Rakkestad Maskindrift AS has been appointed sole distributor for the full range of Claydon Opti-Till® crop establishment products in Norway.
Located at Rakkestad in southeast Norway, Rakkestad Maskindrift AS was established in 2010 by farmers Arne Edvard Opsahl and Tom Arne Langvold. Since then the company has grown progressively and, now employing 20 staff, represents a number of leading machinery brands, including Bogballe, Deutz-Fahr, Krone and Samson.
Andreas Naess, Sales Manager for Rakkestad Maskindrift AS, states: “We first became aware of Claydon last year while researching direct seeding and went to see Opti-Till® products working at a field day. Claydon is at the forefront of developing this technique and really has cracked the code by ensuring that each seed has optimal growing conditions once it is planted. We particularly like the fact that the company specialises in this area, as Bogballe has done with fertiliser and Krone with grass equipment.
“Opti-Till® products are suitable for every farm and will appeal to farmers in Norway because they focus on improving soil health. Many growers still establish crops in the traditional way, by ploughing, harrowing, seeding and then rolling, but this must change. Rising and unpredictable input costs, a shortage of skilled labour, more variable weather at key times of the year and the need to improve soil health are key issues, especially around the Oslo fjord where erosion is a major concern.
“Encouraging more farmers to adopt direct seeding is important for the environment and Claydon Opti-Till® makes it easy to produce good crops much more efficiently, without compromising yields. At a time when fuel and other input prices have increased substantially, without corresponding rises in output prices, growers are looking to reduce the cost of establishing crops. Interest in direct seeding is increasing and we believe this technique holds significant potential for both our customers and our business, so we are investing significant resources into it.”
Jacob Darby, Claydon’s National Territory Manager for Norway, adds: “Claydon are delighted to be working with a forward-thinking distributor with the enthusiasm to promote the benefits of Opti-Till® and develop the market for our products in Norway. Rakkestad Maskindrift’s customers will profit from significant time, cost, and labour savings, plus considerable improvements in soil health and stability, moisture conservation and organic matter.”
Rakkestad Maskindrift AS will be exhibiting Claydon products on Stand F-42 at this year’s Borgeby Field Day (www.borgebyfaltdagar.se) on 28 and 29 June. Contact Rakkestad Maskindrift AS on 69 60 11 70, or email post@rmdrift.no or visit rmdrift.no Direct contact to Andreas: andreas@rmdrift.no or +47 906 82 788