Roll-Crimp Iowa Mfg.

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We, at Roll-crimp Iowa, believe cover crop rollers will change the way soybeans are produced in the US.

Cover crops are increasingly being used in Iowa because they prevent erosion, help the soil retain nutrients, and reduce the need to till the soil. All this adds up to better fertility and higher yields!

Growing rye as a cover crop is an effective way to stop erosion. Typically, cover crops like cereal rye are planted in the fall and killed in the spring and left to decompose. Using a rollercrimper is an effective alternative to using herbicide and it has added benefits to soil quality and sustainability. When rollercrimping post soybean emergence, we plant soybeans into the standing cereal rye and rollercrimp prior to the 3rd trifoliate stage.

Roll-Crimp Iowa’s goal is to advocate for the practice of rollercrimping.

Anytime during the window of soybean emergence and before V3 is effective. Rollercrimping must coincide with a specific stage of rye’s development called anthesis or flowering, the rye is rollercrimped (and in conventional systems sprayed with a low rate of herbicide) to kill the rye. The dried-up plant residue forms a surface mat which acts as a season-long mulch to smother weeds.

The top inch of soil on an acre weighs about 160 tons. Across Iowa’s nearly 10 million acres of soybeans, a megolithic amount of soil is lost each year to erosion. Rollercrimping not just stops erosion but also increases organic matter. A Rollercrimper can flatten and kill rye in a single pass. There are several designs depending on the goals and system being used.

Sustainable Farms Cover Crop and Rollercrimp.

About Roll-Crimp Iowa

When I moved back home to our 6th generation family farm in 2009, costs of inputs were climbing and more and more GMO seed technologies were coming onto the scene. I immediately began to understand that the cards were stacked against my farming future. Small farmers must innovate to survive.

I first considered rollercrimping in combination with herbicide spraying, but when I started working as an Organic Inspector for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship I realized that this system could have a profound impact on organic soybean production as well (organic systems often rely more heavily on tillage in place of herbicides to control weed pressure). Soon after, I founded Roll-Crimp Iowa Mfg., located near Keota, Iowa. I am enthused about the future of Rollercrimpers in supporting sustainable farming.

The right cover crop, managed in the right way, can control well over 90% of winter annuals (horseweed, marestail, wild mustard, pennycress) and spring perennials (bindweed, dogbane, horsenettle). “No-till farmers need to think of cover crops as part of a whole cropping system. Managing cover crop seeding and termination may take additional time and attention, however cover crops are less expensive than herbicide, reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality, build organic matter, and scavenge nitrogen.”

There are numerous long term plots throughout our region. Iowa State University has been studying the implementation of rollercrimping since 2005. Stay tuned into our Facebook Roll-crimp Iowa, our Youtube channel, and smash the “Like” button below to follow current research and upcoming dates for field days around the Nation and sign up to receive our Newsletters.

Thank you.

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Contact

Roll-crimp Iowa Mfg.

1045 210th St.

Keota, IA 52248

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DIY. Do It Yourself

The pictures you see on this site are based on the style developed by The Rodale Institute. Blueprints were provided by the US. Patent Services Registry.

Chevron blade cover crop rollers utilizes a unique design to ensure successful emergence of row crops when rollercrimping. Chervons, more than straight bar rollers, allow for greater tractor speed during a smoother ride and a more effective termination of the cover crop.

Rollercrimpers typically use 3/8th inch thick iron for the chevrons. Twisting the chevrons requires specialized equipment. The chevrons are welded to a 15 inch tube equipped with reinforced bearings on the ends.

H2: Images are sequential to how rollercrimpers are built. The Many Styles and Sizes.