 and $1,400. The April sale saw $1,100 for the head and the August sale brought $500. This model was manufactured between 1981 and 1987. Some auction sales of the same model have brought as much as $1,900, so this auction price seems to be about average.

A John Deere 216 16-foot grain head sold in Minnesota in September 2008 went for $1,350. These heads were manufactured between 1979 and 1987.

The cheapest head sold in Minnesota in 2008 brought $300 at a June sale there. It went for $300. It was a John Deere model but no additional information was available.

The most expensive grain head sold in South Dakota in 2008 was at a March sale. It was a John Deere model that brought $4,500. No further information was supplied.

The John Deere 212 that sold in South Dakota in March 2008 brought $3,500, considerably more than those same models that were auctioned in Minnesota in January 2008.

Four other John Deere 212 12-foot grain heads were sold in South Dakota at 2008 auction sales. Two August auctions brought $2,100 and $1,950 for the heads. A third August sale brought $1,600 for the John Deere 212 12-foot head. A July 2008 sale saw a 212 12-foot head sell for $1,050.

A Case IH 25-foot reel wheat head was sold at an August 2008 auction in South Dakota for $700. The model number wasn’t specified, but most likely this was a Case IH 1010, which was manufactured between 1984 and 2008. It’s a rigid head type and new list prices ranged from $10,560 to $14,433. Estimated loan value of a 1984 model is $3,375. A low auction price is $3,219 and high is $9,004.

Only nine grain heads were reported sold in Nebraska in 2008. Prices were low, ranging from $1,800 to $375. Heads reported sold in North Dakota ranged from $7,750 to $500. The highest priced head was a 1994 John Deere 913 14-foot head. This model was manufactured between 1988 and 2003. The sale took place in 2008.

Reports of four corn heads sold in Texas saw prices range from $3,000 to $900. It was a John Deere 653A six-row head that went for $3,000 at a September sale in Texas. The 653 was manufactured in 1979. New list price was $10,945. A second 653 sold for $1,100. A low auction price for this model is $900. High average is $1,700 and average auction price is $1,283.

It was a John Deere four-row head that sold for $900 at a September auction in Texas. No other details about the head were reported with the sale.

Reports of grain heads sold in 2009 is pretty slim at this point. Three have been reported sold in Minnesota, and one in Colorado.

The Minnesota sale was a January auction. A Gleaner 12-row 2003 model brought $32,500. No model number was reported.

Two other John Deere 10 corn heads that sold in Minnesota during January 2009 went for $350 and $700. This model was a two-row made between 1954 and 1969 and listed new for $1,535.