The benefit of rolling

[nxy]

Oh, thank you. I forgot to reply to @glasshouse , yes that about sums it up.

I damaged the combine with a rock this year, I’m wondering about rolling in spring. Any experience, mind the window would be very small and herbicide application

Sorry I have never rolled in the spring, it always seems to arrive like someone flicked a switch and we go from mud to 25 degrees.

 

[czechmate]

Sorry I have never rolled in the spring, it always seems to arrive like someone flicked a switch and we go from mud to 25 degrees.

Yes, exactly.

Can’t wait

 

[glasshouse]

Yes, exactly.

Can’t wait

When?

 

[czechmate]

When?

Tomorrow hopefully
More likely the end of feb/beginning of March

 

[glasshouse]

Tomorrow hopefully
More likely the end of feb/beginning of March

Two months before our spring

 

[Dan Attle]

I find rolling a sorry job some times your sorry you didn’t roll more other years sorry you rolled any this year rolled our blacker land germinated lovley , wish I rolled our heavy but potential rain on the way was focused on a getting more in and felt a bit spongy underneath and now with that wonderful thing of hindsight I wish I rolled it all
Equally few years ago rolled all my early drilled spring barley for it to then rain for 2 weeks solid
One day I’ll get it right

 

[Renaultman]

I would never roll heavy land after the drill, so i suppose the french think the same

Only if it's bone dry here now, bit saying that, could have rolled everything this year.

 

[CORK]

Stones & slugs are the main reason I roll.

Rolled wheat in the spring this year and it went grand. 6.75tn tractor with 650 tyres running at 10-12 psi.

Rolled most of the winter cereals in the autumn this year. Some pre emergence and some at 1 leaf.

Waiting till spring is fine if just worried about stones but slugs are a different story.
We got mullered by slugs in wheat after WOSR last year, complete carnage (seed hollowing. It wasn’t rolled as conditions didn’t seem good enough.
The wheat grew where the quad bike spreading pellets travelled.

I’ve had a few bad experiences with slugs after WOSR in the past two years, chastening experiences.

Have taken a new approach and it worked terrifically well this year. All WOSR stubble was disced (2” deep) in dry weather. First pass right after harvest and second 3 weeks later. No pellets needed.
I have started checking fields at night with a headlight to monitor for slug levels before and after planting.

Fingers crossed that I’ll be able to get rid of slug pressure before I plant anything.
Multiple applications of pellets turn in a big cost, additionally- the crop will have been damaged too, double whammy.

 

[Macsky]

How does rolling stop slugs? Squish them or make things difficult for them somehow?

 

[CORK]

How does rolling stop slugs? Squish them or make things difficult for them somehow?

Just stops them moving though cracks in the soil (they don’t burrow) and gets rid of clods/stones under which they can shelter.

 

[glasshouse]

Stones & slugs are the main reason I roll.

Rolled wheat in the spring this year and it went grand. 6.75tn tractor with 650 tyres running at 10-12 psi.

Rolled most of the winter cereals in the autumn this year. Some pre emergence and some at 1 leaf.

Waiting till spring is fine if just worried about stones but slugs are a different story.
We got mullered by slugs in wheat after WOSR last year, complete carnage (seed hollowing. It wasn’t rolled as conditions didn’t seem good enough.
The wheat grew where the quad bike spreading pellets travelled.

I’ve had a few bad experiences with slugs after WOSR in the past two years, chastening experiences.

Have taken a new approach and it worked terrifically well this year. All WOSR stubble was disced (2” deep) in dry weather. First pass right after harvest and second 3 weeks later. No pellets needed.
I have started checking fields at night with a headlight to monitor for slug levels before and after planting.

Fingers crossed that I’ll be able to get rid of slug pressure before I plant anything.
Multiple applications of pellets turn in a big cost, additionally- the crop will have been damaged too, double whammy.

View attachment 1003760

Before the independence referendum in 2014, a local farmer cultivated a big NO in his rape stubble. A month or so later he ploughed and sowed wheat
The only part of the field that survived the slug attack was the NO sign.

 

[teslacoils]

Spring rolled wheat, which coincided with a late frost, looked nuked. Was a good two inches shorter. And a good five percent more grain yield. I love spring rolling if we get a dry enough day for it. And means combine can get the header right down.

 

[CORK]

Before the independence referendum in 2014, a local farmer cultivated a big NO in his rape stubble. A month or so later he ploughed and sowed wheat
The only part of the field that survived the slug attack was the NO sign.

An enduring message

 

[Wigeon]

Spring rolled wheat, which coincided with a late frost, looked nuked. Was a good two inches shorter. And a good five percent more grain yield. I love spring rolling if we get a dry enough day for it. And means combine can get the header right down.

And the gorgeous smell!

A nice job really.

 

[teslacoils]

And the gorgeous smell!

A nice job really.

We have a small airfield next to us, and I always wonder if they look down and notice that I've planned my rolling so each field and headland has differing stripes.

 

[ollie989898]

Spring rolled wheat, which coincided with a late frost, looked nuked. Was a good two inches shorter. And a good five percent more grain yield. I love spring rolling if we get a dry enough day for it. And means combine can get the header right down.

Spring wheat being two inches shorter is a good thing. The stuff looks so bloody miserable and tiny when it first comes up but once it gets the sun on it's back it gets leggy as fudge in no time.

 

[glasshouse]

Spring wheat being two inches shorter is a good thing. The stuff looks so bloody miserable and tiny when it first comes up but once it gets the sun on it's back it gets leggy as fudge in no time.

It was winter wheat, spring rolled

 

[teslacoils]

Dad rolls spring barley post emergence. Sometimes several times. Bit of AN. Splash of manganese and some pgr and it chucks out tillers like a bush.

 

[ollie989898]

Dad rolls spring barley post emergence. Sometimes several times. Bit of AN. Splash of manganese and some pgr and it chucks out tillers like a bush.

I've spent day after day of my youth rolling spring barley with flat rolls in Dorset. On the chalk you barely leave a mark.

 

[A1baz]

I must point out to the OP that the use of a plough and PH combi drill is not seen as PC at this point in time and that he must sell all his big tractors and cultivation kit and buy a £120,000 direct drill.

Ha, I wish we had some big tractors to sell! Nothing here above 120hp, I’ve only just managed to convince the old man to let me retire the Massey 30 behind a 7610! This is the first year using a combi