Abstract: A material spreader comprising a mobile tank for receiving and discharging waste material, such as manure. The spreader includes a conveying assembly comprising one or more augers rotatably mounted in the tank for conveying material received in the tank to a discharge area. An opening in the vicinity of the discharge area permits material to be dispensed to a slinger assembly mounted outside the tank adjacent the opening. Material is distributed by the slinger in a controlled pattern as the tank is transported over a field. A control system is provided for selectively controlling the rate and pattern of the material being distributed, based on characteristics of the material. A field is divided into cells and data relating to the nutrient demand of each cell is collected and stored in tables in a memory. A GPS receiver detects the location of the spreader as it moves over a field.

Abstract: In a bale case (20) of an agricultural baler, a reciprocating plunger (71) is connected by a connecting rod assembly (90) and a wrist pin (92) to a driving crankshaft (74). A tension adjusting system (60) is provided for adjusting the dimensions of a bale case (20). The tension adjusting system (60) is responsive to a signal produced by sensors which sense stress when a compactive force is applied by the plunger (71) to crop material in the bale case (20). In one embodiment shear stress sensors (124, 126, 128, and 130) are mounted in annular recesses (120, 122) on the exterior of a wrist pin (92) to sense upon compaction the shear stress experienced by the wrist pin (92) in shear planes (160A, 160B). In another embodiment shear stress sensors (170, 171, 172, and 173) are mounted on an interior surface (174) of a wrist pin (90') to sense the shear stress experienced by the wrist pin (92') in shear planes (176, 177).