permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 05:27 PM 4/14/02 -0700, you wrote:
> Aloha,
>
> > The mower in question is a horizontal scythe mower.
> > We think these are a lot more friendly to little critters than a
> > rotary mower.
>
> Cool - presumably similar to what is called a sickle bar mower this
> side of the pond (hard to find these days, I hear).  Besides critter
> friendliness, these types of grass/hay/etc. cutters cut the standing
> stuff so it lays down and covers and composts nicely (if it's to be
> left in place).
>
> Rotary mowers ('brush hogs', etc.) tend to shatter and scatter the
> plant material (and the critters too...).
>
>
> =====
> John Schinnerer, MA
> There

There is another type of farm mower to keep in mind, referred to in the 
trade as disk mowers.  These are designed to lay out windrows like the 
sickle type mowers, but are more durable, flexible and much faster.  As for 
critters, I don't think any of them are particularly nice.  Might be best 
to cut in the afternoon to let them get up and moving, also builds up more 
plant sugars, better hay or composting.
Mark


Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM