Ritchie Bros. signed up two major farm auction packages for 2022 in Torquay, SK, and The Pas, MB. The two auctions, which are being held for Hanson Farms and Marlow Farms, will feature more than 300 equipment items and more than 15,000 title acres, with surface lease revenues available on some parcels.

“These are two turnkey operations with all the equipment you need to go straight to work,” Jordan Clarke, sales director at Ritchie Bros., said. “The Hanson and Marlow families have kept impeccable care of their land and equipment. While we sell farmland year-round, these two massive properties don’t come to unreserved auction very often. Every parcel of land and equipment item will be sold on auction day to the highest bidder, regardless of price.”

Ritchie Bros. will sell more than 9,600 acres of farmland from Hanson Farms on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26.

The Hanson Farms land base consists of 9,681 title acres, with more than 8,816 acres cultivated. The home quarter of the property includes a modern, high-capacity grain handling and drying system, with a storage capacity of 500,000 bushels. The property includes two homes (1,624 square feet and 1,050 square feet) and a large shop (7,200 square feet), all of which are heated with geothermal heating and have reverse osmosis water systems.

The oil and gas sector remains busy in the Torquay area and much of the land includes surface lease revenue. The 61 total quarter sections of farmland are split between the RM of Cambria No. 6 and the RM of Souris Valley No. 7.

“We are putting our farm up for auction in January so the new buyer can get a head start on the planting season,” Kirby Hanson of Hanson Farms, said. “My dad started farming this land back in 1968. Through the years we’ve had great crops of canola, durum wheat, peas, flax, corn, soybeans, chickpeas, lentils and sunflowers. This is highly profitable land, but it’s time for dad and I to spend less time working and more time boating, fishing and motorbiking. This is a fantastic opportunity for any farmer or investor to get great farmland by unreserved auction.”

Equipment highlights in the Hanson Farms auction will include two 2016 John Deere 9620RX track tractors, three 2018 John Deere S790 combines and two 2015 John Deere R4045 120-foot-high clearance sprayers.

On March 15, Ritchie Bros. will sell more than 6,000 acres from Marlow Farms.

The Marlow Farms land base consists of 6,091 title acres, including 6,028 cultivated acres, with a soil class of E. Sold as 22 separate parcels, this land includes a home parcel, a shop, machine storage buildings and an automated grain dryer system with storage capacity for 150,000 bushels.

“Our farm is ideally located near a major highway and a locally-owned producer car rail loading site, with provincial water pumps located throughout the valley to assist with drainage,” Walter Marlow, who runs Marlow Farms with his brothers, Tom and Frank, said. “All our equipment is maintained regularly, and service intervals are always followed. Additionally, our combines are inspected annually by John Deere technicians.”

Equipment highlights in the Marlow Farms auction will include a 2017 Versatile 550DT track tractor, two 2014 John Deere S690 RWA combines and a 2011 New Holland SP.275R 120-foot-high clearance sprayer.