Stalk Chopper Makes Great Crop Roller

Stalk Chopper Makes Great Crop Roller CROPS Miscellaneous Steve Groff turned his Buffalo Rolling Stalk Chopper into a super cover crop roller Only slightly modified the chopper makes fast work of heavy cover crops crimping and pushing them down in a solid mat
    “I added parallel linkage to each roller so they float independently ” says Groff “The linkage lets them flex over small variations in ground contour I also put bearing protectors on the rollers to eliminate wrapping It’s fast and economical I can run it at 8 to 10 mph ”
    Groff didn’t make any changes to the rollers themselves The machine has parallel 7 by 7-in toolbars each with a set of four rollers Each roller is slightly offset from the next to ensure complete coverage of the 10-ft width Rollers can be angled for more aggressive chopping action
    Groff is a nationally known advocate of cover crops and has advised countless farmers on how to best use them Even with his chopper/roller timing is important
    “It works best when cereal rye is headed out and 3 to 4 ft high or hairy vetch and crimson clover are starting to flower ” says Groff “If too early and plants are young and succulent it can cut them and they’ll regrow ”
    Until cover crops are fully headed out or in full bloom Groff doesn’t plan on a 100 percent kill with his chopper/roller For that reason he usually hits the rolled crop with a little herbicide as he goes
    “A little herbicide goes a long way when you can’t wait to plant ” he says “With a little herbicide you can be sure the cover crop is dead and won’t be sucking out moisture ”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Steve Groff Cedar Meadow Farm; 679 Hilldale Rd Holtwood Penn 17532 ph 717 284-5152; steve@cedarmeadowfarm com; www cedarmeadowfarm com     

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