Swathing Peas

[Quadtrack]

Swathing right ahead of the combine (like 50 feet) is how we started a long time ago. Worked ok. Some shell loss but clean sample.
I have had the best success with the empire stubby crop lifters. They slide along the soil and don't dig up mud as a rule. The longer ones work too-have a couple sets of those in the shed.
Have seen some near complete disasters when a whole field was swathed and a wind rolled them all into the trees. Don't cut a whole field. Too risky.
Straight cutting peas works well and uses the least machine and manpower. But swathing just in front of combine works fine and a good way to get started.

[blackpowder]

A 5 bushel loss would pay for header quickly.
You dont necessarily need a flex.

[grefer]

I have swathed peas many times. Depending on crop conditions it was sometimes right in front of the combine sometimes weeks ahead. One time years ago I had swathed them early before they were dead ripe and rolled them. I few days later a bad wind got up in the night. I remember laying in bed thinking that would be the end of my pea crop. When I went out the next morning my canola was blown all over hell and the pea swath had not moved. Go figure.