Registration No. 333-


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                 ----------------------------------------------

                                  Gehl Company
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Wisconsin                                     39-0300430
      (State or other jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

            143 Water Street
          West Bend, Wisconsin                                  53095
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

                     Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan
                     ---------------------------------------
                              (Full title of plan)

         Michael J. Mulcahy
      Vice President, Secretary
         and General Counsel                              Copy to:
            Gehl Company
          143 Water Street                             Jay O. Rothman
     West Bend, Wisconsin  53095                      Foley & Lardner
           (262) 334-9461                        777 East Wisconsin Avenue
    (Name, address and telephone                Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202
       number, including area
     code, of agent for service)


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------
                                                   Proposed
                                  Proposed         Maximum
   Title of         Amount        Maximum          Aggregate      Amount of
 Securities to      to be      Offering Price      Offering      Registration
 be Registered    Registered      Per Share         Price            Fee
---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------
Common Stock,       600,000
$.10 par value      shares       $18 5/32(1)    $10,893,750(1)      $2,876
---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------
Preferred Share     600,000
Purchase Rights     rights               (2)               (2)         (2)
---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------

(1)   Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely
      for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee based on the average
      of the high and low prices for Gehl  Company  Common  Stock as reported on
      The Nasdaq Stock Market on April 28, 2000.
(2)   The value attributable to the Preferred Share Purchase Rights is reflected
      in the market price of the Common Stock to which the rights are attached.


<PAGE>


                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

          The document or documents containing the information specified in Part
I are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"Commission") as part of this Form S-8 Registration Statement.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

          The following documents filed with the Commission by Gehl Company (the
"Company") are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

          1. The Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999, which includes audited financial statements as of and for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

          2.  The description of the Company's  Common Stock contained in Item 1
of the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A,  dated November 13, 1989,
and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

          3.  The description of the Company's  Preferred  Share Purchase Rights
contained in Item 1 of the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A, dated
May 28,  1997,  including  any  amendment  or report  filed for the  purpose  of
updating such description.

          All documents  subsequently  filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
after the date of filing of this  Registration  Statement and prior to such time
as the Company files a post-effective  amendment to this Registration  Statement
which  indicates  that all  securities  offered  hereby  have been sold or which
deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining  unsold  shall  be  deemed  to  be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.   Description of Securities.

          Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

          Not applicable.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>


Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

          Pursuant to the Wisconsin  Business  Corporation Law and the Company's
By-laws,  directors  and  officers  of the Company  are  entitled  to  mandatory
indemnification from the Company against certain liabilities and expenses (i) to
the extent  such  officers  or  directors  are  successful  in the  defense of a
proceeding  and (ii) in  proceedings  in which the  director  or  officer is not
successful  in defense  thereof,  unless it is  determined  that the director or
officer  breached or failed to perform his or her duties to the Company and such
breach or failure  constituted:  (a) a willful  failure to deal  fairly with the
Company or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director or
officer had a material conflict of interest; (b) a violation of the criminal law
unless  the  director  or officer  had  reasonable  cause to believe  his or her
conduct was lawful or had no reasonable  cause to believe his or her conduct was
unlawful;  (c) a  transaction  from which the  director  or  officer  derived an
improper personal profit; or (d) willful misconduct. It should be noted that the
Wisconsin  Business  Corporation Law  specifically  states that it is the public
policy of Wisconsin to require or permit  indemnification  in connection  with a
proceeding involving securities regulation,  as described therein, to the extent
required or permitted  as described  above.  Additionally,  under the  Wisconsin
Business  Corporation Law,  directors of the Company are not subject to personal
liability to the Company,  its  shareholders or any person  asserting  rights on
behalf  thereof for certain  breaches or failures to perform any duty  resulting
solely from their status as directors except in circumstances  paralleling those
in subparagraphs (a) through (d) outlined above.

          Expenses for the defense of any action for which  indemnification  may
be available may be advanced by the Company under certain circumstances.

          The indemnification provided by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law
and the  Company's  By-laws  is not  exclusive  of any  other  rights to which a
director or officer may be entitled.

          The  Company  maintains  a  liability  policy  for its  directors  and
officers as permitted by Wisconsin  law which may extend to, among other things,
liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed.

          Not Applicable.

Item 8.   Exhibits.

          The  following  exhibits  have  been  filed  (except  where  otherwise
indicated) as part of this Registration Statement:


Exhibit
  No.                                      Exhibit
-------                                    -------

 (4.1)        Provisions  of the  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  of Gehl
              Company   defining   the  rights  of  holders  of  capital   stock
              (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1 to  Gehl  Company's
              Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28, 1997)



                                      -3-
<PAGE>


 (4.2)        Provisions  of the By-laws of Gehl Company,  as amended,  defining
              the rights of holders of capital stock  (incorporated by reference
              to Exhibit 3.3 to Gehl  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1998)

 (4.3)        Rights Agreement,  dated as of May 28, 1997,  between Gehl Company
              and Firstar Bank,  N.A. (as  successor to Firstar  Trust  Company)
              (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.1 to  Gehl  Company's
              Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated as of May 28, 1997)

 (4.4)        Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.5)        Form  of  Stock  Option   Agreement  for  key  employees  used  in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.6)        Form of Stock Option Agreement for non-employee  directors used in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (5)          Opinion of Foley & Lardner

(23.1)        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

(23.2)        Consent of Foley & Lardner (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

(24)          Power of Attorney relating to subsequent  amendments  (included on
              the signature page to this Registration Statement)

Item 9.   Undertakings.

          (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)  To file,  during  any  period  in which  offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                    (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
     of the Securities Act of 1933;

                    (ii)  To reflect  in the  prospectus  any  facts  or  events
     arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most
     recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually or in the
     aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the information set forth in
     the Registration Statement; and

                    (iii) To include any  material  information  with respect to
     the plan of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  Registration
     Statement or any material  change to such  information in the  Registration
     Statement;

provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
Commission  by the  Registrant  pursuant  to Section 13 or Section  15(d)



                                      -4-
<PAGE>


of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

               (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration  statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

               (3)  To remove  from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

          (b)  The undersigned  Registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933,  each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities  offered herein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of West Bend, State of Wisconsin, on May 2, 2000.

                                           GEHL COMPANY



                                           By: /s/ William D. Gehl
                                              ----------------------------------
                                               William D. Gehl
                                               Chairman of the Board, President
                                                 and Chief Executive Officer

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
constitutes  and appoints  William D. Gehl and Michael J.  Mulcahy,  and each of
them,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with  full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments)  to this  Registration  Statement  and to file  the  same,  with all
exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and
agent,  full power and  authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite  and necessary to be done, as fully as he might or could do in person,
hereby  ratifying and confirming all that each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


       Signature                         Title                          Date
       ---------                         -----                          ----

                                Chairman of the Board,
/s/ William D. Gehl             President, Chief Executive
-------------------------       Officer and Director
William D. Gehl                 (Principal Executive Officer)        May 2, 2000


/s/ Kenneth P. Hahn             Vice President of Finance and
-------------------------       Treasurer (Principal Financial
Kenneth P. Hahn                 and Accounting Officer)              May 2, 2000


/s/ Nicholas C. Babson
-------------------------
Nicholas C. Babson              Director                             May 2, 2000


/s/ Thomas J. Boldt
-------------------------
Thomas J. Boldt                 Director                             May 2, 2000



                                      -6-
<PAGE>


/s/ Fred M. Butler
-------------------------
Fred M. Butler                  Director                             May 2, 2000


/s/ John T. Byrnes
-------------------------
John T. Byrnes                  Director                             May 2, 2000


/s/ Richard J. Fotsch
-------------------------
Richard J. Fotsch               Director                             May 2, 2000


/s/ William P. Killian
-------------------------
William P. Killian              Director                             May 2, 2000


/s/ John W. Splude
-------------------------
John W. Splude                  Director                             May 2, 2000


/s/ Hermann Viets
-------------------------
Hermann Viets                   Director                             May 2, 2000



                                      -7-
<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                     GEHL COMPANY 2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


Exhibit
  No.                                      Exhibit
-------                                    -------

 (4.1)        Provisions  of the  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  of Gehl
              Company   defining   the  rights  of  holders  of  capital   stock
              (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1 to  Gehl  Company's
              Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28, 1997)

 (4.2)        Provisions  of the By-laws of Gehl Company,  as amended,  defining
              the rights of holders of capital stock  (incorporated by reference
              to Exhibit 3.3 to Gehl  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1998)

 (4.3)        Rights Agreement,  dated as of May 28, 1997,  between Gehl Company
              and  Firstar   Bank,   N.A.  (as   successor   to  Firstar   Trust
              Company)(incorporated   by   reference  to  Exhibit  4.1  to  Gehl
              Company's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated as of May 28,
              1997)

 (4.4)        Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.5)        Form  of  Stock  Option   Agreement  for  key  employees  used  in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.6)        Form of Stock Option Agreement for non-employee  directors used in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (5)          Opinion of Foley & Lardner

(23.1)        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

(23.2)        Consent of Foley & Lardner (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

(24)          Power of Attorney relating to subsequent  amendments  (included on
              the signature page to this Registration Statement)



                                      -8-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GEHL CO", "cik": "0000856386", "assigned-sic": "3523", "irs-number": "390300430", "state-of-incorporation": "WI", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-36102", "film-number": "617080"}, "business-address": {"street1": "143 WATER STREET", "city": "WEST BEND", "state": "WI", "zip": "53095", "phone": "4143349461"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "143 WATER STREET", "city": "WEST BEND", "state": "WI", "zip": "53095"}}
Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                 ----------------------------------------------

                                  Gehl Company
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Wisconsin                                     39-0300430
      (State or other jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

            143 Water Street
          West Bend, Wisconsin                                  53095
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

                     Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan
                     ---------------------------------------
                              (Full title of plan)

         Michael J. Mulcahy
      Vice President, Secretary
         and General Counsel                              Copy to:
            Gehl Company
          143 Water Street                             Jay O. Rothman
     West Bend, Wisconsin  53095                      Foley & Lardner
           (262) 334-9461                        777 East Wisconsin Avenue
    (Name, address and telephone                Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202
       number, including area
     code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------
                                                   Proposed
                                  Proposed         Maximum
   Title of         Amount        Maximum          Aggregate      Amount of
 Securities to      to be      Offering Price      Offering      Registration
 be Registered    Registered      Per Share         Price            Fee
---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------
Common Stock,       600,000
$.10 par value      shares       $18 5/32(1)    $10,893,750(1)      $2,876
---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------
Preferred Share     600,000
Purchase Rights     rights               (2)               (2)         (2)
---------------   ----------   --------------   --------------   ------------

(1)   Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely
      for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee based on the average
      of the high and low prices for Gehl  Company  Common  Stock as reported on
      The Nasdaq Stock Market on April 28, 2000.
(2)   The value attributable to the Preferred Share Purchase Rights is reflected
      in the market price of the Common Stock to which the rights are attached.
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

          The document or documents containing the information specified in Part
I are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"Commission") as part of this Form S-8 Registration Statement.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

          The following documents filed with the Commission by Gehl Company (the
"Company") are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

          1. The Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999, which includes audited financial statements as of and for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

          2.  The description of the Company's  Common Stock contained in Item 1
of the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A,  dated November 13, 1989,
and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

          3.  The description of the Company's  Preferred  Share Purchase Rights
contained in Item 1 of the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A, dated
May 28,  1997,  including  any  amendment  or report  filed for the  purpose  of
updating such description.

          All documents  subsequently  filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
after the date of filing of this  Registration  Statement and prior to such time
as the Company files a post-effective  amendment to this Registration  Statement
which  indicates  that all  securities  offered  hereby  have been sold or which
deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining  unsold  shall  be  deemed  to  be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.   Description of Securities.

          Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

          Not applicable.

                                      -2-
Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

          Pursuant to the Wisconsin  Business  Corporation Law and the Company's
By-laws,  directors  and  officers  of the Company  are  entitled  to  mandatory
indemnification from the Company against certain liabilities and expenses (i) to
the extent  such  officers  or  directors  are  successful  in the  defense of a
proceeding  and (ii) in  proceedings  in which the  director  or  officer is not
successful  in defense  thereof,  unless it is  determined  that the director or
officer  breached or failed to perform his or her duties to the Company and such
breach or failure  constituted:  (a) a willful  failure to deal  fairly with the
Company or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director or
officer had a material conflict of interest; (b) a violation of the criminal law
unless  the  director  or officer  had  reasonable  cause to believe  his or her
conduct was lawful or had no reasonable  cause to believe his or her conduct was
unlawful;  (c) a  transaction  from which the  director  or  officer  derived an
improper personal profit; or (d) willful misconduct. It should be noted that the
Wisconsin  Business  Corporation Law  specifically  states that it is the public
policy of Wisconsin to require or permit  indemnification  in connection  with a
proceeding involving securities regulation,  as described therein, to the extent
required or permitted  as described  above.  Additionally,  under the  Wisconsin
Business  Corporation Law,  directors of the Company are not subject to personal
liability to the Company,  its  shareholders or any person  asserting  rights on
behalf  thereof for certain  breaches or failures to perform any duty  resulting
solely from their status as directors except in circumstances  paralleling those
in subparagraphs (a) through (d) outlined above.

          Expenses for the defense of any action for which  indemnification  may
be available may be advanced by the Company under certain circumstances.

          The indemnification provided by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law
and the  Company's  By-laws  is not  exclusive  of any  other  rights to which a
director or officer may be entitled.

          The  Company  maintains  a  liability  policy  for its  directors  and
officers as permitted by Wisconsin  law which may extend to, among other things,
liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed.

          Not Applicable.

Item 8.   Exhibits.

          The  following  exhibits  have  been  filed  (except  where  otherwise
indicated) as part of this Registration Statement:

Exhibit
  No.                                      Exhibit
-------                                    -------

 (4.1)        Provisions  of the  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  of Gehl
              Company   defining   the  rights  of  holders  of  capital   stock
              (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1 to  Gehl  Company's
              Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28, 1997)

                                      -3-
(4.2)        Provisions  of the By-laws of Gehl Company,  as amended,  defining
              the rights of holders of capital stock  (incorporated by reference
              to Exhibit 3.3 to Gehl  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1998)

 (4.3)        Rights Agreement,  dated as of May 28, 1997,  between Gehl Company
              and Firstar Bank,  N.A. (as  successor to Firstar  Trust  Company)
              (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.1 to  Gehl  Company's
              Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated as of May 28, 1997)

 (4.4)        Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.5)        Form  of  Stock  Option   Agreement  for  key  employees  used  in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.6)        Form of Stock Option Agreement for non-employee  directors used in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (5)          Opinion of Foley & Lardner

(23.1)        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

(23.2)        Consent of Foley & Lardner (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

(24)          Power of Attorney relating to subsequent  amendments  (included on
              the signature page to this Registration Statement)

Item 9.   Undertakings.

          (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)  To file,  during  any  period  in which  offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                    (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
     of the Securities Act of 1933;

                    (ii)  To reflect  in the  prospectus  any  facts  or  events
     arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most
     recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually or in the
     aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the information set forth in
     the Registration Statement; and

                    (iii) To include any  material  information  with respect to
     the plan of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  Registration
     Statement or any material  change to such  information in the  Registration
     Statement;

provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
Commission  by the  Registrant  pursuant  to Section 13 or Section  15(d)

                                      -4-
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

               (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration  statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

               (3)  To remove  from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

          (b)  The undersigned  Registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933,  each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities  offered herein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -5-
SIGNATURES

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of West Bend, State of Wisconsin, on May 2, 2000.

                                           GEHL COMPANY

                                           By: /s/ William D. Gehl
                                              ----------------------------------
                                               William D. Gehl
                                               Chairman of the Board, President
                                                 and Chief Executive Officer

          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
constitutes  and appoints  William D. Gehl and Michael J.  Mulcahy,  and each of
them,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with  full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments)  to this  Registration  Statement  and to file  the  same,  with all
exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and
agent,  full power and  authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite  and necessary to be done, as fully as he might or could do in person,
hereby  ratifying and confirming all that each said  attorney-in-fact  and agent
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

       Signature                         Title                          Date
       ---------                         -----                          ----

                                Chairman of the Board,
/s/ William D. Gehl             President, Chief Executive
-------------------------       Officer and Director
William D. Gehl                 (Principal Executive Officer)        May 2, 2000

/s/ Kenneth P. Hahn             Vice President of Finance and
-------------------------       Treasurer (Principal Financial
Kenneth P. Hahn                 and Accounting Officer)              May 2, 2000

/s/ Nicholas C. Babson
-------------------------
Nicholas C. Babson              Director                             May 2, 2000

/s/ Thomas J. Boldt
-------------------------
Thomas J. Boldt                 Director                             May 2, 2000

                                      -6-
/s/ Fred M. Butler
-------------------------
Fred M. Butler                  Director                             May 2, 2000

/s/ John T. Byrnes
-------------------------
John T. Byrnes                  Director                             May 2, 2000

/s/ Richard J. Fotsch
-------------------------
Richard J. Fotsch               Director                             May 2, 2000

/s/ William P. Killian
-------------------------
William P. Killian              Director                             May 2, 2000

/s/ John W. Splude
-------------------------
John W. Splude                  Director                             May 2, 2000

/s/ Hermann Viets
-------------------------
Hermann Viets                   Director                             May 2, 2000

                                      -7-
EXHIBIT INDEX

                     GEHL COMPANY 2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Exhibit
  No.                                      Exhibit
-------                                    -------

 (4.1)        Provisions  of the  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  of Gehl
              Company   defining   the  rights  of  holders  of  capital   stock
              (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1 to  Gehl  Company's
              Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28, 1997)

 (4.2)        Provisions  of the By-laws of Gehl Company,  as amended,  defining
              the rights of holders of capital stock  (incorporated by reference
              to Exhibit 3.3 to Gehl  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
              the year ended December 31, 1998)

 (4.3)        Rights Agreement,  dated as of May 28, 1997,  between Gehl Company
              and  Firstar   Bank,   N.A.  (as   successor   to  Firstar   Trust
              Company)(incorporated   by   reference  to  Exhibit  4.1  to  Gehl
              Company's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated as of May 28,
              1997)

 (4.4)        Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.5)        Form  of  Stock  Option   Agreement  for  key  employees  used  in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (4.6)        Form of Stock Option Agreement for non-employee  directors used in
              conjunction with the Gehl Company 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 (5)          Opinion of Foley & Lardner

(23.1)        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

(23.2)        Consent of Foley & Lardner (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

(24)          Power of Attorney relating to subsequent  amendments  (included on
              the signature page to this Registration Statement)

                                      -8-