A sod harvester's stacking position can be dynamically adjusted to form vertically aligned stacks. More particularly, a sod harvester's control system can be configured to automatically adjust the stacking position as a stack is being formed based on a sensed orientation of the pallet. In this way, the control system can ensure that a slab of sod that is dropped from the stacking head will fall into the intended location on the stack regardless of the orientation of the pallet relative to the stacking head.

A sod harvester's stacking position can be dynamically adjusted to form vertically aligned stacks. More particularly, a sod harvester's control system can be configured to automatically adjust the stacking position as a stack is being formed based on a sensed orientation of the pallet. In this way, the control system can ensure that a slab of sod that is dropped from the stacking head will fall into the intended location on the stack regardless of the orientation of the pallet relative to the stacking head.

A sod harvester's stacking position can be dynamically adjusted to form vertically aligned stacks. More particularly, a sod harvester's control system can be configured to automatically adjust the stacking position as a stack is being formed based on a sensed orientation of the pallet. In this way, the control system can ensure that a slab of sod that is dropped from the stacking head will fall into the intended location on the stack regardless of the orientation of the pallet relative to the stacking head.

A sod harvester's stacking position can be dynamically adjusted to form vertically aligned stacks. More particularly, a sod harvester's control system can be configured to automatically adjust the stacking position as a stack is being formed based on a sensed orientation of the pallet. In this way, the control system can ensure that a slab of sod that is dropped from the stacking head will fall into the intended location on the stack regardless of the orientation of the pallet relative to the stacking head.

A harvesting system for harvesting sod includes: (a) a harvester frame; (b) a cutting assembly mounted to the harvester frame for cutting the sod into slabs, each slab having a cut-off length; (c) a conveyor assembly supported by the harvester frame for transporting the slabs away from the cutting assembly toward a measuring location; and (d) a control system operable to: (i) determine a length difference between a measured length for at least one slab at the measuring location and a target length, and (ii) adjust the cut-off length for subsequent slabs to compensate for the length difference.

A stacking head for stacking rolls of sod can include a number of screw assemblies that are employed to secure and remove sod rolls from a stacking conveyor. Each screw assembly can include a center stake and a corkscrew that pierce a roll as the stacking head is forced into the roll. The rate at which the stacking head is moved vertically relative to the roll can be synchronized with the rate at which each screw assembly is rotated. This synchronization ensures that the corkscrew will pass into the roll while the stacking head is simultaneously forced into the roll without damaging the delicate sod.

A stacking head for stacking rolls of sod can include a number of screw assemblies that are employed to secure and remove sod rolls from a stacking conveyor. Each screw assembly can include a center stake and a corkscrew that pierce a roll as the stacking head is forced into the roll. The rate at which the stacking head is moved vertically relative to the roll can be synchronized with the rate at which each screw assembly is rotated. This synchronization ensures that the corkscrew will pass into the roll while the stacking head is simultaneously forced into the roll without damaging the delicate sod.

An improved mineral oil is useful in protecting sod during the harvesting, transporting, and reestablishment of the sod. The improved mineral oil mimics the cuticular wax of the sod plant. It is applied to a plot of sod one (1) or more times before harvesting the sod so that the improved mineral oil is generally aborbed by the sod plants. A solution including the improved mineral oil and copper pigment in water with an emulsifier may be used. Methods for protecting sod during the harvesting, transporting, and reestablishment of the sod using of the improved mineral oil are described.

Synchronizing variables can be tuned based on a sod harvester's speed. A sod harvester's control system can include a tuning component that receives as input a current speed of the sod harvester. The tuning component can apply logic to the current speed to calculate values for synchronizing variables that are tuned for the current speed. In this way, the sod harvester can be operated with precision across a range of speeds, including at high speeds.

Synchronizing variables can be tuned based on a sod harvester's speed. A sod harvester's control system can include a tuning component that receives as input a current speed of the sod harvester. The tuning component can apply logic to the current speed to calculate values for synchronizing variables that are tuned for the current speed. In this way, the sod harvester can be operated with precision across a range of speeds, including at high speeds.