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Professional auctioneer shares bidding strategies

Avoid these common bidding mistakes

IN THE SHOP with Rachel

By Rachel Gingell
Farms.com

I called my first bids when I was 8 years old – and I was hooked. A few years later, I started out in the auction profession by clerking for a friend who was a local auctioneer. At age 16, I took a few weeks off of high school to attend auction school. Ever since then, I’ve enjoyed spending weekends working as an auctioneer, specializing in (what else?) farm equipment.

As a professional auctioneer, I’ve seen people make plenty of mistakes when bidding. Here are some good strategies to get the best bang for your buck at auction.

1) Don’t bid on the first number that is called. Auctioneers want items to sell high and to sell quickly, so they’ll start the bidding by asking for a relatively high number. Wait a bit to bid, since auctioneers will lower that price until they get a nibble. Once the price is low enough that you think you’d be getting a great deal (typically one half to one quarter of the item’s retail value), go ahead and place the first bid

2) Don’t bid against yourself! In a busy auction, the bid caller might work with a few spotters (also called “ringmen” or “auction assistants”) to gather bids. The spotter will represent bids from their area to the auctioneer. This approach is necessary in large crowds, where the auctioneer can’t see all of the bidders. Most auctioneers and spotters work well together. Occasionally, however, there can be a miscommunication when the spotter represents your bid to the auctioneer, then the auctioneer turns to you and asks you to bid again. The solution: know when you hold the high bid and turn your bids into just one person (either a spotter or the auctioneer).

3) Don’t be sneaky about bidding. While there’s no need to whoop and holler every time you bid, it’s very risky to be sneaky about your bids. Small gestures, such as winks, nose twitches and tiny nods, can be easily missed or misunderstood, causing you to lose out on items you want. If there’s a reason why you want your bidding to be completely private, than a public auction probably isn’t the best place for you to buy. Go ahead and raise your hand!

This article is the final installment in a short series that I’ve called the spring auction playbook. If you missed the previous three articles, be sure to check them out. Now it's your turn – what tips do you have for attending farm equipment auctions? Share with us in the comments below. 


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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