[AT] OT Hay question

[Cecil Bearden]

a mower-conditioner here is a pull type swather.  A swather is a 
self-propelled cutter usually with a crimper attachment that conditions the 
hay as it is exhausted into the windrow.  We release the tension on the 
crimper rollers when cutting prairie hay as you will have only particles of 
hay if it sets in the windrow too long.  When cutting grains or large stalk 
type of forage, then we load the tension on the crimp rollers to break up 
the stalks and take some of the moisture out of the material...  I have 
baled wheat hay when the belts were slipping on the rollers due to moisture 
running out of the wheat and the bales being so heavy.  You could smell the 
bales fermenting for about 3 weeks afterward.  However, when we fed it that 
following winter, the cows would fight over the hay..  I never noticed any 
mold in those bales.  I think that there was enough acid in the sap to 
prevent it from molding.  I would much prefer to bale with the sap moisture 
than rain or humidity.  Hope this makes sense..

Cecil in OKla
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rasmith4 at juno.com>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 7:04 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] OT Hay question


>
> Grant
>
> Here in the East (NY) we don't have "swathers".  We mostly use
> nower-conditioners.  What is the difference between a swather and a
> mower-conditioner?
>
> Richard
> In Central NY
>
> -- "Grant Brians" <gbrians at hollinet.com> wrote:
>
> I have cut with mower, mower-conditioner and swather over the years.
>
>
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