As mid‐summer hay season nears, producers are sizing up the machines that cut conditioning time and keep forage quality high. At Catalyst Communications, Hot Line Farm and Antique Monthly Update, we track auction activity and buyer interest to help you make well-timed, informed equipment decisions.

Windrowers originated in the 1940s as tractor-pulled“ swathers” that utilized canvas belts to create uniform rows for quicker hay curing. The game-changer arrived in the mid-1960s with self-propelled, hydrostatic machines. Today’ s disc and draper heads enable operators to clip 16-plus feet per pass, leaving a fluffy, even windrow that speeds up drying and preserves forage quality.

Below is a snapshot of recent sales that set the tone for the current market:

• John Deere 4995 self-propelled— A 2005 model with 1,901 hrs sold for $ 81,000 at a mid-June Iowa sale; comparable 2004 – 05 units in Wisconsin and Oklahoma landed in the $ 55k – 58k range, giving a clear feel for today’ s premium on clean, mid-2000s machines.

• New Holland H8080 self-propelled— A low-hour 2009 unit( 974 hrs) sold in North Dakota for $ 69,000. Buyers prize these machines because Tier 3 engines offer simpler emissions hardware. They still deliver modern cab comfort and hydraulic upgrades without a brand-new price tag.

• John Deere 630 side-pull— five late-spring sales from Arkansas to Iowa illustrate the mid-tier pull-type market: $ 3,360 – 12,500 for 2007 – 17 models. PTO and EFI options nudged prices higher.

• Hesston 1130 pull-type— Two Missouri units traded at $ 2,750 and $ 3,500, showing value buyers can still pick up older pull-type workhorses for under $ 4k and put them straight into another cutting season.

These figures highlight steady demand for low‐hour, self‐propelled windrowers, while well‐optioned side‐pulls and budget‐friendly pull‐types offer affordable entry points for smaller operations.

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