"Interest has been tremendous. Everyone is looking for an inexpensive way to mow CRP acres," says Kyle Westeman, Syracuse, Kan., manufacturer of a new 24-ft. sickle mower that adjusts from 8 to 18 in. in height.

Westeman used Deere parts for the sickle itself, which mounts on 4 by 4-in. steel tubing with 3/8-in. sidewalls. One end of the sickle mounts on the tractor 3-pt. and the other end on an 8-in. wheel that raises and lowers hydraulically. The sickle can be driven either hydraulically or by pto. For transport, the sickle trails directly behind the tractor by pulling one pin. The single support wheel "castors" freely.

The mower requires a minimum 50-hp tractor. "Big rotary movers need at least 150 hp and they're not built as wide as this machine. They also have a lot more parts. This mower is easy to maintain and there's nothing to catch or drag trash through the field," says Westeman, noting that the mower sells fora fraction of the cost of similar sized swathers.