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 reel for a harvesting header has a tine paddle mounted to a tine so as to engage the crop materials as the tine rakes through the crop materials. The tine paddle has a collar portion for at least partially wrapping around a tine tube to which the tine is mounted and an elongate plate member with a distal end spaced inwardly from the outer finger tip of the tine to which the at least one paddle is mounted. One side of the plate member has first and second detents arranged to partially wrap around and engage the finger to hold the tine paddle on the tine. Each detent has an inwardly extending catch that is received in a notch in a side portion of the finger.

Abstract: A method for assigning information to an identification tag on a bale includes receiving, compressing and shaping crop material into a plurality of formed bales. At least one sensor parameter for the formed bales is detected with at least one sensor. Each bale is wrapped with a binding material and an identification tag is attached to each of the formed bales. A bale ID is created for each of the formed bales. The identification tag on the bale for each bale is assigned to the bale ID. The operator selects to have either the sensor parameter for the tagged bale associated with the bale ID or have a semi-randomized code not containing the sensor parameter associated with the bale ID.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler (18) includes a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material (52) used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, the binding material (52) on the first supply roll comprising identification tags (62) at spaced intervals along the binding material. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler (18) providing a binding material without identification tags, wherein the knotter system combines the binding material with identification tags (62) from the first supply roll with the binding material without identification tags from the second supply roll to bind the formed bale. The bale identification assembly includes a read module with one or more antennas configured to transmit interrogator signals and also receive authentication replies from the identification tags (62).

Abstract: A dual path agricultural machine including a control system having a number of input sensors, status sensors, and output sensors, and a controller configured to operate the dual path machine in a stability control mode and a selective rear-steer engagement and actuation mode. In the stability control mode, the controller adjusts an actual drive output of the dual path machine according to data received from the input sensors and feedback received from the output sensors so as to reduce a difference between the actual drive output and a desired drive output. In selective rear-steer engagement and actuation mode, the controller engages rear-steer mechanisms with caster wheels of the dual path machine and actuates the caster wheels via the rear-steer mechanisms if a criterion is satisfied. The controller disengages the rear-steer mechanisms from the caster wheels or does not actuate the caster wheels if the criterion is not satisfied.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler having a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, wherein the binding material on the first supply roll is free of identification tags. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler providing an identifying filament. The knotter system joins the identifying filament from the second supply roll with the binding material from the first supply roll while tying a knot to bind the formed bale.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly includes binding material used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale, the binding material including identification tags at spaced intervals along the binding material. A read module transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from the identification tags. A position sensor is used to predict passage of identification tags through the knotter mechanism and a bale length sensor provides a signal representing bale length. A controller receives signals from the bale length sensor and the position sensor and generates a signal to alter the length of the bale by causing an additional flake to be added to the bale by the plunger or the bale to be finished with fewer flakes to prevent the knotter system from tying a knot in the binding material such that the identification tag is positioned in a portion of the binding material used to form the knot.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting header has a tine paddle mounted to a tine so as to engage the crop materials as the tine rakes through the crop materials. The tine paddle has a collar portion for at least partially wrapping around a tine tube to which the tine is mounted and an elongate plate member with a distal end spaced inwardly from the outer finger tip of the tine to which the at least one paddle is mounted. One side of the plate member has first and second detents arranged to partially wrap around and engage the finger to hold the tine paddle on the tine. Each detent has an inwardly extending catch that is received in a notch in a side portion of the finger.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler (18) includes a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material (52) used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, the binding material (52) on the first supply roll comprising identification tags (62) at spaced intervals along the binding material. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler (18) providing a binding material without identification tags, wherein the knotter system combines the binding material with identification tags (62) from the first supply roll with the binding material without identification tags from the second supply roll to bind the formed bale. The bale identification assembly includes a read module with one or more antennas configured to transmit interrogator signals and also receive authentication replies from the identification tags (62).

Abstract: A windrower with a header has a conveying medium with first and second portions connected with a pivot joint and moveable across a plural rollers configured to receive crop material from the header and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower to form a windrow on the ground to the side of the windrower. In an operational position and with the frame selected to one of the predetermined angular adjustments, the conveying medium discharges the harvested crop material at an angle of trajectory determined by the selected angular position of the second portion. The windrower harvests crop with the header, receives the mowed crop on the conveyor system, adjusts a rate at which the mowed crop is discharged from the conveyor system, and adjusts an angle of trajectory at which the mowed crop is discharged from the conveyor system.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly includes binding material (52) used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale (14), the binding material (52) comprising identification tags (62) at spaced intervals along the binding material. A read module (66) transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from the identification tags. A position sensor is used to predict passage of identification tags (62) through the knotter mechanism and a bale length sensor provides a signal representing bale length. A controller receives signals from the bale length sensor and the position sensor and generates a signal to alter the length of the bale (14) by causing an additional flake to be added to the bale by the plunger (34) or the bale to be finished with fewer flakes to prevent the knotter system from tying a knot in the binding material such that the identification tag is positioned in a portion of the binding material used to form the knot.

Abstract: A dual path agricultural machine including a control system having a number of input sensors, status sensors, and output sensors, and a controller configured to operate the dual path machine in a stability control mode and a selective rear-steer engagement and actuation mode. In the stability control mode, the controller adjusts an actual drive output of the dual path machine according to data received from the input sensors and feedback received from the output sensors so as to reduce a difference between the actual drive output and a desired drive output. In selective rear-steer engagement and actuation mode, the controller engages rear-steer mechanisms with caster wheels of the dual path machine and actuates the caster wheels via the rear-steer mechanisms if a criterion is satisfied. The controller disengages the rear-steer mechanisms from the caster wheels or does not actuate the caster wheels if the criterion is not satisfied.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, comprising: an interface configured to receive input defining a target windrow; a windrower comprising a windrow forming assembly configured to form a windrow; one or more sensors; and a computing system configured to control formation of the windrow according to the target windrow based on the input and further based on input from the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly has a binding material with identification tags at spaced intervals is used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale. A read module with an antenna transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from identification tags. The bale identification assembly has a bale drop sensor with a paddle. As a completed bale passes through the discharge chute, the completed bale interacts with the paddle causing the bale drop sensor to activate. Activation of the bale drop sensor activates the antenna for a specified active cycle, and during its active cycle, the read module assigns any identification tag that is sensed to the completed bale that is leaving the discharge chute. A controller receives information from at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor and associates the information about the completed bale with the identification tag on the completed bale.

Abstract: A binding material for binding a bale (14) of crop material has bale (14) identification tags (62) used to identify properties of the bale (14) that is bound by the binding material. The binding material (52) includes at least one strand of a non-identifying filament and one strand of an identifying filament incorporating the identification tag (62). The non-identifying filament and the identifying filament are wound together before the binding material (52) is used to bind the bale. The identifying filament has an RFID inlay having conducting wires of an antenna connected to an RFID chip, with the length of the inlay between 10 and 24 cm. The RFID inlay comprises a segment of the identifying filament with adjacent RFID inlays spaced along the identifying filament at a desired interval. The identifying strand incorporating the RFID inlay is wound during a binding material production process with the at least one non-identifying filament into a single twine strand.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler having a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, wherein the binding material on the first supply roll is free of identification tags. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler providing an identifying filament. The knotter system joins the identifying filament from the second supply roll with the binding material from the first supply roll while tying a knot to bind the formed bale.

Abstract: A windrower includes a header having a crop cutting and a crop conditioning mechanism for conditioning crop material severed from the field and for discharging the conditioned material in a rearwardly directed stream as the windrower moves across the field. The windrower has a crop merger attachment with a conveyor configured to receive crop material from the crop conditioning mechanism and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower to form a windrow on the ground to the side of the windrower when in an operation position or to direct the crop material to the ground beneath the windrower when in a nonoperational position.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly has a binding material with identification tags at spaced intervals is used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale. A read module with an antenna transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from identification tags. The bale identification assembly has a bale drop sensor with a paddle. As a completed bale passes through the discharge chute, the completed bale interacts with the paddle causing the bale drop sensor to activate. Activation of the bale drop sensor activates the antenna for a specified active cycle, and during its active cycle, the read module assigns any identification tag that is sensed to the completed bale that is leaving the discharge chute. A controller receives information from at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor and associates the information about the completed bale with the identification tag on the completed bale.

Abstract: A dual conveyor assembly for a windrower includes upper and lower conveyors. Each conveyor includes an endless conveyor element and rotatable supports spaced along a longitudinal conveyor path and entrained by the endless conveyor element. The endless conveyor elements define vertically spaced opposed runs that define the longitudinal conveyor path therebetween. The opposed runs are operable to be driven together to move a flow of severed plant material along the path. At least one of the opposed runs is shiftable relative to the other opposed run in an upright direction, while the runs are driven together, such that the opposed runs remain in moving engagement with the flow of severed plant material as the amount of severed plant material passing between the opposed runs varies.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly has a binding material with identification tags at spaced intervals is used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale. A read module with an antenna transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from identification tags. The bale identification assembly has a bale drop sensor with a paddle. As a completed bale passes through the discharge chute, the completed bale interacts with the paddle causing the bale drop sensor to activate. Activation of the bale drop sensor activates the antenna for a specified active cycle, and during its active cycle, the read module assigns any identification tag that is sensed to the completed bale that is leaving the discharge chute. A controller receives information from at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor and associates the information about the completed bale with the identification tag on the completed bale.