An agricultural baler includes: a frame; a feeder system coupled with the frame and including: a cutting assembly coupled with the frame and including: at least one knife configured for cutting a crop material; an engagement apparatus configured for: being spaced apart from at least one overload protection mechanism individually associated with a single one of the at least one knife; selectively engaging with the at least one knife and thereby for forcing the at least one knife to occupy a first position; and selectively engaging with the at least one knife and thereby for forcing the at least one knife to occupy a second position.

A system and method for monitoring bale growth rate and mat thickness and controlling baler operations according to the monitoring of bale growth rate and mat thickness. A baler includes sensors and a control system that uses sensor output as input for its processes. The controller is configured to determine a value of a physical attribute in an operation of a baler based on data received from a sensor. Also, the controller is configured to estimate a mat thickness or a bale growth rate based on the determined value of the physical attribute. The controller is also configured to control an operation of the baler or an operation of a tow vehicle, configured to tow the baler, based on the estimated mat thickness or bale growth rate.

A system and method for monitoring bale growth rate and mat thickness and controlling baler operations according to the monitoring of bale growth rate and mat thickness. A baler includes sensors and a control system that uses sensor output as input for its processes. The controller is configured to determine a value of a physical attribute in an operation of a baler based on data received from a sensor. Also, the controller is configured to estimate a mat thickness or a bale growth rate based on the determined value of the physical attribute. The controller is also configured to control an operation of the baler or an operation of a tow vehicle, configured to tow the baler, based on the estimated mat thickness or bale growth rate.

A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll and configured to draw material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill to move the duckbill between an insert position and a home position; a variable brake associated with the material roll and configured to apply a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller is configured to: determine an averaged electric current draw of the duckbill actuator during a sampling period is below a defined value and responsively output a brake increase signal so the brake increases applied braking force to the material roll by a defined amount.

A bale-forming chamber for an agricultural baler includes: a compacter configured to form collected crop material into a bale; and a pair of sidewalls each defining a respective boundary of the bale-forming chamber, at least one of the sidewalls including a dimpled surface having a plurality of dimples formed therein that each define a contactless region relative to the bale being formed in the bale-forming chamber.

A bale-forming chamber for an agricultural baler includes: a compacter configured to form collected crop material into a bale; and a pair of sidewalls each defining a respective boundary of the bale-forming chamber, at least one of the sidewalls including a dimpled surface having a plurality of dimples formed therein that each define a contactless region relative to the bale being formed in the bale-forming chamber.

A gathering apparatus for selectively bringing together edges or sides of a film for wrapping around a bale includes a pair of gathering elements which cooperate with a respective edge of the film and which are movable by a drive. The drive is actuated by a motor and a reduction gear. The gathering elements are moved relative to the film in a lateral direction between an out-of-operation position and an operating position, in order to gather the film as required. A holding apparatus serves the gathering elements in the operating position.

A method of controlling a travel path of an agricultural baling system including a baler and a tow vehicle includes: receiving a first bale density signal indicative of a first bale density of a forming bale at a first location in a baling chamber; receiving a second bale density signal indicative of a second bale density of the forming bale at a second location; receiving a windrow signal indicative of a width of a windrow; comparing the first bale density to the second bale density; determining a difference between the first bale density and the second bale density exceeds a threshold difference; and outputting a steering signal to a steering mechanism of the tow vehicle to adjust at least one steerable wheel of the tow vehicle by an adjustment when the determined difference exceeds the threshold difference, the adjustment being based at least partially on the received windrow signal.

A binding material storage apparatus including a rotary magazine for storage of binding material rolls, rotationally supported about a horizontal axis between two side elements. A magazine may be rotated between a number of discrete positions including a dispense position, each suitable for storage of a roll of binding material. The magazine includes first and second end plates between which support elements extend, one support for each discrete position, each of the supports mounted for free rotation within the magazine. At each discrete position a spindle is mounted for free rotation within the second end plate. An electrically controlled braking gear is supported on the second side. Each spindle is connected to an associated support and an associated first gear. The electrically controlled braking gear engages the first gear in the dispense position to control the speed of rotation of the support element in said position.

In a method for providing a bale of crop material that is only partially wrapped in a film, a bale of crop material is wrapped in a film with an automatic bale wrapping apparatus. Subsequently the film is provided with a plurality of perforations, and it is ensured that the perforations are present/positioned in an upper half of the bale. This ensures that there is good moisture control of the bale, with moist air able to escape, while stopping ingress of rain water. The bales are mostly dry hay or the like, and favourable perforations are radial slits. There is also provided a system for providing such bales with position controlled perforations.