The sale is significant because the machine was purchased as insurance for the upcoming summer crop that has many farmers and contractors reaching for their cheque books to secure second-hand combine harvesters able to play a part in clearing ripe crops from paddocks.

The issue of accessing header contractors to harvest crops nationwide has been especially closely tracked in Queensland where, in the aftermath of an "even" crop plant from Rolleston in Central Queensland, south to Moree in northern NSW, extra harvester capacity continues to be difficult to access.

"From trips through these growing areas earlier in the year, we could see contractors would be under a lot of pressure (to meet harvest commitments)," Mr Osborne said.

"As a result people have been coming to us to hire a machine, or buy a medium value machine - to finish taking the crop off."

Such is the demand that McIntosh and Sons Dalby has sold about 80pc of its trade-in machines – a trend that has been described as a "very good" outcome for the business.

Mr Osborne says the big uptake in local farmers buying second-hand machines has concentrated in the $100,000 to $180,000 value bracket where they can better justify their cost.

As a bonus, they not only can be put to good use working in conjunction with a contractor’s header but farmers also escape the near half-million dollar price tags associated with purchasing new combine harvesters.

With header manufacturers working flat-chat to meet demand, the need to participate in forward ordering programmes, which can be up to a year ahead of delivery, should be a top-of-mind issue for anyone interested in purchasing these flag-ships of the machinery industry, according to Mr Osborne.

* Extract from a special report to appear in Queensland Country Life, November 20 edition.