An apparatus for automating the process of bunching straw in a farrningoperation isdisclosed. The straw buncher is a towable implement that includes one or rnorerakesrnounted on a rotatable axle. The rakes gather straw. Rotation of the rakeassernbly isprevented by a stop mechanism that holds a rake in position using a resistiveforce untilsufficient straw has gathered in front of the rake and the drag created by thestrawovercomes the resistive force. At this point the rake begins to rotate, a carnon the rakeassembly engages a drive system that turns the rake assembly until the nextrake is inposition. The irnplement works automatically and does not require rnonitoringby anoperator to have straw bunches of a desired size be formed.
