Abstract: A row crop cultivator having rolling shields adjacent each of the cultivator shovels to protect the crop from soil thrown by the shovels. The cultivator typically has three or more shovels per furrow, the shovels being spaced laterally and longitudinally from one another. Shields are provided on each side of the centrally located shovels, and, for each off-center shovel, a shield is provided between that shovel and the closest adjacent row of crop. Some of the shields, particularly for the centrally located shovels, may be located closer to the center of the furrow than adjacent shields, allowing close spacing of both shovels and shields to provide the required crop protection. The cultivator allows increased cultivating speed, even for narrow row precision cultivation and even in mellow soils, and also eliminates the clogging problem suffered by conventional tunnel shields in fields having significant trash or crop residue.