Abstract: A baler includes a near-infrared testing system configured to receive near-infrared radiation reflected by plant material in a bale and to analyze the near-infrared radiation and generate evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material. The near-infrared testing system is calibrated using a calibration sample at a calibration temperature. A temperature sensor measures a sample temperature of a crop sample of the plant material. A computer receives and combines the evaluation data of the plant material and a temperature-difference offset based on the difference in the sample temperature of the crop sample and the calibration temperature to produce overall temperature-compensated evaluation data reflecting one or more overall property values for the bale, and assign the overall temperature-compensated evaluation data to the at least one bale of the plurality of bales.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling operation a conditioning system of or otherwise associated with an agricultural machine, which may include a mower conditioner. Both pre-conditioning and post-conditioning sensor data indicative of a first and second measurable properties of crop material to be processed and processed by the conditioning system, respectively, are used to determine a crop conditioning metric. Operation of one or more components associated with the conditioning system can then be controlled in dependence on the determined crop conditioning metric. Advantageously, crop properties pre and post conditioning by the conditioning system define a control input for the conditioner or components associated therewith.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling operation a conditioning system of or otherwise associated with an agricultural machine, which may include a mower conditioner. Sensor data indicative of a displacement associated with component(s) of the conditioning system is used to determine a measured displacement, which is compared with a target displacement for the component(s) and such a comparison is used to control an operational speed of one or more components associated with the conditioning system. The controllable component(s) can include the conditioning component(s), and the one or more controllers may be used to control the operational speed of the conditioning components and ultimately a level of conditioning applied to cut crop material passing through the conditioning system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling operation a conditioning system of or otherwise associated with an agricultural machine, which may include a mower conditioner. Sensor data indicative of a real-time displacement associated with component(s) of the conditioning system is used to determine a measured displacement, which is compared with a minimum displacement for the component(s). The comparison is used to control an operational parameter of one or more components associated with the conditioning system. The controllable component(s) can include the conditioning component(s), and the one or more controllers may be used to control the operational parameter (e.g. operational speed, position, etc.) of the conditioning components and ultimately a level of conditioning applied to cut crop material passing through the conditioning system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling operation a conditioning system of or otherwise associated with an agricultural machine, which may include a mower conditioner. Sensor data indicative of a displacement associated with component(s) of the conditioning system is used to determine a measured displacement, which is compared with a target displacement for the component(s) and such a comparison is used to control operation of a component positioning system. The component positioning system can include a tensioning mechanism associated with the component(s) to control the position thereof and ultimately a level of conditioning applied to cut crop material passing through conditioning system.

Abstract: A mower is configured to cut plant material as the mower moves over a field and deposits the cut plant material on the field. The mower includes a header assembly having a cutter bed, conditioning rollers, and a swathboard, the swathboard being positionable to shape a rearwardly-directed stream of cut plant material into windrows. The header assembly includes a sensor system mounted on the swathboard. The sensor system has a sensor configured to collect nutrient information of the plant material being cut by the mower, where the sensor is moveable relative to the swathboard so as to move the orientation of a sensor face with respect to the crop stream.

Abstract: A method of collecting nutrient information of plant material as a mower moves over a field. The mower has a swathboard positionable to shape a rearwardly-directed stream of cut plant material into windrows. A sensor is mounted on the swathboard to coincide with the location where the stream of cut plant material interacts with the swathboard. The sensor moves to a base position when the swathboard moves to a full down position such that the swathboard is maximizing contact of the swathboard with the crop material, where in the base position, a shoe plate on which the sensor is co-planer with the swathboard. The sensor moves to an extended position such that the shoe plate is pivoted relative the swathboard when the swathboard is positioned toward a full up position such that some of the crop stream is directed back to forming shields of the header assembly.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention is directed to a mower configured to cut plant material as it moves over a field and deposit the cut plant material onto the field, the mower having a header assembly having a cutter bed, conditioning rollers, and a swathboard, the swathboard being positionable to shape the cut plant material into windrows. The cutter bed has a plurality of rotating rotary cutters that includes at least one pair of oppositely rotating cutters that sends a rearwardly-directed stream of cut plant material between the oppositely rotating pair of rotary cutters. The header assembly includes a sensor system mounted on the swathboard. The sensor system has a sensor configured to collect nutrient information of the plant material being cut by the mower. The sensor is positioned on the swathboard to coincide with the location where the stream of cut plant material interacts with the swathboard.

Abstract: A method includes determining a mass of a hay bale, determining a moisture content of the hay bale, determining an ash content of the hay bale, calculating a corrected yield of the hay bale, and labeling the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected yield. The corrected yield is based on the mass, the moisture content, and the ash content of the hay bale.

Abstract: A baler includes a near-infrared testing system configured to receive near-infrared radiation reflected by plant material in a bale and to analyze the near-infrared radiation and generate evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material. The near-infrared testing system is calibrated using a calibration sample at a calibration temperature. A temperature sensor measures a sample temperature of a crop sample of the plant material and a temperature alteration mechanism adjusts the sample temperature of the crop sample so that the sample temperature matches the calibration temperature of the calibration sample before the near-infrared testing system receives the near-infrared radiation reflected by the plant material. A computer receives and combine the evaluation data of the plant material to produce overall evaluation data reflecting one or more overall properties for the at least one bale of the plurality of bales, and assign the overall evaluation data to the bale.

Abstract: A method includes cutting hay in an agricultural field, determining a mass of the hay, determining a moisture content of the hay, determining an ash content of the hay, calculating a corrected yield of the hay, and labeling the hay with an indicator of the corrected yield of the hay. The corrected yield is based on the mass, the moisture content, and the ash content of the hay.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a skid plate comprising an upper surface and an opposing ground engaging surface, the ground engaging surface comprising one or more optical windows flush or extending beyond a plane of the ground engaging surface, each of the optical windows comprising an optically transparent material.

Abstract: A method of storing information corresponding to crop material formed into a bale during a baling process for an aggregation of bales. Crop material is formed into a bale with the baler to obtain a formed bale. At least one parameter of the crop material or formed bale is detected with at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor for the formed bale. The baler is provided with binding material from the binding material roll comprising identification tags at spaced intervals along the binding material. The formed bale is bound with the binding material using the knotter system such that an identification tag is applied to the bale to obtain a tagged bale. A bale ID is created for the tagged bale and the sensor parameter for the tagged bale is associated with the bale ID. Further crop material is formed into at least one additional bale with the baler to obtain at least one additional formed bale.

Abstract: A method of measuring a harvested crop includes measuring a first attribute of a first electric field in a first volume containing crop material, measuring a second attribute of a second electric field in a second volume containing crop material, and determining at least two different properties of the crop material based at least in part on the first attribute and the second attribute.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a cutting assembly, a forming assembly including a swathboard and/or a forming shield, at least one actuator, and a controller. The actuator is configured to change a position of the forming assembly. The controller is in communication with the actuator, and is configured to change the position of the forming assembly responsive to an expected or measured crop density. A method of operating an agricultural machine includes propelling an agricultural machine through a field and changing a position of the forming assembly based at least in part on an expected or measured crop density. The forming assembly may be adjusted to maintain an approximately constant windrow height or to produce windrows that are expected to be ready for baling or raking at the same time (e.g., after a period of drying).

Abstract: A baler includes a near-infrared testing system configured to receive near-infrared radiation reflected by plant material in a bale and to analyze the near-infrared radiation and generate evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material. The near-infrared testing system is calibrated using a calibration sample at a calibration temperature. A temperature sensor measures a sample temperature of a crop sample of the plant material. A computer receives and combines the evaluation data of the plant material and a temperature-difference offset based on the difference in the sample temperature of the crop sample and the calibration temperature to produce overall temperature-compensated evaluation data reflecting one or more overall property values for the bale, and assign the overall temperature-compensated evaluation data to the at least one bale of the plurality of bales.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating individual subunits of material incorporated into a bale and, based thereon, assigning a weighted average quality value to the overall bale. A baler receives, aggregates, compresses, shapes, and secures subunits of a plant material into a bale. An NIR testing system receives and analyzes near-infrared radiation reflected by the plant material, and generates subunit evaluation data reflecting properties of the material in the subunits. A computer receives and combines the subunit evaluation data to produce overall evaluation data reflecting properties of the bale, and assigns the overall evaluation data to the bale. Combining the subunit evaluation data includes assigning weights to the subunit evaluation data and then averaging the weighted subunit property values. Weighting may be based on the amount of time the NIR testing system is exposed to the material in each subunit, and the amount of time may be mechanically determined.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing a sample area of a bale in order to more accurately evaluate the plant material incorporated into the bale. A baler receives, compresses, shapes, and secures material into the bale. A cutter mechanism cuts a portion of the material in the bale into similarly-sized particles. A mixer mechanism mixes the particles into a homogenous aggregate. A compression mechanism compresses the homogenous aggregate into the bale. An NIR testing system receives and analyzes near-infrared radiation reflected by the homogenous aggregate, and generates evaluation data reflecting properties of the material. The cutter may include knives mounted in a compression chamber of the baler. The mixer may be a relief feature on a center rail, the compressor may be a projecting feature on the center rail, and an NIR sensor may be mounted to the center rail so as to press against the surface of the bale.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a cutting assembly configured to cut a crop material, a forming assembly comprising at least one of a swathboard or a forming shield, at least one actuator configured to change a position of the forming assembly, a sensor configured to detect a yield and a moisture content of the crop material, and a controller in communication with the at least one actuator, wherein the controller is configured to change an operating parameter of the agricultural machine responsive to the detected yield and moisture content. Related methods include propelling the agricultural machine through a field, cutting a crop material with the cutting assembly, detecting a yield and a moisture content of the crop material with the sensor, and changing an operating parameter of the agricultural machine responsive to the detected yield and moisture content.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, rotary cutters carried by the header frame, a gearbox containing at least one gear coupled to each rotary cutter, and an electronic sensor to indicate an amount of oil in the gearbox. Each rotary cutter has a rotating disc with at least one blade for cutting crops. An agricultural vehicle includes a vehicle frame, at least one attached to the vehicle frame, and a harvesting header coupled to the vehicle frame by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. A method of operating an agricultural vehicle includes adjusting at least one hydraulic cylinder to move a header frame to a known orientation, sensing a position of an oil surface in a gearbox, and determining or indicating an amount of oil in the gearbox based at least in part on the position of the oil surface.