Roller Crimper

Roller Crimper on Rye Grass

Piedmont SWCD, in partnership with the James River Association and with funding from the Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant Program, is giving agricultural producers the opportunity to use a Roller Crimper on their cover crops, free of charge for a limited time. Cover crop rollers offer the potential to reduce tillage intensity in organic crop production, as well as reduction of herbicide use in no-till systems.

Who should consider rolling?

  • Traditional Field Crop Producers – corn, soybeans, etc.
  • Vegetable and Specialty Crop Producers
  • Organic Producers – Herbicide-free no-till

Which cover crop to roll?

  • Often used with winter annual cereal cover crops like rye. Tall cereal rye tends to be well suited for this application.
  • The cover crop should have high yield with uniform growth. This provides for a more uniform and thick mulch cover to protect the soil and prevent weed growth.
  • Timing is essential. The roller crimper is only effective at a certain stage in the life of cover crop.

To use the roller crimper, you must have a tractor and a front-end loader. The roller crimper is HEAVY. Minimum recommended tractor is 60 HP.

admin September 8, 2009

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