Calling it "one of the best years ever," The Associated Press reports that 2011 was very kind to those in the agricultural business, as profits jumped 28 percent to over $100 billion total.
In addition, crop sales are expected to pass the $200 billion mark for the first time in American history. Livestock sales increased by double digits, and farmers are expected to be left with more than $100 billion in operating revenue besides the profit - money to pay bills, buy equipment, and take care of other tasks.
"We're just experiencing the best of times," Bruce Johnson, an agricultural economist at the University of Nebraska, told the AP. "It's a story to tell."
With farmers having a little extra cash on hand, it might be time for them to start thinking about expanding their business. The auction site IronPlanet offers a wide and varied selection of used farm equipment, including combine harvesters, dump trailers, tractors and much more.
Buyers on IronPlanet tend to save big compared to buying new vehicles, and farmers can bid with confidence because the site backs the vehicles with IronClad Assurance. When farmers see this symbol on an IronPlanet auction, they know the equipment has undergone a point-by-point inspection, and they can even review the report themselves so they know exactly what they're buying.
