[AT] Cockshutt 30 at auction

[Greg Hass]

A question for Ralph or anyone; In the auction with the Cockshutt 30, they 
have listed a tapered swath roller. Exactly what does this do. My guess 
would be to pack down a swath of grain or whatever so the wind doesn't blow 
it around. On the other hand in our area that would be the last thing one 
would do as we have all kinds of equipment to fluff up the windrows for 
faster drying. Related; in our area for the last few years, the last two in 
particular, people are buying big rollers up to 40 feet wide and 3 or 4 
feet in dia. to roll soybeans and in particular edible beans after they 
have been planted. It has nothing to do with packing the ground or breaking 
lumps; but is to push the stones into the ground. Stones are a very big 
problem here and soys and edible beans for sure require cutting very close 
to the ground. Until recently most people "pulled" the edible beans and put 
them into windrows to be combined. In the last 2 or 3 years, almost half 
the people have switched to cutting the beans direct, thus the need to push 
the stones down. Most of the rollers seem to be made in Canada and cost up 
to $25,000.
Greg Hass
Michigan