Swather and Windrower.

I have come across two MF products online that I have no clue is. One is called MF Swather, and one is called MF Windrower.

What does those machines do ?

Bill

Modern hay farming needs all three. The first "combined" machines were swathers/windrowers that combined 1 and 3. This was before conditioning (crimping) was invented. Here is a picture (of a toy version)

or this old McCormick

Finally, New Holland called there three step version the "Haybine".

And even though a brand name, it has become a more or less standard term for all three functions although you will still hear "Swather" and "Windrower" to include the conditioning function. Also, not that swathers, windrowers and haybines tend to take on a local meaning depending on who you talk to.

J2

• Windrower/Swather

A windrower is used to put hay in a windrow for baleing after it has been cut down by a siclebar mower

Actually, I think you will find "swather" vs. "windrower" is more of a regional or corporate differance in nomenclature than it is in any actual differance in the machines.

IH machines made up in eastern Canda were labled "windrower", while "VERSATILE Manufactuing Co." units made in Winnipeg were labled "swather", and so it goes.