Rolling soybeans?

[gil.gullickson]

All,

A couple years ago, I did a story on rolling soybeans. The rolling pretty much sums it up. Fields of small soybeans are gone over with a roller. Advantages include pressing down rocks, which makes harvest a lot easier. Some farmers I talk to swear by it and say they think it improves yields, but I think studies are mixed.

Have any of you ever done this? Just curious about your experiences.

Gil Gullickson

Crops Technology Editor 

[JCCWIS]

Pull cultipacker behind bean planter.....pushes small rocks down and levels ground for combine. Gain....2-3 bu.   at combining. Loss due to compaction or other factors ????.  Bigger rocks....rock picker or human picker!!!!!

Have even used cultimulcher....teeth up...too roll problem fields. This is not high bean yield area....last year had 40 bu. avg...whole field bean wts. devided bu measured acres....NOT combine monitor.

John

[gil.gullickson]

Thx. Haven't heard of the ****bleep**

Gil 

[Longcreekfarms]

My dad used to use a cultipacker behind a drill on double crop. Ground was hard and that green drill just wouldn't stay in the ground. Bought a heavier drill and don't see the need anymore. Leaving the ground a little chunky seems to help on the grey slug damage in full season no till as well.