Pull-Behind Crop Roller

By: Paula Barbour

Preferring not to use herbicide to kill his cover crops, Stephen Aberle built a roller that terminates rye, triticale, and oats.

The rolls are mounted with hydraulic cylinders. Extending six cylinders about two thirds of the way allows the rolls to flex to follow the contour of his terraced land.

At 40 inches high, the tongue will clear the wheels on a drill. A chevron pattern in the rollers helps cut down on bouncing. Aberle can retract the roller to a width narrower than the drill for transport.