Abstract: A rectangular baler has a preservative applicator for applying a fluid preservation to crop material as it is being baled as a function of the baling rate. The application rate is determined by a control circuit which repetitively measures the displacement of a charge of crop material through the baling for each cycle of the plunger and which repetitively opens solenoid controlled valves regulating a pressurized source of fluid preservative for a length of time proportionate to the magnitude of the displacement signal for one plunger cycle.

Abstract: A baler has a preservative applicator assembly with an improved nozzle array for applying a volatile crop treating fluid to crop material as the crop material is being formed into a bale. The nozzle has a centrally disposed passageway which has a cross-sectional area greater than the minimum sum of the cross-sectional areas of a plurality of fluid dispensing openings in the end of the nozzle. Each of the openings includes a throat and a lip outwardly diverging from the throat. The nozzle array maintains the fluid under high pressure and aids in dispersing the fluid with a high velocity to enhance the retention of the fluid as a liquid while in the nozzle and to promote wide and uniform dispersing of the fluid throughout the crop material during the application.

Abstract: A round baler has a conventional pickup and an approximately horizontal, wide, lower conveyor for removing hay from a field and delivering it rearwardly in a transversely extending mat to a transversely extending bale chamber where it is rolled into a cylindrical bale. The upper run of the lower conveyor is approximately tangential to the lower side of the forming bale so that there is a "pinch point" where the incoming mat of crop material converges on the periphery of the forming bale. A series of fluid dispensing nozzles spaced across the machine connected to a source of preservative carried on the baler is disposed so that preservative may be applied to the hay close to the pinch point across the lateral extent of the bale chamber.