Abstract: A swath lifter includes a rotor over which the crop is carried with the rotor driven in a direction so that an underside of the rotor adjacent the ground is driven opposite to the direction of movement. The rotor carries rows of tines at angularly spaced positions around the rotor each associated with a flexible strip of a resilient material located in front of the tines and covering an inner part of the tines with the outer part exposed. The rotor can be arranged with its axis inclined to a line at right angles to the forward direction thus tending to carry the crop to one side to direct the cop onto an adjustable swath guide board to cooperate to form the swath into a desired condition. The rotor can be used as a front member in a pickup for example for a baler.