THE RIGHT CHOICE

Based just outside of Telford, James Everall is a third-generation farmer, working with his wife Liz to establish a rotation of winter milling wheat, spring barley for seed, winter barley and oilseed rape across 650 acres, as well as rearing a 50-head herd of Aberdeen Angus cross steers.

Horsepower comes from McCormick, with a 2022 X7.460 and a 2023 X7.618 handling the main tasks on farm. Both machines are fitted with the P6-Drive powershift transmission and purchased from stock from dealer HJR Agri Oswestry Ltd. They are backed up by a MC 130.

“We had previously run two smaller tractors, with a larger machine for more intensive work, but this time around we decided that we needed the flexibility of two larger machines because of the tight weather windows,” Mr Everall explained.

He purchased his first McCormick in early 2004, when the dealer at the time, Burgess, took on the franchise. He notes that the MC 135 Power6 was a step up over his previous machine, featuring a powershift transmission that easy to use and efficient in the field. This was followed up with CX 105 Diamond Edition, which came on farm to handle lighter duties including spraying and fertiliser applications.

When Burgess left the area and the McCormick franchise was taken over by HJR Agri, Mr Everall said that he stayed loyal to the brand. “We’d been impressed with the build quality and robustness of the McCormick tractors. I tend to be loyal and was confident that HJR would continue offering the same level of service.”

His faith has been rewarded. He explained that the service provided by the dealer has been second-to-none, with nothing being too much trouble. Mr Everall has also been impressed with the development of the McCormick products. When the X7.460 P6-Drive was delivered, replacing a MTX 150, he said that the step-up in quality was significant.

“The P6-Drive gearbox is excellent,” he explained. “The fact that there are six gears on the powershift means that I can really finetune my working speed to suit the conditions and the operation.”

He added that the cabin had been completely overhauled. “It’s really comfortable. I suffer from a bad back, but the new seats and cab suspension have made it much easier on me when I’m working long hours.”

While his replacement policy is flexible, he is looking to keep both the X7 machines for around ten years, splitting the hours between the two machines and maximising their resale value. “I’ve got no concerns about keeping a McCormick for that length of time. With the backup we receive and the build quality, I start them up every day with confidence, and they hold their value as well. Why would I consider changing when I’ve got that?”