John H Ruffle and Son is a 2300-acre arable farm in Barking, Suffolk. They farm wheat, spring barley, winter barley, oil seed rape and beans, across a mix of owned, rented and contract farmed land.
The farm welcomed their 10th John Deere combine to their existing fleet of 4 John Deere tractors this year, in time for harvest 2022.
Jonny Ruffle said, “We have dealt with Tuckwells right from the beginning, my father would have dealt with Len back in the 60s.” The Ruffle’s purchased their first John Deere combine from Tuckwells in 1977, with their first John Deere tractor following in 1978. Jonny said “We haven’t strayed from the brand since. We have stuck with John Deere because we love the tractors and like operating the combines as they are simple and reliable.”
This year, John H Ruffle & Son purchased their 10th John Deere combine from Tuckwells. The machine is a S785i ex demonstration machine. Jonny said, “We are thrilled with the machine’s performance so far. It’s got everything we need, such as Auto Maintain, where the combines settings are adjusted automatically, and Active Terrain, which are both great features. It’s also got a flex draper header, which we are absolutely tickled pink with. As seed growers, we like the gentle action of the combine, which has resulted in less cracked grain as well as being able to achieve a very clean sample’.
Jonny’s son, Henry, who operates the combine, complimented the systems. When asked about the technologies aspect of the combine, Jonny also complimented the systems on their connectivity. “Since the introduction of GPS and Starfire, it’s made the John Deere package, as the machines are connected and working together simultaneously.”
“David Tooley from the Tuckwells Technologies Team came out to the farm last week to go through the technology aspect of the combine.”
Jonny and Henry also attended the Tuckwells combine training day with Sam Body in Great Dunmow, as well as combine training with John Deere in Langar, Nottingham.
Tom Mason, Group Sales Manager at Tuckwells said ‘we have enjoyed our long working relationship with the Ruffle’s over 7 decades and have been delighted to supply their 10th John Deere Combine this year. We thank the Ruffle’s for their continued support and business and hope to continue to work with them for many more years to come’.
Above images – Previous John Deere Combines from past years operating at John H Ruffle & Son.
