METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAGGING BALES AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING AND TRACKING BALES

摘要

A method and apparatus for inserting a tag (50) into a bale of agricultural material (60) is disclosed. The tag (50) is inserted into the bale material, during bale production, such that the tag (50) is within the bale material, but within reading distance of an outer surface of the final bale (26). In square bales, the tag is placed in either the first (20) or last (24) slice of the bale (26). In round bales, the tag is place in the outer circumferential layer of the bale as it is formed. The tag (50) may be gravity fed or forcibly fed into the stream of crop material (60) as it passes from the baling apparatus pick-up to the baling chamber (19). A system for identifying and tracking an individual bale is also disclosed.