Erik Emdal, Otterup, was one of the first to deliver a load of rapeseed to Emmelev A/S. In the coming time, there will be busy activity at the company’s weighbridge.
The rapeseed harvest is underway in Nordfyn, and one of the first to arrive at the weighbridge at Emmelev A/S is plant grower Erik Emdal, who farms a total of 114 hectares. He has already harvested winter barley and swathed 16 hectares of rapeseed.
Offering Grilled Sausages and Chats
During the harvest, Morten Simonsen and the employees at Emmelev A/S take the opportunity to connect with the farmers by offering grilled sausages and water when they bring rapeseed to the mill. These moments allow for casual conversations, even though there is plenty of work to be done.
The rapeseed is cultivated in fields across Northwest and Nordfyn, extending to Kerteminde, while the resulting feed cakes are delivered to cattle farmers across large parts of Funen.
Erik Emdal notes that this year’s rapeseed harvest began four to five days earlier than usual, though he is cautious about predicting the yield and quality. “We’ve had a good growing season with both rainfall and warmth, but the recent drought might have affected the yields slightly. I’m glad for an early harvest, as there’s a lot to manage with the sowing deadlines this autumn,” he says.
A Lot of Work Awaits
“If everything goes well, we could finish the harvest around August 1. We store the wheat in an American-style silo, while the barley is delivered to Danish Agro. We’ve been delivering rapeseed to Emmelev A/S for many years—it’s close by, and it works out well,” says Erik Emdal. He handles the harvest with assistance from his wife, who drives the trailer.
“We harvested 8.2 tons per hectare in winter barley, so the growing conditions have been favorable. Whether these yields will continue throughout the harvest, I can’t say,” he adds.
Producing Fossil-Free Biodiesel
At Emmelev A/S, co-owner Morten Simonsen is pleased that the harvest is progressing well, with loads of rapeseed arriving at the facility. Emmelev A/S maintains a close partnership with farmers in Nordfyn, who supply rapeseed directly to the company, contributing significantly to the production of fossil-free biodiesel.
In addition to biodiesel, Emmelev A/S also produces protein-rich feed cakes for cattle, which help replace the environmentally harmful import of soy cakes from other parts of the world. Moreover, 10 percent of the rapeseed is used to produce refined glycerin for the pharmaceutical industry.
