A bale spreader including one or more rotors rotatably attached to a first and second support member is provided. The bale spreader includes an apron that extends below the rotor(s), and may be configured to operatively feed a particulate material into the rotor(s). The rotor(s) may include a plurality of flail knives or hammers configured to chop and/or shred a particulate material as the rotor(s) is/are rotated. The rotor(s) may be rotated by an optimized hydraulic system connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of an agricultural implement or vehicle. Furthermore, the bale spreader may include a plurality of tines, screen members, and a flop bar configured to secure particulate material within the bale spreader.

A chopping module which pulls plants inside the module and chops them into billets, comprising a box-shaped body with three open sides, a front inlet for plants to be chopped, a rear outlet for chopped plants and a lower outlet for residues. Plants are pulled by two crosswise pairs of rollers, after which plants are chopped by a rotating blade assembly and a fixed shearbar, which are aligned parallel to the pulling rollers. Between the pulling rollers, a passageway is formed for the plants to be chopped. After the fixed shearbar, said passageway continues in the form of a slide sloping downwards to the rear outlet. The rotating blade assembly is located above the slide and next to the fixed shearbar.

A chopping module which pulls plants inside the module and chops them into billets, comprising a box-shaped body with three open sides, a front inlet for plants to be chopped, a rear outlet for chopped plants and a lower outlet for residues. Plants are pulled by two crosswise pairs of rollers, after which plants are chopped by a rotating blade assembly and a fixed shearbar, which are aligned parallel to the pulling rollers. Between the pulling rollers, a passageway is formed for the plants to be chopped. After the fixed shearbar, said passageway continues in the form of a slide sloping downwards to the rear outlet. The rotating blade assembly is located above the slide and next to the fixed shearbar.

An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a residue handling system carried by the chassis. The residue handling system includes a set of rotating knives disposed in a housing, a first set of counter-knives, and a residue pivoting platform and/or a second set of counter-knives. Crop residue travels through the system in a residue flow direction. The first set of counter-knives are configured to enter the housing proximate to the set of rotating knives. The residue pivoting platform is positioned proximate to the first set of counter-knives in an upstream direction relative to the crop residue flow direction. The second set of counter-knives are configured to enter the housing proximate to the set of rotating knives. The second set of counter-knives are in a downstream direction relative to the crop residue flow from at least one of the residue pivoting platform and the first set of counter-knives.

A crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper has a body that can be mounted on a carrier that can be set in rotation and is furnished with a hard material layer that comes into contact with crop during operation. The hard material layer is connected in a form-fitting manner to the body.

A crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper has a body that can be mounted on a carrier that can be set in rotation and is furnished with a hard material layer that comes into contact with crop during operation. The hard material layer is connected in a form-fitting manner to the body.

An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a residue handling system carried by the chassis. The residue handling system includes a set of rotating knives disposed in a housing, a first set of counter-knives, and a residue pivoting platform and/or a second set of counter-knives. Crop residue travels through the system in a residue flow direction. The first set of counter-knives are configured to enter the housing proximate to the set of rotating knives. The residue pivoting platform is positioned proximate to the first set of counter-knives in an upstream direction relative to the crop residue flow direction. The second set of counter-knives are configured to enter the housing proximate to the set of rotating knives. The second set of counter-knives are in a downstream direction relative to the crop residue flow from at least one of the residue pivoting platform and the first set of counter-knives.

A chopper knife assembly for use by an agricultural harvester. The chopper knife assembly includes a mounting lug with a fulcrum, wedge, and counterwedge; and at least one bladed knife attached to the mounting lug between the wedge and counterwedge; the assembly is held in place by an attachment means. The bladed knives are able to pivot on the fulcrum of the mounting lug during use, thereby forcing the knife blades onto the counterwedges to provide a more secure retention means.

A chopper knife assembly for use by an agricultural harvester. The chopper knife assembly includes a mounting lug with a fulcrum, wedge, and counterwedge; and at least one bladed knife attached to the mounting lug between the wedge and counterwedge; the assembly is held in place by an attachment means. The bladed knives are able to pivot on the fulcrum of the mounting lug during use, thereby forcing the knife blades onto the counterwedges to provide a more secure retention means.

An apparatus for splitting bales and retaining wrap includes a frame having an interior framework oriented at an angle relative to forwardly-projecting tines, the framework and tines together defining an upwardly-opening cradle that supports and centers a bale of forage bound with a wrap above an inverted apex of the cradle. The apparatus also includes an elongate hooking mechanism extending laterally across the underside of the wrapped bale and configured to capture the wrap together with a thin layer of forage, and an elongate blade rotatably supported on the frame and configured to rotate downward through the bale toward the inverted apex of the cradle. The apparatus further includes a first actuation device that activates the hooking mechanism to capture the wrap and layer of forage, and one or more second actuation devices that rotate the elongate blade downward through the forage to split the bale.