While conventional auctions have been postponed across the country, Stags’ recent Online Timed Auction featured 18 tractors, one of which sold for £23,350.

There were a further 230 lots including vehicles, machinery and farming effects that went under the virtual gavel and the catalogue was viewed by 16,230 people.

Bidding, which closed at 7pm on Tuesday, May 12, was fierce with over £388,000 worth of bids placed by bidders from seven different counties.

Harvey Pile who leads Stags’ Online Auctions said: “Our online auctions have been increasing in popularity since we began holding them over three years ago but recently we have seen a surge in interest from both potential vendors and purchasers looking to secure farm equipment at market value in an efficient and transparent way.

"We have seen sale on sale increases with the quality and quantity of lots entered and our professional advice and flexible approach has proven in providing vendors with prices beyond expectations, whilst giving purchasers the confidence to bid on items without seeing them before purchasing.”

Top price achieved was seen for a 2010 John Deere 6330 4WD tractor c/w JD 583 loader coming from a mixed beef and sheep farm in North Devon, with the lot finally closing at a price which exceeded expectations at £23,350.

Not far behind was another John Deere tractor, this time a 2007 6320 4WD tractor c/w MX T10 loader sold for a livestock farmer from Bodmin which achieved a healthy price of £19,250.

The third tractor to reach five figures was a low hour 1998 Ford New Holland 5635 4WD Tractor sold on behalf of a deceased estate in East Devon flying way past the reserve to sell for £12,000.

Other tractors sold included a 2004 New Holland TCE 50 4WD compact tractor which was sold on behalf of a retiring farmer from Trull, Somerset and was purchased for £7,000 by a farming family in Crediton.

A ‘rough and ready’ 1985 Massey Ferguson 2685 4WD tractor sold for £5,000 and now makes its way over to Hampshire.

Machinery also sold to a strong demand with the top price being achieved for a 2012 Vicon RF3325 Fixed Chamber Chopper Baler achieving £9,250 and travelling from Barnstaple to Beaminster in the process.

Close behind at £9,000 was the 2011 Claas Liner 2900 Twin Rotor Rake, finishing just short in the bidding with a sale agreed post sale, pleasing the vendor from Camelford.

A selection of mowers saw two lead the way in price with a John Deere 331 Mower Conditioner achieving £3,200 and a 2007 Kuhn FC313 Mower Conditioner selling for £3,000.

A small selection of balers topped at £3,200 for a New Holland D1000 Baler which has since been delivered to Newquay from mid-Devon.

June will see Stags conduct two further Online Timed Auctions, one being a full dispersal sale of farming equipment on behalf of Mr J Cowle, Winkleigh and the other a South West Summer Collective Auction.

For further details of these visit stags.co.uk.

Read more: Sedgemoor Livestock Market report for Friday May 15 and Saturday May 16