WHOLE CROP HARVESTING

摘要

A method of whole crop harvesting which comprises cutting a standing crop (13) of upstanding stalks (13b) and seed (13c) carried thereby, feeding the cut crop to a bale-forming chamber (12), and subjecting the crop to a mechanical treatment to break down the crop into smaller portions before it reaches the bale-forming chamber. A preferred embodiment of harvesting machine for use in carrying out the method of whole crop harvesting has a bale-forming chamber (212), a guide arranged to receive the crop after it has been cut above ground level and to guide the crop to the bale-forming chamber, a forwardly mounted cutter arrangement (214) for cutting the standing crop above ground level, and a bale-wrapping device (226, 240) mounted on the machine and operative to apply stretch film wrapping to the bale (242) after the latter has been formed in the bale-forming chamber (212).