Numerous 200-360hp Fendt and 140-200hp John Deere tractors, lots of vegetable growing equipment, and a total of over 600 lots will go under the hammer at the end of September at a Cheffins dispersal sale on behalf of Somerset vegetable grower KS Coles Ltd.
The Fendt tractor line-up comprises a 2019 936, 3 x 930 (2017-2018), 2 x 820 (2011), 2 x 724 (2019) and an F275 GT. The 10 John Deere tractors going under the hammer are a 6195R (2018), 2 x 6190R (2013), 2 x 6155R (2015/2017), 6930 (2011), 6830 (2011), 6330 (2008), 6100 (1995) and 2040S.
A 2011-made self-propelled Asa lift SP460B swede harvester is also on the list, as is a JCB 3205 (2014) telehandler and Bateman RB26 self-propelled sprayer from 2009.
The sale will also include a full range of root growing and harvesting machinery, including de-stoners, harvesters, bed tillers, toppers, ridgers, bed formers, planters, mesh layers, cultivators, sprayers, ploughs, power harrows, min-till and stubble cultivators, press rolls and fertiliser spreaders.
The 2011 Asa Lift SP460B swede harvester has done 7,504 hours.
There will also be plenty of packhouse equipment (wash lines, grading and packing machinery and forklifts), plus a wide range of implements, 20 trailers, 50 static caravans, over 5,000 one-tonne wooden swede boxes, around 30,000 plastic picking crates, mini-buses, coaches and HGV’s.
The Coles family have been involved in the marketing of vegetables from Somerset for over three generations, with Ken Coles starting his own enterprise in 1964, growing and selling vegetables at Covent Garden market.
Alongside his wife Christine, Ken Coles expanded the business rapidly over the years. With the head of operations now Ken’s son Paul Coles, the business is one of the UK’s market leaders in growing, harvesting, packing and supplying swedes, peas and broad beans to all major supermarkets.
The clock on the 2009 Bateman RB26 self-propelled sprayer reads 10,817 hours.
“The family have made the decision to cease the swede growing operation and will now concentrate on other farm diversification projects and the arable side of the business,” comments Bill King, chairman, Cheffins. “This is a major sale of a variety of equipment which is bound to generate huge amounts of interest from other farming operation, dealers and exporters.”
The sale will take place on Tuesday 29 September at the family farm at Chelston House farm, Chelston, near Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9HP.