A harvesting machine and communication system, the communication system tracking information related to a baled crop formed during a baling process by the harvesting machine, the communication system further comprising: a control unit for controlling the harvesting machine (16, 100, 1106); a sensing unit mounted to the harvesting machine (16, 100, 1106) for detecting a characteristic of the baled crop; a bale tag coupled to a baled crop, the bale tag including a bale tag identifier; a bale tag reader for reading the bale tag identifier on the bale tag; an electronic storage unit disposed in electrical communication with the control unit a wireless communication network electrically coupling the control unit, the sensing unit, the bale tag reader, and the electronic storage unit to one another; wherein, during a baling process, the control unit receives a characteristic detected by the sensing unit and the bale tag identifier from the bale tag reader via the wireless communication network; further wherein, the control unit communicates the characteristic, and bale tag identifier to the storage unit via the wireless communication network, characterized in that during a baling process the control unit assigns a unique bale identifier to each baled crop and in that the control unit communicates the bale identifier to a storage unit via the wireless communication network and in that the harvesting machine and communication system further comprises a carrier material fastened to the baled crop during the baling process, the carrier material including a carrier material identifier; wherein, the carrier material identifier is communicated to the control unit and associated with the bale identifier, bale tag identifier, and characteristic of the baled crop. a control unit for controlling the harvesting machine (16, 100, 1106); a sensing unit mounted to the harvesting machine (16, 100, 1106) for detecting a characteristic of the baled crop; a bale tag coupled to a baled crop, the bale tag including a bale tag identifier; a bale tag reader for reading the bale tag identifier on the bale tag; an electronic storage unit disposed in electrical communication with the control unit a wireless communication network electrically coupling the control unit, the sensing unit, the bale tag reader, and the electronic storage unit to one another; wherein, during a baling process, the control unit receives a characteristic detected by the sensing unit and the bale tag identifier from the bale tag reader via the wireless communication network; further wherein, the control unit communicates the characteristic, and bale tag identifier to the storage unit via the wireless communication network, characterized in that during a baling process the control unit assigns a unique bale identifier to each baled crop and in that the control unit communicates the bale identifier to a storage unit via the wireless communication network and in that the harvesting machine and communication system further comprises a carrier material fastened to the baled crop during the baling process, the carrier material including a carrier material identifier; wherein, the carrier material identifier is communicated to the control unit and associated with the bale identifier, bale tag identifier, and characteristic of the baled crop.