It is not an environmental reason so much as an economic reason that we don't use a fancy windrower.  About everyone I know that uses a swather to mow with, still uses a V-rake to put two windrows together before baling.  Thus it doesn't really save any steps.  We hire about half or our hay put up.  This year it cost $30 per ton to do this.  It is expensive, but the hay gets baled early when the quality of the hay is at its best.  Then, if if rains, the aftergrass comes on strong for later grazing.  If we were to get fancy and update our haying equipment, we would have to put up all of our hay to justify the expense.  I guess I'd rather spend the money hiring some of the work done, as to spend the money on new iron and then have to work harder to make it pay. :wink: