Breaker ring roll or Cambridge rolls ?

[Farmer_England]

Hello, I am taking a step for good or for bad to use a set of shallow discs after the combine, followed by rolling after discing to get a good chit of grass weeds and volunteers before drilling. (Discs have no press on)

We have been having worse and worse grass weed problem on the farm & it needs a whole change of crop establishment.
Some of the heavy land is having to be disced twice to break the clods up.

After the rolls have been through we are now using our new tine direct drill - this approach worked really well in the spring ‘24 & cleaned historically dirty fields up in one spring. (Current rolls are not heavy , so land didn’t get capped, even after the wet winter we all experienced).

I am currently using a standard set of Cambridge rolls, but thinking of changing my rolls to a set of rolls with breaker rings added in the set.

Any pros or cons to doing this?

Don’t want to spend much, any suggestions for light rolls ?

Thanks all & happy harvest.

 

[flywheel]

Plough would be your best weed solution..

 

[Farmer_England]

Years of ploughing & combi drilling are the reason we have so much issues with grass weeds
Keeping the weeds in the top layer of soil for 3-4 years for a good kill & then plough & same again

 

[Flat 10]

Hello, I am taking a step for good or for bad to use a set of shallow discs after the combine, followed by rolling after discing to get a good chit of grass weeds and volunteers before drilling. (Discs have no press on)

We have been having worse and worse grass weed problem on the farm & it needs a whole change of crop establishment.
Some of the heavy land is having to be disced twice to break the clods up.

After the rolls have been through we are now using our new tine direct drill - this approach worked really well in the spring ‘24 & cleaned historically dirty fields up in one spring. (Current rolls are not heavy , so land didn’t get capped, even after the wet winter we all experienced).

I am currently using a standard set of Cambridge rolls, but thinking of changing my rolls to a set of rolls with breaker rings added in the set.

Any pros or cons to doing this?

Don’t want to spend much, any suggestions for light rolls ?

Thanks all & happy harvest.

It needs to be drier than you would expect after drilling (if you roll then) as the breakers can "pluck" lumps out attracting the crows. Better for stopping it cap though.

 

[David.]

And if your soil type is proper sticky, breaker rings don't make much difference to how long you can keep going.

 

[Farmer_England]

It needs to be drier than you would expect after drilling (if you roll then) as the breakers can "pluck" lumps out attracting the crows. Better for stopping it cap though.

Thanks, I have used breakers many years ago, and you have reminded me about the ‘plucking’

 

[Farmer_England]

And if your soil type is proper sticky, breaker rings don't make much difference to how long you can keep going.

Our soil is Heavy Thames clay, working the top few inches to keep seeds on top, with the method which we adopted last year & getting good fluffy tilth when it comes to drilling.
Using a KRM SD3115, great drill.

 

[MrNoo]

I opted for a new set of rolls several years ago, we have soil that'll stick like sh!t to a blanket, brash and heavy clay. We always had Cambridge rings but the new rolls appeared with breakers and actually after 4 or so years of running them I wouldn't go back. They do a fantastic job and can turn a lumpy seedbed into a lot better one just with a pass, almost turning it to dust after several passes. But these are a heavy set of Dalbo 12m, think they weigh in at around 10t

 

[Farmer_England]

I opted for a new set of rolls several years ago, we have soil that'll stick like sh!t to a blanket, brash and heavy clay. We always had Cambridge rings but the new rolls appeared with breakers and actually after 4 or so years of running them I wouldn't go back. They do a fantastic job and can turn a lumpy seedbed into a lot better one just with a pass, almost turning it to dust after several passes. But these are a heavy set of Dalbo 12m, think they weigh in at around 10t

I think that sort of weight would be negative for me for over winter rolling

 

[MrNoo]

I think that sort of weight would be negative for me for over winter rolling

Yes quite possibly, a couple of fields here will cap badly with rain, it's a very fine sandy clay. Even if left rough after a Subdisc in the Autumn, it will have capped over by Spring but a quick pass with the discs and it'll be good to go. It's a shame you don't know anyone with a set, just to try.

 

[Farmer_England]

Yes quite possibly, a couple of fields here will cap badly with rain, it's a very fine sandy clay. Even if left rough after a Subdisc in the Autumn, it will have capped over by Spring but a quick pass with the discs and it'll be good to go. It's a shame you don't know anyone with a set, just to try.

Currently using light 3 gang set , but would be good to try a 2nd hand light weight 6/8/9 meter set

 

[DrWazzock]

The only problem I found with breaker rolls is that they seemed to pull up more plants when rolling cereals in the spring as the breakers have more float on the shaft and nip cereals plants.