Baling apparatus

A tractor and baler combination comprising:

• a tractor;
• a baler;
• and
• a control unit comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the control unit to:
• advancing a tractor and baler combination through a swath or windrow of a harvested crop material with a tractor Power Take Off operating at a generally constant speed to power a drive of a baling chamber of a baler of the tractor and baler combination and the baler operating to pick up the harvested crop material;
• while advancing the tractor/baler combination through the swath or windrow of the harvested crop material:
• assessing a first torque of a feeding output shaft of the baling chamber drive;
• and
• assessing a second torque of a forming output shaft of the baling chamber drive;
• comparing the assessed first torque with an optimal first torque of the feeding output shaft of the baling chamber drive and the assessed second torque with an optimal second torque of the forming output shaft of the baling chamber drive;
• and
• responsive to both the assessed first torque differing from the optimal first torque of the feeding output shaft of the baling chamber drive by more than a first predetermined torque amount and the assessed second torque differing from the optimal second torque of the forming output shaft of the baling chamber drive, respectively, by more than a second predetermined torque amount, changing a speed of advancement of the tractor and baler combination, and changing one or more of the first torque and the second torque.