Archives: Episodes

Behind the Hammer: Insights from America’s Land Auctioneers

Kevin Pifer America's Land Auctioneer - Pifer's Auction, Realty and Land Management

Step into the fast-paced world of agricultural auctions with this engaging conversation between host Jim Sabe and special guest Cliff Sanders, a veteran livestock auctioneer who recently joined the Pifer's team. Their friendship spans decades, beginning at auctioneer school in Mankato, Minnesota, where both men stood out wearing cowboy hats among their classmates.

The auction market remains remarkably strong despite economic uncertainties. A recent Fent tractor sold for $395,000, highlighting how premium equipment still commands top dollar. The podcast showcases several upcoming sales, including the Sheely auction in Drake featuring pristine 2017-2019 John Deere equipment that was professionally maintained and stored indoors. Another upcoming sale in Mandan features a 2012 Bobcat with just 35 hours – virtually new despite its age.

Sanders brings a distinctive livestock auctioneer's cadence to machinery sales, maintaining the faster pace that livestock auctioneers are known for. His territory covers eastern North Dakota, including the Devil's Lake region where he previously worked at the auction barn. Throughout the conversation, both auctioneers emphasize that live auctions with online bidding consistently outperform online-only formats, drawing buyers from across North America.

The social dimension of auctions emerges as a central theme. As Albert Roerick from Pifer's Steel location explains, "Building relationships is the main thing with all the sellers, buyers." These relationships extend beyond individual sales, with auctioneers often connecting buyers with specific equipment they're seeking. In rural communities, auctions serve as gathering places where neighbors reconnect, highlighting their importance beyond just commerce.

Join us to discover why quality farm equipment continues to bring strong prices, how the hybrid auction model maximizes returns, and why the personal connections forged at rural auctions remain irreplaceable in our increasingly digital world. Check out Pifers.com for upcoming sales across the Upper Midwest!

 

Unlocking Tax Savings in Your Soil

Kevin Pifer America's Land Auctioneer - Pifer's Auction, Realty and Land Management

Farming isn't just about what you grow above ground—it's also about what lies beneath. The fertility of your soil could be worth thousands in tax savings through a little-known provision that's been hiding in plain sight for over 60 years.

Stephanie Scherbinski from Arthur Companies joins us to unpack Section 180 of the IRS tax code, a powerful tax strategy allowing farmers to depreciate soil nutrients when purchasing farmland. While farmers have long been able to depreciate equipment, buildings, and improvements, the land itself has traditionally offered few tax advantages—until now.

We explore how this overlooked tax provision works in practice. When you purchase farmland, comprehensive soil testing can identify valuable nutrients—from nitrogen and phosphorus to zinc and boron—that represent a depreciable asset. The numbers are striking: farmers in the Red River Valley are seeing deduction values of $1,800-$1,900 per acre, while those in central North Dakota average around $1,200 per acre. On a quarter section of land, that could mean tax savings approaching $100,000 for farmers in higher tax brackets.

Stephanie walks us through who qualifies (active farmers, inherited land) and who doesn't (gifted land), while addressing common questions about the process. Unlike some tax strategies, Section 180 can be utilized repeatedly as land changes hands through inheritance, creating multi-generational tax advantages for farm families.

As land prices continue to climb and margins tighten, this tax strategy could be the competitive edge farmers need when expanding operations or helping the next generation get started. Whether you purchased land recently or years ago, Section 180 might be the financial tool you've been overlooking.

 

Episode 2

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*Masters Reaction

*FCC Confidential (All things golf at Fargo CC with Dave and Andy)

*Quick18pod trivia and golf instruction as we start a new season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6sRJ7MOTrI

 

Jay Thomas Show: “Patrick Kirby Guest Hosts” (4-11-25)

The Jay Thomas Show - Weekday Afternoons 2-5pm on AM 970 and FM 93.1 WDAY.

The Jay Thomas Show from Friday April 11th, 2025.  Guests include Casey Sanders-Berglund, West Fargo Director of Economic Development, Erick Roder, Owner of Rode-America, Darrell Vasvick, Executive Director – A Place for Hope/Moorhead & Ryan Goellner, Board Chair – A place for Hope/Moorhead, Dayna Del Val - Speaker & Writer, Sarah & Arlin Fischer – Garden of Healing / Crosses for Cameron and your emails and phone calls.