A Swedish farmer, a tire and rim expert, a pressure freak and above all a connoisseur of BKT products. His company embodies everything around modern agriculture from organic production to functional foods, and the handover from generation to generation.
Stefan is the symbol of the contemporary farmer and his real needs in the face of the issue of sustainability. The Swedish farmer and owner of Ranch of Sweden AB has been running a modern 700-hectare family farm together with his wife Therese for years. BKT interviewed him to talk about agriculture and tyres, of which Stefan calls himself a “nerd enthusiast”.
His company is located in Tystberg, not far from the town of Nykoping, and is the only one in all of Sweden to produce Camelina seeds and oils.
“The production of Camelina oil was an idea of my wife, Therese. She has many years’ experience in food sales and has always been interested in so-called functional foods,”
says Stefan Ranch.This oil, he explains, is healthy, full of omega-3-6-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, and its cultivation has a low environmental impact: it requires little energy and no irrigation; it is strong; resistant to diseases, pests and insects; it does not require crop protection products.
The preparation and compaction of the soil is a fundamental stage of the work. Stefan had cooperated for 20 years with the University of Uppsala in Sweden testing tire pressures and their impact on the soil.He describes himself as a tire lover.
“I have always been passionate about tires, rims, and pressure. I am aware of the difference they make, but I think that most farmers don’t pay enough attention to soil-compaction. We must be more sensitive and protect our soil.”
His passion, however, is also experience. The cultivation of Camelina requires a reduction in soil compaction and tyres that do not damage it. This is why Stefan has always relied on Gripen Wheels, the Swedish distributor of BKT products, who listened carefully to Stefan’s needs and provided him with the best possible solution.
Stefan has an isodiametric John Deere 9570 R tractor equipped with eight twinned BKT tires, all of the same size: AGRIMAX FORCE, the most popular BKT product designed for high-power tractors over 250 HP. Thanks to the IF technology, AGRIMAX FORCE operates at a lower inflation pressure compared to a standard tire – at the same load. Moreover, it enables the machinery to benefit from a larger contact patch, extraordinary flotation capabilities as well as a uniform weight distribution at low pressures.
“Soil protection is like reputation: it takes years to build and protect it, and just a few seconds to destroy it. AGRIMAX FORCE is perfect in this sense. I chose it on Gripen Wheels’ advice because I had to fit my new tractor that was heavier than the previous one. I wanted to work at low pressures, at 0.5 bar for tire so that they could withstand a much heavier tractor using the biggest available size: 900/60 R 42.”
His passion was also reflected in Stefan’s young son, Didrik Ranch, who says he never wanted to do another job in his entire life:
“I am sure that technology will help agriculture face the challenges of environmentally-friendly and sustainable production, my only worry is the falling number of farmers… It’s a hard life. For this reason, my generation has other interests. It is more oriented towards safeguarding the planet, which is a noble and essential goal. However, this will not stop me or my sector in which the farming contractor will probably play an increasingly important role.”
Because of Scandinavia’s cold climate, with very short summers, farmers must be ready to do their work in a few days, day and night. That is why it is important to have specialists who can advise on the best solutions.
In choosing Gripen Wheels and BKT, Stefan is very satisfied.
Copyright 2017-2023 All rights reserved.