Making HAY with the AMISH in Lancaster County, PA...Cutting, Raking, and Baling in AMISH LAND

Watch as the Amish cut, rake, and bale hay with horses in Lancaster County Pennsylvania's Amish Land. Using horses and a variety of ground driven and engine powered implements the Amish are able to keep their small dairy farms operational in a time of mega dairies.

[@bobcholawo6787]

Wonderful. Praise God for the harvest.

[@the_Falcon_fall]

The work is done with such precision that it can be appreciated from Heaven above. 😅

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

Now, I would say that's a fairly big hayfield. What is considered a 'small dairy farm' would have been a large one formerly when one looks at the size of the field, as it is not the only one that belongs to this farm. Our perception of what's small or large has been distorted over time. I grew up in a time when 15 dairy cows with the resulting income were enough to sustain a farm family. For people not familiar with the implements, the mowing is done with a so-called hay bine behind a motorized forecart and a trailer motor with mounted motor behind a forecart. In both cases the horses have to pull the implement, but the mowing is done with a motor which makes it easier on the horses.

[@jamesducey2685]

Hay. Let's go mow. Wonderful sharing

[@frenchcanadian1007]

Here is a comment from a former farmer in Saskatchewan. My father had horses but I never had work horses. Just a question about the way you hitch your horses, especially the five-horse hitch; is it not possible to hitch the two inner horses (in a four horse team or maybe even a 5) farther apart from the tongue? I guess you guys know your stuff and if that worked you would certainly be doing it. There is always one poor horse shuffling through the straw or the hay and it sure seems to be working harder than the others as it is always pushing at the straw or hay as it walks along. I also wonder if you rotate your horses, let's say after an hour, re-hitch the two outer horses to the inside and so on to give them all a bit of a rest while still working. Anyway, sure delightful seeing those beautiful horses in the field. Marcel from Saskatchewan. :)

[@danvanhoose6783]

Horses pulling gas powered machines.?

[@raypeters4525]

HORSE PULLING BALER WITH INTERNAL COMBUST8ON ENGINE ! HMMMMMMM ! WHY NOT PULL IT WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE ????????

[@LancoAmish]

The internal combustion engine never has been much of an issue. It’s the tradition of using horses in the field that is held onto. What looks paradoxical to outsiders makes more sense when one knows why certain things are done.