Patent ID: 8656830

Claim:
A method of applying a preservative preparation to an agricultural crop during a baling process using a baler having a preservative application system and a bale size sensor, the method comprising the steps of: commencing a bale forming process to form a completed bale of the crop; monitoring a bale size during the bale forming process utilizing the bale size sensor to detect a predetermined diameter of the bale indicative of the bale forming process reaching an outer rind region of the bale which includes a depth of the crop extending from the predetermined diameter to an outer circumference of the completed bale; and controlling application of a preservative to the crop by the preservative application system in response to a sensed bale size indicated by the bale size sensor to adjust the application of the preservative to the crop upon the bale size sensor detecting that the bale size is at the predetermined diameter indicative of the bale forming process reaching the outer rind region of the bale.