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Digital technology on tractors has been increasing for over a decade now, mostly for the better, with major manufacturers such as John Deere utilising GPS technology as early as 1996.

Over that time, technology has become more refined, accuracy has improved, and another interlinked layer of implement control and compatibility has been added to achieve the fully automated systems we see today.

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But all this comes at a cost, and if you add this to the overall cost of machinery in recent years, the stark price increases have reached a point where ordering a tractor with all the bells and whistles just isn't a viable option for most farm businesses and is likely something they won't utilise to its full capability.

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This is perhaps reflected more recently, as we have seen a change in manufacturers' core offerings aligning to businesses' changing buying habits.

This week, John Deere announced some major changes to its product line-up with the new 6R and 6M updates.

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The R variant has dominated UK tractor sales since it took the place of the 30 Series, while over that time the more utilitarian M has often only held a small share of sales.

But since the launch of the latest M, which has integrated the core components of 50km/h road speeds and integrated technology in a no-frills cabin environment, sales have begun to increase.

This begs the question: with ever tighter margins, is it now more important than ever to consider what a business needs from its tractor purchase, rather than the unnecessary wants?

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see if the 6R remains the dominant force in John Deere's product portfolio or if the 6M will continue its market growth as dynamics change.

But alternative fuel sources could be the next race to the top in coming years as supply shortages and cost become a re-occurring theme in the oil market.