One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automatically adjusting conditioning rollers of a windrower implement, such as those used to condition hay and other windrowed crops. Adjustments can be made on the fly to rollers used to condition the crop based on several factors such as the condition of the crop, the density, speed, header conditions, and more. Sensors can be used to detect the crop's and others' conditions, and automatic adjustments can be made, such as the distance between conditioning rollers, and/or the pressure applied by the rollers, to meet a desired crop condition for the windrows.

A system and computer-implemented method for sensing an amount of free water in cut crop material and automatically adjusting an operating parameter of a mower conditioner to optimize the amount of free water. A sensor located at the exit of a conditioning mechanism measures an actual free water content value of the material as it exits the conditioning mechanism, a processor compares the actual value to maximum and minimum values, and if the actual value is outside this range, automatically adjusts an operating parameter, such as a gap between pairs of conditioning rollers, a pressure exerted by the rollers, or a speed of the mower conditioner, to optimize the actual value. Another sensor may be located at the entrance of the conditioning mechanism. The processor may take into account an operator-selectable value weighting the actual free water content versus a dry down time when adjusting the operating parameter.

A method for controlling one or more operating parameters of a forage harvester includes picking up harvested crop from a field by means of a harvesting attachment, processing the harvested crop by means of a chopping device and/or a post-processing device, and ejecting the processed harvested crop onto a loading container. An image of the processed ground-borne harvested crop is recorded by a camera, and an operating parameter of the forage harvester is set or adjusted with a control unit using the image.

A work vehicle system includes at least one harvesting work vehicle with a harvesting arrangement. The harvesting arrangement is one of a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material and a windrowing arrangement configured to form a windrow of the crop material. A method includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored setting for a variable parameter of the harvesting arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a control signal based, at least in part, on the stored setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the harvesting arrangement according to the control signal.

A forming shield arrangement configured for a windrowing work vehicle is supported for movement by a support structure. The forming shield arrangement is configured to at least partly shape a windrow of a crop material. A method of operating the forming shield arrangement includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored position setting that corresponds to a position of the forming shield arrangement relative to the support structure. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a positioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored position setting. Moreover, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the position of the forming shield arrangement according to the positioning control signal.

A harvesting work vehicle includes a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material. A method of operating the work vehicle includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored conditioning setting for a variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a conditioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored conditioning setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement according to the conditioning control signal.

A mower-conditioner assembly of a self-propelled windrower includes a frame, a cutting mechanism coupled to the frame for cutting crop, a conditioner rotatably coupled to the frame at a location rearward of the cutting mechanism, and a fluffer assembly rotatably coupled to the frame at a location rearward of the conditioner. The fluffer assembly includes at least an elongated roll and a crop moving element. The conditioner crimps the crop after it is cut, and the fluffer assembly fluffs or moves the crop during operation.

A forage harvester is disclosed including a grain processor for processing of a chopped crop. The grain processor is driven by a belt drive in which an endless belt has a belt tension, an actuator for adjusting the belt tension in the belt drive and a control device for adjusting the actuator. The control device is configured to control the actuator based on input signals supplied to the control device with regard to a property of the crop and a stored relationship between the signal and an associated setting value of the actuator in terms of adapting the belt tension in the belt drive to the property of the crop. The control device is configured to receive the input signals from a sensor that interacts with the crop upstream of the grain processor and/or taken location-specific from a stored map. The actuator is commanded to adjust the belt tension in the belt drive based on the input signals related to the crop being processed.

A mower implement comprising may include a main frame, a cutter assembly, a hyperspectral sensor, and a controller. The hyperspectral sensor is coupled to the main frame, receives reflectance from a target area disposed rearward of the cutter assembly and including the windrow, and generates a signal indicative of light spectrums of the target area. The controller has a processor and a memory having a windrow distribution algorithm stored therein. The processor is operable to execute the windrow distribution algorithm to: receive the signal indicative of the light spectrums of the target area from the hyperspectral sensor; calculate a normalized difference index based on the signal indicative of the light spectrums of the target area; estimate a volumetric spread of the windrow; and control a machine system based on the volumetric spread. The machine system includes one of a display, an actuator, and a drivetrain component.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automatically adjusting conditioning rollers of a crimping implement, such as those used to condition hay or other crimped crops, such as cover crops. Adjustments can be made on the fly to rollers, crimpers, or down pressure applicators used to condition the crop based on several factors such as the condition of the crop, the type of crop, and more. Sensors can be used to detect the crops and others' conditions before and after conditioning, and automatic adjustments can be made, such as the distance between conditioning rollers, and/or the pressure applied by the rollers, etc. to meet a desired crop condition for the crimped crop.