Abstract: A method of preparing includes storing cut crop material in an accumulation having an oxygen barrier. The cut crop material ferments within the accumulation to form a silage material. After the fermentation of the silage material, the silage material is mechanically macerated with a macerator, and then fed to ruminant animals.

Abstract: A row unit assembly for use with a corn harvester includes a first drive having an output shaft, a stalk roll that extends along a first axis and rotates about the first axis via the output shaft of the first drive. A second drive rotates a first drive member about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A first conveyor extends around the first drive member and moves about the first drive member in response to rotation of the first drive member. A third drive rotates a second drive member about a third axis that is substantially parallel to the second axis. A second conveyor extends around the second drive member and moves about the second drive member in response to rotation of the second drive member.

Abstract: A method and a device for carrying out the method, are used to adjust the length of cut of a chopping device of an agricultural harvesting machine, in the case of which the length of cut of the chopping device is adjusted depending on the rebound behavior of the crop material to be chopped.

Abstract: A forage conditioner for conditioning cut crop material from a forage harvester includes a fixed bottom fluted roller carried in end housings and a top fluted roller which is pivotally mounted on the housings by a linkage pivotal relative to the housing about an axis lying in a plane at right angles to the roller axes so that the top roller is liftable from crushing position against the bias of a spring extending along the top roller. Rotation of the bottom roller is transferred to the top roller through a gear train which includes two idler gears each mounted on a respective arm with the arms constrained to move symmetrically relative to the rollers by intermeshing teeth on the arms so as to control the angular timing of the rollers to ensure accurate intermeshing of the flutes.

Abstract: A machine for harvesting forage including in particular a cutting mechanism and a device for treating the cut products. The treatment device includes at least two ribbed rollers which are driven in rotation by a transmission. The transmission includes at least one flexible element which collaborates with a driving member and driven members which are mounted on shafts which drive the rotation of the rollers. At least one of the driven members is mounted on its shaft by a freewheel configured to transmit rotational movement from the driven member to the shaft in just one direction.

Abstract: A crop conditioning system to reduce the drying time of crops. The invention generally provides a framework, a fixed roller mounted on the framework, a movable roller mounted on one or more bellows which are mounted on the framework and a source of compressed gas or air for the bellows. The invention also provides a compressible roller sleeve which reduces down time due to jamming or clogging of the rollers with slugs and other debris, which includes a compressible base mat and a plurality of platform surfaces.

Abstract: A harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material includes a feeding housing, which is disposed ahead of a chopping device and accommodates feeding rollers, which can be driven. In order to have created a harvesting machine, which can be adapted to different use conditions, provisions are made so that more than two pairs of feeding rollers are provided, which are disposed consecutively in the feed-conveying direction and the upper rollers of which in each case can be driven over a common driving mechanism the common driving mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper rollers, having at least one driving element, which passes through the feeding housing and the position of which can be changed, and this driving element and the upper rollers being disposed so that they can be shifted by sliding in each case in guides at the side of the feeding housing.

Abstract: Two mower-conditioner lugged rollers provided with a four-gear timing system that allows the rollers to separate while still maintaining the timing.