Here Comes the Roller Crimper | Part 1 of the 2022 Corn Fields Series - Rodale Institute

Large-scale organic farmers can use a special tractor implement called the roller crimper, invented by Jeff Moyer, Rodale Institute CEO, instead of tilling or using chemical herbicides to kill cover crops before the next planting.
As the farmer drives over the cover crop, the water-filled drum with chevron-patterned blades mows the plants down, cutting the stems every seven inches. The cover crop, now terminated, remains on the ground where it forms a thick mulch that suffocates weeds. Implements on the rear of the tractor then part the cover crop mat, drop in seeds-soybeans, for example-and cover them up to ensure soil contact. It happens in a single pass, saving vital time and energy for farmers. The cash crop then grows straight up through the cover crop mulch.
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Dan Kemper, Master Trainer
For more information visit rodaleinstitute.org

[@sporosregenerationinstitut8088]

Great Video, thank you for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to create it

[@michaeldunagan8268]

I appreciate the explanations of why and what for.

[@taimurmalik2792]

Thanks for sharing this video Team Rodale. A few questions for you for more context: 1. Why did you chose a single specie cover crop over a multi-species cover crop? 2. Did you treat the corn seed with any inoculant (either a commercial product or farm made)? (& was the vetch seed in the fall treated with an inoculant?) 3. With this system do you ever apply compost to the soil? 4. Would weeds be significantly worse if you didn’t crimp the cover crop, but rather used ruminant animals to graze it off and then used the Monosem no-till planter to plant the corn?

[@rodaleinstitute]

Hi Taimur, thanks for the awesome questions! :) 1. We’ve had issues in the past with multi-species cover crop mixes because of the different maturity dates of each species in the mix. This makes it difficult in a roller crimping system because there is a small window to crimp the cover crop, and that window becomes either smaller because of multiple maturity dates, or we have to pick and choose. 2. We've never inoculated corn. With legumes, In this case, we did not, because we already have a well established soil that is high in rhizobia that immediately colonizes root nodules of the legume. In soils that struggle to fix nitrogen, we would recommend inoculating. And soil that does’t regularly have legumes in it, legume seeds should be inoculated for a few years. It doesn’t hurt to always inoculate legumes, but it is an added cost to consider. 3. You can apply compost, but we recommend doing it closer to the crimping process. If you apply compost during the planting of a legume, it won’t pull nitrogen from the air as effectively, because it has enough access to nitrogen in the soil from the compost application. 4. You could do that, but animals may not be as efficient, and you may end up with more weeds because of the trampling of the soil (basically like tilling; stirring up the weed seeds to the top of the soil). As apposed to having a cover crop, crimped and laying on top, which acts as a weed suppressive mat. Hope that helps? :)

[@quengafarm]

Wait, why have I never thought about putting my headphones upside-down!

[@rodaleinstitute]

Glad we could inspire you! :)

[@cindymaccallum6698]

Have you had issues with other cover Crops not being effectively cut by the leading coulter that would result in all the crash crop getting hair-pinned? And could you share the model of planter being used?

[@Cordell-]

I had an issue with hairpinning. Had 3 different multiple species cover crops. I ended up taking off all the coulters and just running opening discs, and closing wheels

[@nickjohnson6982]

How did ur ceop yield?

[@matthewholborow9942]

One benefit you didn't mention is improved soil carbon levels. Tilled fields lose carbon to the atmosphere and contribute significantly to climate change. The ideal would be to find a rotation where crop are undersown with a cover crop that is crimped the next year, so that the soil is always covered.

[@rodaleinstitute]

Yes, great insight there Mathew! :)

[@harrybowen3285]

What is the biggest pest threat under the pure vetch?

[@mtpocketswoodenickle2637]

Slugs and Snails & Puppy dog tails?