The crop residue distribution apparatus and system use a horizontal crop spreader assembly and deflector door independently relatively positionable to be configurable in a straw windrowing and chaff spreading configuration in which straw flow is directed through an aperture between drive units of the spreader assembly while the chaff is directed to the spreader disposed in a lower opening in a straw and chaff spreading configuration wherein the door closes the aperture and both straw and chaff are directed to the spreader and in a straw and chaff windrowing configuration wherein the spreader is withdrawn from the lower opening such that the straw and chaff are both discharged therethrough to form a windrow without requiring removing disks of the spreader.
