[AT] OT Hay question

[Ralph Goff]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Brians" <gbrians at hollinet.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 6:53 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] OT Hay question


>    In answer to the New York question, a swather is a self-propelled
> mower-conditioner that either has no crimper or a limited crimper of up to
> 4 feet wide. They range from 14-18 feet of cut and are the tool used for
> most western hay cutting because of their speed and air-conditioned cabs.
> They were first used in the 1950's or thereabouts. They are not to be
> confused with the windrowers used in the plains for swathing huge widths
> of grain for faster drying (30' to 50' wide). As far as I know the
> windrowers were nearly always pulled?
>        Grant Brians
>        Hollister CA
Here on the prairies a swather and a windrower are the same thing. A
conditiioner attachment is available accesory but most swathers don't have
them. Mine is a 19 foot IH model 4000 self propelled that I primarily bought
for swathing grain crops but this year I used it to cut hay and it worked
quite well. Hay cut on Monday was good and ready by Friday due to sun, heat
and wind. I thought I might have to turn the swath to get it dried
underneath but I think there was enough dry on top to compensate for any
greener material on the underside of the swath.
And a 19 foot swather is small nowadays here. You can get 30 footers with
cab and ac and diesel power. Big price tag though. I also have a pull type
Massey 21 foot which I really like for swathing cereal crops.

Ralph in Sask.
http://lgoff.sasktelwebsite.net/