A computer-implemented method of determining when a windrow of crop is ready to be baled. A sensor embedded in or passing over the windrow senses a characteristic of the windrow associated with a moisture content of the windrow and generates corresponding sensor data. A processing element analyzes the sensor data to determine whether the windrow is ready to be baled and provides an alert when the windrow is ready to be baled.

A swather includes a swath compression panel with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined undersurface for applying a downward compression force on the swath between the front and rear wheels. A mounting assembly includes an actuator operable in response to a speed and/or direction of travel of the tractor for raising the panel to a retracted position under the tractor. A bottom stop halts downward movement of the actuator before the panel engages the ground. The panel includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined curved rear portion to smoothly release the compressed crop. The panel is mounted on the tractor frame at a position thereon rearward of a transverse beam connected to the front wheels so that the swath is released from the discharge opening of the header and can expand for discharge to the ground before the swath is engaged by the front end of the panel.

A swather includes a swath compression panel with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined undersurface for applying a downward compression force on the swath between the front and rear wheels. A mounting assembly includes an actuator operable in response to a speed and/or direction of travel of the tractor for raising the panel to a retracted position under the tractor. A bottom stop halts downward movement of the actuator before the panel engages the ground. The panel includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined curved rear portion to smoothly release the compressed crop. The panel is mounted on the tractor frame at a position thereon rearward of a transverse beam connected to the front wheels so that the swath is released from the discharge opening of the header and can expand for discharge to the ground before the swath is engaged by the front end of the panel.

Haymaking machine comprising two conveyors, each configured to move a product in a conveying orientation transverse to the direction of advance, in a first or a second conveying direction, and to be driven at a respective speed, with at least one conveyor movable substantially along the conveying orientation, so that the conveyors can be placed in at least one lateral configuration, in which the product is deposited by an outfeed conveyor, and in a central configuration. When the conveyors are placed in the lateral configuration, the speed of at least one of the conveyors is set automatically, so that the speed of the outfeed conveyor is greater than that of the other conveyor(s).

Haymaking machine comprising two conveyors, each configured to move a product in a conveying orientation transverse to the direction of advance, in a first or a second conveying direction, and to be driven at a respective speed, with at least one conveyor movable substantially along the conveying orientation, so that the conveyors can be placed in at least one lateral configuration, in which the product is deposited by an outfeed conveyor, and in a central configuration. When the conveyors are placed in the lateral configuration, the speed of at least one of the conveyors is set automatically, so that the speed of the outfeed conveyor is greater than that of the other conveyor(s).

A haymaking machine has a rake rotor with frame and support arm provided with a base part and a sliding part. The base part is pivotably connected to the frame about a support arm axis to enable the support arm to pivot between a lowered active position and a raised passive position. The sliding part is slidable relative to the base part between an inner position and an outer position for length adjustment of the support arm. The outer position is farther removed from the support arm axis than the inner position. A catching element is connected to the sliding part. A linear drive is connected to frame and sliding part to move the sliding part into the inner position and pivot the support arm from active position into passive position. A retaining mechanism holds the support arm in active position until the sliding part has reached the inner position.

A haymaking machine has a rake rotor with frame and support arm provided with a base part and a sliding part. The base part is pivotably connected to the frame about a support arm axis to enable the support arm to pivot between a lowered active position and a raised passive position. The sliding part is slidable relative to the base part between an inner position and an outer position for length adjustment of the support arm. The outer position is farther removed from the support arm axis than the inner position. A catching element is connected to the sliding part. A linear drive is connected to frame and sliding part to move the sliding part into the inner position and pivot the support arm from active position into passive position. A retaining mechanism holds the support arm in active position until the sliding part has reached the inner position.

An agricultural machine, includes a frame with a pair of wheels enabling movement in one direction, at least two harvesting devices for agricultural products connected to the frame that, in a work position, are arranged frontally to the wheels and aligned with each other transversely to the one direction. Unloading equipment is arranged operationally downstream of the harvesting devices to receive the harvested agricultural products and to move them in an unloading direction transverse to the one direction. The unloading equipment includes a central unloading device that is movable with respect to the harvesting devices between a work position, wherein it directly receives the harvested agricultural products from the harvesting devices, and a non-operational position, wherein offset with respect to the work position so as to enable the harvested agricultural products to fall immediately downstream of the first harvesting device.

An agricultural machine, includes a frame with a pair of wheels enabling movement in one direction, at least two harvesting devices for agricultural products connected to the frame that, in a work position, are arranged frontally to the wheels and aligned with each other transversely to the one direction. Unloading equipment is arranged operationally downstream of the harvesting devices to receive the harvested agricultural products and to move them in an unloading direction transverse to the one direction. The unloading equipment includes a central unloading device that is movable with respect to the harvesting devices between a work position, wherein it directly receives the harvested agricultural products from the harvesting devices, and a non-operational position, wherein offset with respect to the work position so as to enable the harvested agricultural products to fall immediately downstream of the first harvesting device.

A method for planning a swath which is created by a rake by raking together a crop mown on an agricultural field, includes determining via a control unit planning data of the swath as a function of at least one of the following planning parameters: field data representing at least one characteristic of the mown agricultural field, a type of the crop, a type of a planned rake, a type of a planned recovery machine for recovering the created swath, and a cutting length of the swath material processed during a recovery.