System and method for identifying bales of hay

Abstract

A system and method for tagging individual bales of hay as they are baled and recording information regarding the moisture, weight, preservative applied, field position, quality and other information available at the time of baling, all sequenced to the formation of the bale by a timing and positioning device.

1 . A system and method for identifying individual square bales of hay by inserting or applying an identification tag to each bale as it is baled comprising, a means for applying the identification tag, a timing star wheel for measuring the position of the bale, a processor for receiving information from the timing star wheel and outputting a signal for inserting or applying the tag to the bale and for associating information about the bale to a memory. 
   
   
       2 - 6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A system and method for identifying individual round bales of hay by inserting or applying an identification tag to each bale as it is baled comprising, a means for applying the identification tag, a device to signal when the gate is closed on the baler, a processor for receiving information from the gate closing signal and outputting a signal for inserting or applying the tag to the bale and for associating information about the bale to a memory. 
   
   
       8 . A system and method as in  claim 7  where a moisture sensor mounted on the baler is connected to the processor so that moisture information between gate closing intervals is accumulated and sent to a memory. 
   
   
       9 . A system and method as in  claim 7  where a scale mounted on the baler is connected to the processor so that weight information recorded as the bale stops turning in the baler is sent to a memory. 
   
   
       10 . A system and method as in  claim 7  where a flow meter is connected to the processor so that preservative flow may be accumulated between gate closing and associated with that bale and sent to memory. 
   
   
       11 . A system and method as in  claim 7  where a position monitor mounted on the baler or tractor pulling the baler is connected to the processor so that position information between gate closing is associated with a tagged bale and sent to memory. 
   
   
       12 . A system and method as in  claim 7  where near infrared quality monitor mounted on the baler is connected to the processor so that quality characteristics of that bale, associated to that bale by accumulated quality information between gate closing signals and put in memory for that bale.