Pioneers of Samsø: The Kjeldahl Brothers set New Benchmarks

A Success Story that Started Small
What once began with confirmation money has grown into a farming operation covering around 700 hectares, including 100 hectares under organic cultivation. Since 1993, the Kjeldahl brothers have relied on BAUER irrigation technology. Today, 15 Rainstar machines are in operation across their fields. In the summer of 2025, the irrigation fleet was expanded for the first time with a pivot system: a BAUER Centerstar with a length of 235 metres – the first towable pivot system in Scandinavia. The system’s high operational reliability, ease of use and the dependable service provided by local dealer Agrometer convinced the brothers from the outset. After just one season, the decision was clearly validated as the system fulfilled all expectations. In daily operation, the flexibility of the towable pivot has proven to be a decisive advantage. Since crops such as onions and potatoes cannot be grown on the same fields every year, the pivot system is moved between three different fields. As a result, a single machine now irrigates around 60 hectares instead of the previous 20.

Drainage Water as a Sustainable Resource
The island’s unique water situation made conscious and careful use of this precious resource essential at an early stage. Although Samsø is surrounded by water, it is exclusively saltwater. Excessive groundwater extraction would jeopardise freshwater quality as saltwater could penetrate from below and mix in. To counteract this risk, drainage water has been collected on Samsø for generations. Over autumn and winter, water is stored across approximately 150 hectares, making it available for resource-efficient irrigation during the summer months.