Editing Swather

{{Short description|Harvesting machine}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
[[File:Swather.jpg|thumb|[[MacDon Industries Ltd.|MacDon]] swather]]
[[File:New Holland H8040 Self propelled Windrower.JPG|thumb|New Holland Haybine H8040 self-propelled swather]]

A '''swather''' (North America), or '''windrower''' (Australia and rest of world), is a [[farm]] implement that cuts [[hay]] or small [[Cereal|grain]] [[crop]]s and forms them into a [[windrow]] for drying.
 
[[File:Razorbar closeup.jpg|thumb|Crimper rollers and cutting discs]]

They may be self-propelled with an [[internal combustion engine|engine]], or drawn by a [[tractor]] and [[power take-off]] powered.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/harvest-equipment/headers/honey-bee-swather-expands-cropping-options-for-hants-grower |title=Honey Bee swather expands cropping options for Hants grower |first=James |last=Andrews |date=2022-07-12 |website=Farmers Weekly }}</ref> A swather uses a reciprocating [[Mower#Sickle mower|sickle bar]] or rotating  [[Mower#Rotary mower|discs]] to sever the crop stems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hayandforage.com/article-1912-the-disappearing-sickle-bar-mower.html |title=The disappearing sickle bar mower |date=2018-04-17 |first=Mike |last=Rankin |website=Hay and Forage Grower }}</ref> The reel helps cut crop fall neatly onto a [[Conveyor belt|canvas]] or [[Screw conveyor|auger]] conveyor which deposits it into a windrow with stems aligned and supported above the ground by the stubble.<ref>{{cite web |title=Windrower Operation |first=J C |last=Thauberger |url=https://pami.ca/pdfs/reports_research_updates/(4i)%2520Miscellaneous/157.PDF |website=Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307012906/http://pami.ca/pdfs/reports_research_updates/(4i)%20Miscellaneous/157.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A swather does the same task for hay crops as hand [[scythe|scything]], cradling and swathing, or [[mower|mowing]] and [[hay rake|raking]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sewhistorically.com/how-to-make-hay-with-a-scythe-history-of-haymaking/ |website=Sew Historically |title=How to make hay with a scythe history of haymaking |date=2019-03-07 }}</ref> Horizontal rollers behind the cutters may be used to crimp or [[Conditioner (farming)|condition]] the stems of hay crops to decrease drying time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hayandforage.com/article-2652-don%E2%80%99t-let-weather-rain-on-your-parade.html |title=Don't let weather rain on your parade |date=2019-09-05 |first=Andrew |last=Eddie |website=Hay and Forage }}</ref>

For grains, as [[Combine harvester|combines]] replaced [[threshing machine]]s, the swather introduced an optional step in the harvesting process to provide for the drying time that [[reaper-binder|binding]] formerly afforded.<ref>{{McCormick1931}}</ref>{{rp|212–217}} Swathing is still more common in the northern United States and Canada than regions with longer growing seasons where standing grain crops can be harvested directly by combines. Some modern crop varieties capable of rapid maturity have reduced the need for swathing grains even in the north.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/business/the-art-of-swathing-becoming-less-common |title=The art of swathing becoming less common |website=Grand Forks Herald |date=2013-10-19 }}</ref>

As well as accelerating drying of the ripe grain, windrowing the whole of the growing crop provides for a consistent ripening and dehydration of stalk and green weeds to assist in effective post threshing winnowing and separation of the grain and other material.<ref>{{cite web |title=Direct heading v windrowing |website=The Weekly Times |date=2017-11-17 |first=Tony |last=Fawcett |url=https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/machine/crop-gear/direct-heading-v-windrowing/news-story/712543eb86e5ce624a194ef2795447fe }}</ref> Alternatively, chemical desiccation of weedy or irregularly ripe standing crops with [[glyphosate]], [[paraquat]] or [[diquat]] has been used to enable direct combining.<ref>{{cite web |title=Effects of Harvest Aids on Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Drydown and Maturity |date=2020 |publisher=Intech |via=ResearchGate |first1=James |last1=Grichar |first2=Peter A |last2=Dotray |first3=Derald Ray |last3=Langham |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339271467 }}</ref>

A swather is the mascot of sports teams at Hesston High School in [[Hesston, Kansas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hs.hesstonschools.org/ |title=Home |website=Hesston High Schools |access-date=2022-10-09 |archive-date=2022-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124010803/https://hs.hesstonschools.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hesston is home to [[AGCO Corporation]] swather and combine harvester manufacturing plants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/19208-agco-hesston-plant-identified-as-covid-19-cluster-for-second-time |title=Agco Hesston plant identified as covid 19 cluster for second time |date=2021-03-10 |website=Farm Equipment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104053317/https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/19208-agco-hesston-plant-identified-as-covid-19-cluster-for-second-time |archive-date=2023-01-04 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Crop Desiccation]]
*[[List of agricultural machinery]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Swathers}}

[[Category:Agricultural machinery]]
[[Category: Harvest]]