Keg Crimper
2022 Innovation Challenge Highlighted Applicant
An 8’ wide roller-crimper made from all re-used materials.
Problem solved: low-cost method for termination of cover-crop
Skills/tools needed: welding/metal fabrication, and adaptation/improvising design depending on available materials.
Cost: $500 or so if the parts are sourced from a scrap yard
Best suited for: field crops and cover-crop termination
INNOVATOR PROFILE
Jacob transitioned his grain field to no-till with the help of his keg crimper made from all re-used materials. He continues to work on his innovation and has planned a compost tea sprayer with a top rack holding up to 5-13 gallon kegs. He would eventually like to upgrade to a larger electric tractor that can run the crimper front-mounted and pull their disc-seeder for a single-pass in the spring of terminating the cover and planting barley.
INNOVATION
The roller crimper is made out of kegs and other reclaimed materials, allowing for a very effective and affordable tractor attachment to terminate cover crops.
PROBLEM SOLVED
This keg crimper is a low-tech, low-cost method for termination of cover crop. It is scalable and adaptable to pulling power other than tractors and can be easily replicated and adapted to other farms.
HOW TO BUILD IT & WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
Jacob had an old disc and some beat up kegs, and over half of the angle-iron from bed frames that he used were from free piles on the side of the road. The roller is made from 4 beer kegs welded end to end with ports for filling with water and the crimpers are attached in the ‘V’ shape pattern and made from old bed frames from the scrap yard.
The axels are made from an old disc, two sets with bushings and they are fed by two 5 gallon kegs that are filled with used veggie oil from a local restaurant rather than grease. It was designed to be front mounted but it could be easily built rear mounted.
They use a 36 HP tractor and it would make tighter turns if it was a bit larger or if the crimper was a tow behind.
About this resource:
CAFF’s Small Farm Tech Hub produced a booklet highlighting selected winners from the annual Small Farm Innovation Challenge.
Innovations were submitted by farmers in the category of “Do It Yourself” or DIY. This booklet only highlights a handful of total applicants to the Challenge. These innovations exemplify how simple DIY innovations can lead to significant improvements in the farm and offer blueprints that can be adapted, improved upon, and implemented by other farmers.
As applicants of the Innovation Challenge, their contribution to agricultural technology showcases the power of practical, scalable solutions in transforming the small farm landscape. The Innovation Challenge invites farmers, entrepreneurs, students, hackers and any ingenious, farm-loving thinkers to propose tech-based innovations that will help small scale agriculture compete, survive and thrive. All ideas, big or small, in any phase of development, will be accepted for the Innovation Challenge. Learn more by visiting www.caff.org/innovation.
A printable booklet can be viewed here.
Check out our other highlighted innovators:
