Offset Unroller Speeds Up Row Mulching

Offset Unroller Speeds Up Row Mulching BALE HANDLING Ag extension workers came up with plans for an offset bale unroller that’s been a valuable addition to Waterpenny Farm in Sperryville Va where workers spread hay for a mulch between vegetable rows Round bales 4 by 5-ft fit perfectly between the rows says co-owner Eric Plaksin But anyone who has rolled a bale by hand knows that bales don’t always roll straight and can be difficult to push John Wilhoit extension specialist from the University of Kentucky came up with the tractor-pulled bale unroller after he heard Plaksin and his wife speak at a farming conference Wilhoit even brought his prototype to Waterpenny Farm to demonstrate last year The tractor straddles the garden row as the implement unrolls the bale between rows One person walks behind to make sure the hay comes off correctly After using the unroller Plaksin and his wife Rachel knew they needed to make a unit of their own Each season they unroll more than 200 bales on 8 acres They downloaded Wilhoit’s free plans and hired a local welder to put it together With labor and all new materials the total cost was $2 070 The hydraulic top link is necessary to adjust the length to keep the implement from dragging on the ground as the bale gets smaller The blueprints are available free at http://jokko bae uky edu/ext/Specialty_Crops/plans htm Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Waterpenny Farm 53 Waterpenny Lane Sperryville Va 22740 540 987-8567; waterpenny@verizon net; www waterpennyfarm com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.