Philip Gamble, son of Johnny Gamble, is part of Gamble Brothers Agricultural Contractors, a family-run business that has been in business for decades.

The business carries out a wide range of contracting services, with Philip explaining: “I think it was the 1970s or 1980s the whole thing started up, we cover everything.

"So we can do ploughing, sowing, drilling, silage, crop mowing, whatever you can think of, we can do.”

Coming from a farming background themselves helps them understand the needs of their customers.

“We’re farmers at home and we know what the customer wants and needs because we’re in the same boat as themselves. So, we provide the best service that we can," Philip said.

Today, the business operates a strong fleet of Krone machinery.

“We run a Krone BiG X 1180, two Krone BiG M 450s, a Krone TC 1370 four-rotor rake and a Krone 990 two-rotor rake," he added.

The company’s history with Krone stretches back many years, beginning with its first BiG X.

“The first Krone was a BiG X V8. She was a good harvester now. She was a really good harvester. It set the benchmark for us, they are unreal," Philip explained.

Since then, Krone has always been their first choice.

“We bought a BiG X 650 and then I think we bought another 650. Then after that we had a BiG X 700," Philip continued.

"Then we had a BiG X 770 and then progressed on to a 780 and then we progressed on then to the 1180.”

Their latest BiG X 1180 arrived at the beginning of the season to handle increasing workloads.

“This here 1180 came here and started this season.” We just needed a big harvester to get through the acres and with maize coming on," he said.

"Well now you sort of need the power for the maize and then just to get through all these acres that we have to do now, just needed the big harvester.”

The machine is used across a range of crops throughout the year.

“We do wholecrop and then we cut maize and we also cut beans with the maize header too and just saves hooking your wholecrop header on and off.

"We were told you could do your beans and wholecrop stuff with your maize header and we said we’ll try it with beans and it’s worked really well," the agri contractor said.

Philip explained how the BiG X 1180 is equipped for maize: “For the maize, we have the longer spout, 12-row spout.

"We also have a weight block on here at the minute. Just gives her a wee bit more comfort wise and a bit more grip for going up steep hills. We do lanes and stuff. Fairly helps her,” he said.

Speaking during third-cut silage, Philip explained how the BiG X performs when conditions become challenging.

“We had a wee bit of rain this morning. It wasn’t expected but just have to get on with it and do it," he explained.

"That’s the good thing about the Krone. You can lift in any conditions. She’ll not reject it. She’ll just always keep taking.”

The BiG X can be fitted for a variety of weather and ground conditions.

“She came with 620s in the back, 800s in the front, but we run bigger tyres. So 710s in the back now," Philip added.

"See for ground, wet ground, they travel anywhere. You can put them anywhere and she’ll travel.

"All the ground’s different here. You can go in and do a big flat field which is nice and then we do a lot of mossy ground, spongy soft, and that’s just not as nice to travel on.”

Comfort in the cab remains a major advantage.

“This harvester here has the same rear suspension the BiG M has. I’d say it’s comfy now to sit in the field even though it’s a bouncy field here," Philip said.

Fuel efficiency has also stood out to him.

“There’s other brands out there and use a lot more diesel compared to this. This here is quite easy on the diesel for the horsepower. Can’t complain that way.”

Philip also highlighted the technology fitted to modern Krone harvesters.

“If you don’t get 250 to 300 acres in the day, there’s something badly wrong," he said.

"You could just sit in here and if you want to scroll Facebook, TikTok, you can do whatever you want. It’s just the touch of a button. She does it automatically.

"Machines are getting bigger, but technology is getting better. That’s why we always go for the bigger machines and they’re nimble too.

"You can put them in places that you’d struggle to put a smaller machine in.”

The backup from both dealer and importer has played an important role in the company’s success.

“We’re in a service plan. She gets serviced there with McMullan Agri every winter. McMullans are dead on.

"Having the support of Farmhand too, that’s what makes the whole thing work. They’ve been really good to us and we can’t fault Farmhand at all.”

After years of operating Krone machinery, Philip’s recommendation is simple:

“If you’re definitely considering buying a Krone, I would definitely find out where your local Krone dealer is and get in contact with them.

"You won’t be disappointed. You’ll definitely not be. They are a mighty machine.”