A compact stack forming machine, having a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field, includes a pickup and conveying system for picking up crop material from the field and conveying the crop material to a location above a compact stack forming means from which location the crop material is discharged to the stack forming means. The pickup and conveying system includes an elevator mounted on the chassis and extending generally upright adjacent to the stack forming means, a pickup suspended from a lower end of the elevator at a rear side thereof for lifting and moving crop material upwardly from the field and directly into the elevator which continues the upward movement of the crop material and a conveyor positioned above the stack forming means and extending generally in a transverse relationship to the elevator, the conveyor having a forward portion located adjacent the rear side of the elevator for sweeping crop material from the elevator and moving the material in a rearward direction toward the location of discharge to the stack forming means.