Straw rake or Alternative

BuskhillFarm

Member
Arable Farmer
For those using Claydon drill what do you use for stubble management. I know they recommend a straw rake, but would using a cambridge roller with paddles/or even tines give the required chit/slug egg removal/straw spread?
Trying to cut down the machinery costs as best as I can on a small acreage but still do a good job.
 

alomy75

Member
Might even be better. A rake will be good to shake seeds out of lumps of straw but without the roll those seeds won’t be pushed into the ground to grow. Rake will be good to expose slugs whereas the wider spacing tines on rolls might miss some. Go faster with a rake so straw will be spread more efficiently. Depends which aspect is most important to your system
 

BuskhillFarm

Member
Arable Farmer
Broome is the main problem at the minute so thinking the roller will maybe be most cost efficient without having to buy a straw rake, use it then have to roll after rake starts too look like more diesel than needed
 

Matt77

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
East Sussex
I've done just that, think we 5th season in now, I couldn't justify a rake too, rolls needed changing so got a set with paddles, it's not 100% as there's gaps on my set and you can see the volunteers growing in bands the width of the paddle if we don't get around to a 2nd or 3rd pass, also unsure how much the rolls like travelling at 10k+ the opico rolls lock the paddles together, I'd like to try/afford them 💰💰
 

redsloe

Member
Location
Cornwall
I've done just that, think we 5th season in now, I couldn't justify a rake too, rolls needed changing so got a set with paddles, it's not 100% as there's gaps on my set and you can see the volunteers growing in bands the width of the paddle if we don't get around to a 2nd or 3rd pass, also unsure how much the rolls like travelling at 10k+ the opico rolls lock the paddles together, I'd like to try/afford them 💰💰
Don't they drag up? I tried it but especially s barley was nightmare.
 

Matt77

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
East Sussex
I’ve also found it’s best to have them vibrating along the surface rather than push them down harder
Yes I’d agree on that, it’s not the perfect answer but I’m not sure what is, I’d like to try a vaderstad cross cutter, can’t afford one but I hear you can keep that very shallow
 

BuskhillFarm

Member
Arable Farmer
I've done just that, think we 5th season in now, I couldn't justify a rake too, rolls needed changing so got a set with paddles, it's not 100% as there's gaps on my set and you can see the volunteers growing in bands the width of the paddle if we don't get around to a 2nd or 3rd pass, also unsure how much the rolls like travelling at 10k+ the opico rolls lock the paddles together, I'd like to try/afford them 💰💰
That’s the perfect honest feedback I was hoping. If a new rake was £5k I’d have one in a heartbeat but feel they’re too steep for what they are. The roller is so versatile and has many more uses so rather change my ancient lely for a a good secondhand one with paddles. Maybe even fit tines instead of or between the shatter boards and experiment.

I’m not overly worried about work rate as it’s my first year next year hiring in a claydon to see how it goes and also small acreage to try.

Just really want a good chit to control the broome build up from the previous tenant.
 

Matt77

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Our "S" tine was a disaster, old so probably half the first problem, we snapped more tines than I care to remember, after that it was impossible to control depth and just blocked, where some snapped and weren't replaced that day it didn't block but you kick the ground about and obviously there's massive gaps untouched, the field looks pretty with stripes, that's about it sadly for us. Ground is too hard when you want to use it was my conclusion.
 

Bob lincs

Member
Arable Farmer
For those using Claydon drill what do you use for stubble management. I know they recommend a straw rake, but would using a cambridge roller with paddles/or even tines give the required chit/slug egg removal/straw spread?
Trying to cut down the machinery costs as best as I can on a small acreage but still do a good job.
Try and find a Pheonix Rotary Chain Harrow . I sold mine and now really wish i still had it .
IMG_0328.JPG
IMG_0330.JPG
 

Robert K

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Essex
we have a Claydon Terrastar for sale which is very similar to the rotary harrow.

A very quick way of getting that first chit whilst also spreading and chopping up straw, along with being cheap to run with the blades said to last 1000 acres before changing.

thumbnail_IMG_20210309_155704665_HDR.jpg
 

Flatlander

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lorette Manitoba
Heavy spring tine harrows here are very common. Used when straw is dry they will shatter spread and loosen the top couple of inches of soil and promote a good chit. Faster you go with them the better. Take some pulling once you give it down pressure. Good to incorporate fertilizer in and level worked ground.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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