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

The farm currently operates a fleet of John Deere machinery, including two 6215R tractors, a 6155R, a 6150R, and a 6320, alongside a 1640 skid steer.

Mark has been running John Deere machinery for more than 25 years, noting that reliability and dealer support remain the primary reasons the business continues to invest in the brand.

With a large fleet operating throughout the year, downtime simply isn’t an option. The tractors have proven dependable over many seasons and, when support is needed, both John Deere and Smallridge Bros have always provided excellent backup.

The business typically keeps its tractors for four to five years, or until they reach between 10,000 and 12,000 hours. Having experienced strong reliability over many years, Mark is confident running his machines well beyond their warranty period.

“We’ve been running John Deere for over 25 years. 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 has become increasingly critical as farming margins continue to tighten.

The farm makes extensive use of AutoTrac guidance, section control, variable-rate fertiliser application, and HarvestLab technology. These systems work seamlessly to reduce overlaps, minimise unnecessary passes, and improve efficiency across a wide range of operations.

One of the most valuable tools in their arsenal has been HarvestLab, which is fitted to both the forage harvester and the farm’s slurry umbilical dribble bar system.

Rather than simply collecting data for data’s sake, the technology directly supports day-to-day decision-making. By monitoring factors such as dry matter and energy levels, the farm can compare cutting intervals, refine chop lengths, and make more informed crop management choices.

The information gathered has also helped influence maize variety selection and feeding strategies, allowing the business 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, Mark was keen to see how the latest model would perform.

One of the first things that stood out was the completely redesigned cab. The upgraded joystick offers greater comfort, more functionality, and increased programmability, creating a much more refined operator experience.

The machine went straight to work during first cut, where it was paired with the new pickup header. Working in dairy country often presents challenging harvesting conditions, particularly when dealing with heavy, sugary grass crops. Despite this, the machine handled everything that was put through it with absolute ease.

Reliability in the Field

Although the F8 600 has only completed its first harvesting campaign so far, its reliability has been faultless.

The machine completed the first cut without a single issue or teething problem, continuing the positive, trouble-free experience Mark has had with John Deere forage harvesters over the years.

Prior to the F8 600, the business operated an 8600 forage harvester for four seasons, where routine blade changes accounted for the vast majority of the maintenance required.

The farm typically clocks between 250 and 300 harvesting hours each year, harvesting both grass and maize silage.

A Big Step Forward

For Mark, 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 remains one of the core reasons the business continues to invest in John Deere equipment.

Smallridge Bros’ Precision Ag support has played an important role, particularly when it comes to optimizing the AutoTrac, GreenStar, and HarvestLab technology.

Equally critical is the hands-on support available during peak periods. Access to backup machinery and replacement tractors provides total reassurance when every single hour counts during harvest.

“From a backup point of view, Smallridge Bros are second to none.”

For Mark, the combination of reliable machinery, practical technology, and dependable dealer support continues to make John Deere the perfect fit for the business, helping the farm operate efficiently while maintaining total confidence in the equipment it relies on every day.