The mountain farm that cracked the climate code

'From the very beginning, our goal has been to operate as sustainably as possible. Today, we produce our own energy and farm organically, and we have found that sustainability and profitability reinforce each other,' says Embret Rønning.

Together with his son Halvor, he has created a model organic farm, surrounded by the open landscapes and birch forests of Nord-Østerdalen. In summer, their contented cows graze at the traditional mountain farm.

'The animals graze on the outlying pastures, saving us both work and money,' he says.

Their aim is to use as little concentrate feed as possible. Despite the challenging climate, they produce most of the feed themselves, rotating mixed grass and clover crops and experimenting with peas, oats and field beans.

The soil is protected by spreading fertiliser through hoses rather than using heavy tankers, while the tractors follow fixed, GPS-guided tracks.

'Between the tracks, the clover gets air and moisture, grows better and captures nitrogen from the air. This means we can use less fertiliser while increasing yields,' says Embret.

The birch forest surrounding the farm had stood unused for generations, but in 2016 Embret had an idea.

- 'We have a vast supply of birch all around us that is simply rotting away. I asked myself: Could we put it to use?'

The answer was a modern woodchip heating system that now meets all the farm's heating needs – from the barn and office to the farmhouse and workshop.

In 2018, the family installed solar panels that generate 43,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year – more than enough to cover their own consumption.

'We sell around 18,000 kWh on the spot market each year. When electricity prices rose, the power company actually paid us for several months instead of us having to pay them.'

2016 was a year of major investment, with the farm investing in a new barn equipped with a milking robot, an automatic calf feeder and a robotic manure scraper.

The courage to invest paid off. Milk production per cow has increased significantly – without increasing the use of concentrated feed.

'Good animal welfare not only means healthier animals and better production. It also improves the wellbeing of those who care for them. When the animals thrive, so do we.'

We played a key role in transforming the farm.

'I doubt that key milestones such as the woodchip heating system would have been achieved without our support. It was a fairly substantial investment, and we weren't entirely sure how it would work out,' Embret admits.

Through the Value Creation Programme for Renewable Energy and Technology in Agriculture the farm received NOK 300,000 for wood-chip heating and NOK 100,000 for solar panels. It has also received IBU funding to extend the barn and invest in a milking robot and silage bunker, as well as a grant for generational transfer.

With the new silage bunker, Rønningen farm was able to take another step towards sustainability by eliminating round bales wrapped in eight layers of plastic. This means around 1,000 fewer round bales a year and saves several tonnes of plastic.

Eight years later, the figures show that the investment was the right decision. Organic farming generates an additional NOK 400,000 in annual income for Rønning farm.

'We do see a slight difference in yields compared with our neighbours who farm conventionally. But we save on pesticides and artificial fertiliser, while also getting a better price for our organic milk,' Embret explains.

The market is on their side. Both TINE and Rørosmeieriet, which receive milk from Rønningen farm, are seeing strong demand for organic milk.

Our customer adviser looks forward to continuing this productive partnership and exploring new opportunities for growth and development with you.

In 2024, Embret and Halvor Rønning received the Norwegian Agriculture Sustainability Award. The jury highlighted their holistic approach to sustainable farming, where every element – soil, plants, animals and people – thrives and contributes to the cycle.

'It’s about thinking generations ahead, not just about the next season,' Embret emphasises.