In one aspect, a method for distributing crop material for ensilage may include determining, with a computing device, a storage volume for the crop material. The method may also include dividing, with the computing device, the determined storage volume into a plurality of planes. Each plane of the plurality of planes may be spaced apart from each other plane of the plurality of planes along a vertical direction. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of at least one of a work vehicle or an associated implement in a manner that distributes a portion of the crop material on a given plane of the plurality of planes.

In one aspect, a method for compressing crop material for ensilage may include monitoring, with a computing device, a location of a work vehicle within a silage heap as the work vehicle traverses a layer of crop material within the silage heap. The method may also include determining, with the computing device, a current density of the layer of crop material as the work vehicle traverses the layer of crop material. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of the work vehicle based on the monitored location and the determined current density such that the work vehicle compresses the layer of crop material.

A grain spreader includes a hopper and spreader arms that distribute grain in a bin with a spreader cone having convergent divergent cones. The convergent cone forms a first flow zone. A center opening between the convergent cone and divergent cone allows a first portion of grain collecting in the convergent cone to pass through the spreader cone. An intermediate funnel is inside the hopper body between the convergent cone and the hopper body. A second portion of the grain spills over the rim of the convergent cone and onto the divergent cone into a second flow zone outside the convergent cone but inside the intermediate funnel. When the second zone fills with grain, a further portion of grain will spill over a rim of the intermediate funnel into a third flow zone radially outward of the intermediate funnel but inside the hopper body.

A grain spreader wherein grain received in the hopper is directed to spreader arms by a spreader cone. The spreader cone has a convergent cone and a divergent cone. The spreader cone has a center opening that allows a first portion of the grain collecting in the convergent cone to pass through and fall through the underside of the divergent cone. The grain spreader further includes support springs that lift the spreader cone upwards into the hopper when the spreader cone is lightly loaded. A center flow choke is configured to throttle the flow of grain through the center opening to partially close the center opening in low grain flow conditions, wherein the center flow choke is mounted to the hopper body such that up and down movement of the spreader cone moves the center opening into or out of engagement with the center flow choke.

A method for distributing delivered crop during a spreading operation includes providing an agricultural utility machine and a spreading tool movably mounted thereto, automatically controlling a motion of the spreading tool, and spreading crop by the spreading tool.

A vehicle includes a frame, a tractive element coupled to the frame, a prime mover coupled to the frame and configured to drive the tractive element to propel the vehicle, and a silage compactor. The silage compactor includes a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and positioned to engage silage positioned below the frame, a vibrator coupled to the wheel and configured to cause the wheel to vibrate, and a controller configured to control the vibrator to vibrate the wheel while the wheel is in contact with the silage to compress the silage.

Systems and methods described herein are intended for the reduction of grain bin entrapment. A method may include coupling at least a portion of a casing housing an auger to at least a portion of an inner sidewall of a grain bin. A method may include activating a power source of the auger to cause the auger to gather grain from a bottom portion of the grain bin and convey the grain to a top portion of the grain bin, thereby reducing an amount of the grain that is attached to the inner sidewall of the grain bin.

A method for distributing delivered crop during a spreading operation includes providing an agricultural utility machine and a spreading tool movably mounted thereto, automatically controlling a motion of the spreading tool, and spreading crop by the spreading tool.

A method for determining a density of a harvested material includes transmitting radar signals into the harvested material from a transmitting unit, receiving the radar signals reflected by the harvested material by a receiving unit, determining a permittivity of the harvested material as a function of the reflected radar signals via an evaluation unit, and determining the density of the harvested material as a function of the determined permittivity via a signal processing unit.

A sweep system is presented for a grain bin. The sweep system includes an elongated body extending a length between an inward end and an outward end and having a leading side and a trailing side. The elongated body is connected to a pivot point at the center of the grain bin and is configured to rotate around the pivot point. In one or more embodiments, a tail section of the sweep system is located as the outward end of the elongated body. In one or more arrangements, a track-driven drive system is positioned in the tail section. The track-driven drive system has a continuous track formed by a continuous chain and a plurality of paddles connected thereto. The track-driven drive system is configured to move the outward end of the elongated housing around the grain bin thereby facilitating emptying of grain from the grain bin by the sweep system.