Editing Windrow (section)

{{Short description|Row of cut hay}}
{{confused|winnowing|windbreaks|Windrow Formation{{!}}the Windrow Formation}}{{See Wiktionary}}
{{For|people with this name|Windrow (surname)}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2016}}
[[Image:Champs DSC01390.JPG|thumb|Windrows of straw, along with stubble.]]
[[Image:Kuilvoerwinning (grass silage).jpg|thumb|right|Grass for [[silage]] in a windrow awaiting collection.]]
A '''windrow''' is a row of cut (mown) [[hay]] or small grain crop.<ref name=AHDict/> It is allowed to dry before being [[Baler|baled]], [[Combine_harvester|combined]], or rolled. For hay, the windrow is often formed by a [[hay rake]], which rakes hay that has been cut by a [[mower|mowing]] machine or by [[scythe]] into a row, or it may naturally form as the hay is mown. For small grain crops which are to be harvested, the windrow is formed by a [[swather]] which both cuts the crop and forms the windrow. 

By analogy, the term may also be applied to a row of any other material such as snow, earth or materials for collection.<ref name=AHDict>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|windrow}}</ref>

* Snow windrows are created by [[Snowplow|snow plow]]s when clearing roads of snow; where this blocks driveways the windrow may require removal.  Snow windrowed to the centre of the street can be removed by a [[snow blower]] and truck. In preparing a pond or lake for [[ice cutting]], the snow on top of the ice, which slows freezing, might be scraped off and windrowed.<ref>{{Cite journal
| pages = 6–8
| last = Bowen
| first = John T.
| title = Harvesting and Storing Ice on the Farm
| journal = Farmer's Bulletin
| access-date = 2014-05-25
| date = 1928
| url = http://www.iceharvestingusa.com/farmbulletin3.html
}}</ref>
* Earth windrows may be formed by [[grader]]s when grading earthworks or dirt roads
* Leaf windrows may be required for municipal collection.
* [[Fossil]] windrows are a grouping of fossils that have been deposited together as a result of turbulence or wave action in a marine or freshwater environment. Fossils of similar shape and size are commonly found grouped or sorted together as a result of separation based on weight and shape.
* [[Seaweed]] windrows form on sea or lake surfaces because of cylindrical [[Langmuir circulation]] just under the surface caused by wind action.

[[Windrow composting]] is a large scale [[vermicompost]]ing system where garden and other biodegradable waste is shredded, mixed and windrowed for composting.