I have about 35 acres of hay to harvest. I have a bailer, but need a swather. How much should I expect to spend on a used swather? I guess I'm looking for something in good working order that might be 20 years old. The kind that you pull behind a tractor.

Any guesses?

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), June 25, 2001

Answers

Response to swather

We picked one up at an auction back in April for $285, it is a Ford 535 with a 10 foot cut, just replaced a couple of knives, 7 guards and 4 hold down clips. Cuts like a charm. I've heard though lately even old machines are going for $1000 and up.

-- PKS (ourplace@somewhere.com), June 25, 2001.

Three years ago I sold a New Holland 8' hay conditioner/swather for $150. and the buyer drove 15 hours to get it and was tickled to find one.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), June 28, 2001.

Are you going to want to use a haybine? or you have the option of buying a trailer sickle mower. A haybine in shape which requires minimal fixing to start use can run from $850 to $1800. But be caution in buying and ask to here it run. Have it run at the rpms that it would cut at. THen ask they shut it done without throttle down. All bines a a clutch and if the unit coasts over a period to a stop in an even slowing the clutch should be good shape.

Try and pick a unit which a dealer is in your area for parts. New holland, John Deere and Hesston are all good choices since they are all still manufactured.

A sickle mower will be a lower investment and if you are not in full farm production sufficient for the average weekend farmer. The only difference is that it will require a little longer for the hay to cure. I personally use a haybine but believe that hay done with sickle is in better condition and provides a higher protein level if cut and baled.

Good luck. Just remeber that hay is hard work and take it easy. be careful around the equipment.

-- William Rutter (wrutter@uniontel.net), July 04, 2001.

What is the difference (or is there one) between a haybine, a swather, and a hay conditioner? As I understand it, they all cut hay and crush the alfalfa stems so the hay will dry faster. You must still rake the windrows.

We use an ancient pto-driven sickle mower, then a day or so later (depending on the weather) we turn the hay into windrows with a wheel- driven rake. Followed in another day or so by a square baler towing our hay wagon.

Works well, but we are pretty much at the mercy of the weather. Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (onestonefarm@hotmail.com), July 05, 2001.