Low-Cost Roller Knocks Over Stalks

Low-Cost Roller Knocks Over Stalks CROPS New Techniques John Janing didn’t want to snap stalks off but push them over so he built a stalk roller that does just that Best of all it was low-cost and easy to build     “I was going to try planting beans across the corn rows but didn’t want the old corn stalks to tear up my tires ” says Janing “I needed a roller but I didn’t want to make a big investment ”     Janing came up with a roller that attaches to the front of his Deere 8100 planter tractor The stalk roller is actually a pair of rollers made from 8-in well stem Each roller hangs down in the path of the wheels To help ensure that they roll rather than drag and smear the surface if it’s wet Janing welded 1-in angle iron in a slightly spiraling design around the rollers     Each roller mounts on bearings within its own frame Arms on those frames end in yokes that pin to stubs hanging down from an old 4 by 4-in cultivator toolbar     “The arm hinges let the rollers float over the surface ” explains Janing     To mount the toolbar he used a 3/4-in steel tank mount he picked up at an auction that fits the 8100 The toolbar hinges to the mount A hydraulic cylinder is attached between the mount and a steel plate on the toolbar Lengths of angle iron extend out from the toolbar and connect with the hinged rollers by chains     “When the angle irons are parallel with the ground the rollers are in contact with the ground and rolling the stalks ” explains Janing “When the cylinder extends it rotates the toolbar on the mount This lifts the angle irons to a more vertical position to raise the rollers off the ground for transport ”     At the time Janing was transitioning between no tractor guidance and an RTK guidance system He tried cross-row planting for a couple of years before switching to off-row planting With RTK planting just 4 to 5 in from the old row he wasn’t driving on stalks and didn’t need the roller However it still comes in handy     “Last year I mounted it on a newer model tractor just because it had new tires on it ” says Janing “It still does the job and it was low cost ”     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Janing 1007 Road 12 Geneva Neb 68361 ph 402-759-4688; jwj00310@gmail com

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