Methods and systems for labeling hay bales with corrected yield

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12510502-B2
Application number	US-202218551969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2022
Priority date	Apr 26, 2021
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

A method includes determining a mass of a hay bale, determining a moisture content of the hay bale, determining an ash content of the hay bale, calculating a corrected yield of the hay bale, and labeling the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected yield. The corrected yield is based on the mass, the moisture content, and the ash content of the hay bale.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
determining a mass of a hay bale; determining a moisture content of the hay bale; determining an ash content of the hay bale; calculating a corrected yield of the hay bale based on the mass, the moisture content, and the ash content of the hay bale, wherein calculating a corrected yield of the hay bale comprises determining the corrected yield to be m*(1−MC)*(1−AC), wherein m is the mass, MC is the moisture content, and AC is the ash content; and labeling the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected yield of the hay bale.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a moisture content of the hay bale comprises measuring a capacitance of the hay bale.

3 . The method of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein determining an ash content of the hay bale comprises detecting a signal at a near-IR sensor adjacent the hay bale.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a mass of the hay bale comprises measuring a force on a load cell in a baler.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein labeling the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected yield of the hay bale comprises binding the hay bale with a binding material comprising an identifying filament.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a map on a display, the map showing a location of the hay bale and the indicator of the corrected yield.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising labeling a group of hay bales comprising the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected yield of the hay bale.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a protein content of the hay bale; calculating a corrected protein yield of the hay bale based on the mass, the moisture content, the ash content, and the protein content of the hay bale; and labeling the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected protein yield of the hay bale.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining a protein content of the hay bale comprises detecting a signal at a near-IR sensor adjacent the hay bale.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising passing the hay bale adjacent the near-IR sensor during a baling process.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating a corrected protein yield of the hay bale comprises determining the corrected protein yield to be m*(1−MC)*(1−AC)*PC, wherein m is the mass, MC is the moisture content, AC is the ash content, and PC is a determined protein content.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting hay to form the hay bale.

13 . A method comprising:
determining a mass of a hay bale; determining a moisture content of the hay bale; determining an ash content of the hay bale; calculating a corrected yield of the hay bale based on the mass, the moisture content, and the ash content of the hay bale; determining a protein content of the hay bale; calculating a corrected protein yield of the hay bale to be m*(1−MC)*(1−AC)*PC, wherein m is the mass, MC is the moisture content, AC is the ash content, and PC is the protein content; and labeling the hay bale with an indicator of the corrected yield of the hay bale.

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Hamilton Kevin J

Classifications

• G09F3/02

  Forms or constructions (layered products B32B) · CPC title

• G01N21/359

  using near infrared light · CPC title

• G01N21/3563

  for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor · CPC title

• A01F15/08

  Details · CPC title

• G01N27/223 Primary

  for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity (rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825) · CPC title