Massey Ferguson’s Hesston-Branded Bale Link App Provides Traceability For Hay Producers

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The upcoming Bale Link bale management app lets producers track each bale and its production information from the field on a tablet or smartphone. (Photo courtesy of AGCO.)

Farmers and ranchers are likely familiar with traceability technology for animal and food products that allow marketplaces and consumers to track an item through the entire production and supply chain. Hesston by Massey Ferguson’s new Bale Link app promises similar benefits for hay production, such as accurate tracking of each bale from the field and farm where it was produced. The Bale Link app will also help hay producers more effectively manage their hay production.

Each Bale Uniquely Identified

During the baling process, a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip is attached to each bale, woven into one of the six strands of baling twine. The app syncs with the BaleCreate baler software in the Hesston by Massey Ferguson large square baler to capture the serial number of the RFID chip along with bale weight and length, number of flakes, moisture, date and time baled, the GPS location where the bale was created, and additive applied (if any). After baling, producers need only scan the RFID chip with an RFID reader to retrieve the bale’s unique serial number and communicate the bale ID and its associated data to the Bale Link app.

Efficiency Gains

“Unique identification of each bale will make it easier to move, store, group and sell hay based on bale size, bale weight, moisture, forage cut length and other production factors,” says Matt LeCroy, AGCO tactical marketing manager for hay and forage. “When bales are stacked for storage, they can be grouped based on any aspect of the production criteria, and when it’s time to load for delivery, loads can easily be filled with hay that fits the criteria the buyer requests.”

Link Up With A Hesston Baler

The Bale Link app is currently being field tested with select customers, and AGCO expects limited commercial availability in 2020, followed by full commercial use by the 2022 hay harvest season.

Source: AGCO

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