The British Guild of Agricultural Journalists John Deere Training Course is well established within the agricultural journalism and media communities, so being offered a place on the 2026 course was a dream come true.
Having spent the past two years building freelance experience across a range of national agricultural publications, my main aims were to further develop my journalism skills and broaden my connections within the industry – both were certainly achieved.
The course lasted just short of three days, beginning with introductions to course teacher David Mascord, Ben Pike of Eve Communications and the other students. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about one another’s backgrounds, whether from working farms, freelance work, university or agricultural marketing and PR, before beginning lessons on the principles of successful journalism and different article formats.
Both the second and third days were held at John Deere’s UK and Ireland headquarters at Langar, Nottinghamshire. Alongside David’s lectures, much of the work was carried out in pairs or small groups, covering subjects including interviewing techniques, correcting errors in articles and developing evidence into suitable stories. For me, this was one of the most valuable aspects of the course, as working with like-minded peers encouraged a more proactive and efficient approach.
We were also introduced to Janine Adamson, who shared her experiences of the industry. Chris Wiltshire, tactical marketing manager at John Deere, whom I had previously interviewed for an academic project, subsequently presented a press release covering the 8R tractor series, followed by a Q&A and an exercise to produce a concise press report.
It was particularly interesting to build on that earlier experience with Chris while learning how to extract the most relevant information from a technical briefing and turn it into targeted journalism.
The driving experiences
After two days of lessons and exercises, there was one particularly enjoyable opportunity awaiting us all at Langar on the Tuesday afternoon: a 30-minute session behind the wheel of some of John Deere’s latest tractors.
Five machines were lined up ready to drive, ranging from the versatile 6R and 7R 350 through to the 8R 410, 8RX 410 and the flagship 9RX 830.
With a John Deere employee in the buddy seat, we drove around the main lanes of the headquarters, passing other machines, including a F9 700 forager harvester as well as several X9 combines, balers and trailed sprayers.
While some of my peers were immediately drawn towards the enormous 9RX 830, I headed for the 8R 410 – now my favourite tractor, taking the place of the John Deere 6930 and Kirovets K701. Having studied its technical specifications, CommandCenter, CommandView 4 cab and central tyre inflation system (CTIS) during Chris’ press conference, I wanted to put some of that theory into practice.
Having a background in operating older John Deere tractors, particularly a 7530 Premium and 6155R, the 8R 410’s improved operator comfort and redesigned CommandArm were immediately noticeable during my drive.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect, however, was how deceptive the tractor’s size felt from the cab. Its large frame and long bonnet make it appear cumbersome, but the Reactive Command Steering proved otherwise. On the relatively tight loop around parked tractors and other machinery, the return-to-centre steering function made manoeuvring the 8R 410 feel surprisingly effortless – almost more like driving a BMW or Mecedes Benz than a tractor of its size.
Although we did not undertake any fieldwork, the John Deere instructors provided plenty of insight into the tractor’s technology. We discussed JDLink, the CommandCenter display and how the systems can contribute to greater operator efficiency, precision and, ultimately, both economic and agronomic benefits. For someone more accustomed to the 7530 Premium’s GS3 guidance system, it represented a considerable step forward.
Benefits of tracks
I also drove the 8RX 410, the tracked counterpart of the 8R 410. While the benefits of tracks were less obvious on the concrete surfaces at Langar than they would be in a field, the instructor explained how the system provides greater flotation and traction, constant ground contact and reduced slippage, especially on wetter or softer soils.
The 8RX also features the G5Plus Display and integrated StarFire receiver, giving another insight into the technology available on modern high-horsepower tractors.
The final tractor I drove was the 7R 350, which sits between the 6R and 8R ranges. Again, I took the opportunity to quiz the instructor about the 7R’s capabilities and compare it with both the 8R and the older 7530 Premium and 6155R that I am more familiar with.
The larger G5Plus CommandCenter was particularly interesting, alongside precision systems including AutoTrac and AutoPath. The instructor demonstrated a mock operation for me, providing a useful insight into how these systems can be configured and used in practice.
Knowledge into practice
The driving experience was the perfect conclusion to a course that had otherwise been focused on journalism, communications and technical learning.
Getting the opportunity to put some of the knowledge gained during the course into practice made the experience particularly valuable.
The 2026 BGAJ John Deere Training Course provided a unique combination of journalism training, industry networking and first-hand exposure to modern agricultural machinery. Personally, it has also strengthened both my understanding of agricultural journalism and my approach to it more generally. I would encourage anyone interested in agriculture and communications, particularly those wishing to remain within the industry beyond farming, to consider opportunities such as this.
For farmers’ sons and daughters and young people entering farming, journalism, marketing and PR can offer valuable alternative career paths while keeping them connected to the sector.
I would like to thank the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, John Deere and everyone else involved in making the course possible, as well as my fellow students, for making it such a worthwhile experience.
