Customer Testimonial: Mark Kempthorne, North Cornwall

Farming just over 1,000 acres in North Cornwall and milking around 730 cows, Mark Kempthorne relies on dependable machinery and technology to keep his business running efficiently. With 520 acres of grass and 500 acres of maize to manage, all fieldwork is carried out in house, from maize drilling and silaging through to slurry application.

This year, the business became the first in the South West to take delivery of the new John Deere F8 600 forage harvester.

Over 25 Years with John Deere

“We’ve been running John Deere for just over 25 years now. It’s a really good product, and the main reason we’ve stayed with the brand for so long is down to pure reliability and backup.

Currently, our mainline fleet includes two 6215R tractors, a 6155R, a 6150R, a 6320 on the straw chopper, and a 1640 scrape tractor. With a large fleet operating throughout the year, downtime simply isn’t an option for us. Generally, we don’t get a lot of trouble from the tractors, and they’ve proven dependable over many seasons.

Our usual replacement cycle is to keep a tractor for four to five years, or until it reaches between 10,000 and 12,000 hours. Because we’ve experienced such strong reliability over the years, we have a lot of confidence running our John Deere machines well beyond their warranty period.”

“We’ve been running John Deere for over 25 years. It’s a really good product. The main reason we’ve stayed with the brand is reliability and backup.”

Making Technology Work

“Technology plays a major role across the business, and it’s become increasingly critical as farming margins continue to tighten. We make extensive use of AutoTrac guidance, section control, and variable-rate fertiliser application to reduce overlaps and minimise unnecessary passes across a wide range of operations.

One of the most valuable tools in our arsenal has been HarvestLab, which we have fitted to both the forage harvester and our slurry umbilical dribble bar system.

Rather than simply collecting data for data’s sake, the technology directly supports our day to day decision making. By monitoring factors such as dry matter and energy levels, we can compare cutting intervals, refine chop lengths, and make more informed crop management choices. The information has also helped influence our maize variety selection and feeding strategies, allowing us to focus heavily on forage quality and energy values rather than simply chasing tonnage.”

“HarvestLab doesn’t necessarily make your silage better, but it gives you valuable data to make better decisions.”

First Impressions of the F8 600

“As the first customer in the South West to take delivery of the new John Deere F8 600, I was really excited to see how the latest model would perform.

One of the first things that stood out to me was the completely redesigned cab section. They’ve upgraded the joystick so it’s a lot more comfortable in the hand, with more functions and increased programmability compared to the old one.

The machine went straight to work during first cut, paired with the new 30-foot pickup header. Working in dairy country often presents challenging harvesting conditions, particularly when you’re dealing with heavy, lumpy, and sugary grass crops that can be really hard to get into a machine. The new header proved to be a different beast entirely—it absolutely ate everything that was put through it.”

Reliability in the Field

“Obviously, we’ve only completed our first harvesting campaign with the F8 600 so far, but the reliability has been excellent. The machine completed the first cut without a single issue or teething problem.

That continues the positive, trouble free experience we’ve always had with John Deere forage harvesters. Prior to this machine, we operated an 8600 for four seasons, and other than putting routine blades in it, I think we barely touched the machine.

We typically clock between 250 and 300 harvesting hours each year across both our grass and maize silage, so having that peace of mind is massive.”

A Big Step Forward

“For me, the F8 600 represents a noticeable improvement over its predecessor.

Updates to the pickup header, blower, and cooling system have contributed to a machine that feels significantly more refined throughout. Combined with the redesigned cab and intuitive operator controls, the overall package delivers a major step forward in comfort and usability.”

“It’s a big jump on from the previous 8600. It’s a much more refined machine overall and I don’t think there’s anything on the market that comes close to the new cab.”

Support That Matters

“Alongside machinery performance, dealer support is the core reason we continue to invest in John Deere equipment.

We’re very lucky to have Kris Jones, the Head of Precision Ag at Smallridge Bros. He’s at the end of the phone at the drop of a hat. Anything related to HarvestLab, GreenStar, or AutoTrac, he’s brilliant on that side and has been really good for us.

From a backup point of view, I don’t think you can ask for much more from Smallridge Bros. They keep a backup harvester at every single one of their depots to cover breakdowns, which you just don’t get with other dealers. When things get busy and every hour counts during harvest, they have replacement tractors ready to go. You’re not picking up an old tractor with 10,000 hours on it; you’re picking up a brand new tractor with receivers on, ready to do the job.”

“From a backup point of view, Smallridge Bros are second to none. You’re not picking up an old tractor with 10,000 hours on it, you’re picking up a brand new tractor with receivers on, ready to do the job.”

Looking for machinery and backup you can rely on?

Discover how the latest John Deere technology and our dedicated service team can drive efficiency on your farm. Get in touch with Smallridge Bros today to discuss your machinery, precision agriculture, and support needs.