System and method for more accurately determining overall quality of baled plant material

A system comprising:

• a baler machine configured to receive a plant material and to compress, shape, and secure the plant material into a bale;
• a cutter mechanism including one or more serrated knives configured to cut a portion of the plant material in the bale into similarly-sized particles of the plant material;
• a mixer mechanism configured to mix the similarly-sized particles of the portion of the plant material into a homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material;
• a compression mechanism configured to compress the homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material into the bale;
• and
• a near-infrared testing system configured to receive near-infrared radiation reflected by the homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material, analyze the near-infrared radiation, and generate evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material in the bale,
• wherein
• the baler machine includes a compression chamber in which the plant material is compressed shaped, and secured into the individual bale;
• the cutter mechanism is positioned in the compression chamber so as to cut the portion of the plant material in the bale without damaging a binding material which secures the plant material into the bale;
• the compression chamber includes a center rail structure;
• the mixer mechanism is a relief feature on the center rail structure which is configured to allow the plant material to expand and mix after cutting;
• the compression mechanism is a projecting feature on the center rail structure which physically pushes against the bale to compress the homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material so as to present a substantially flattened surface to a near-infrared sensor of the near-infrared testing system;
• and
• the near infrared sensor is mounted to the center rail so as to cause the near-infrared sensor to exert a pressure against the surface of the bale.

A method comprising:

• receiving, compressing, shaping, and securing with a baler machine a plant material into a bale;
• cutting with a cutter mechanism a portion of the plant material in the bale into similarly-sized particles of the plant material;
• mixing with a mixer mechanism the similarly-sized particles of the portion of the plant material into a homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material;
• compressing with a compression mechanism the homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material into the bale;
• and
• receiving and analyzing with a near-infrared testing system near-infrared radiation reflected by the homogenous aggregate of the portion of the plant material, and generating with the near-infrared testing system evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material in the bale, wherein the baler machine includes a compression chamber in which the plant material is compressed, shaped, and secured into the individual bale, and the cutter mechanism is positioned in the compression chamber so as to cut the portion of the plant material in the bale without damaging a binding material which secures the plant material into the bale, and
• wherein the compression chamber includes a center rail structure, and the mixer mechanism is a relief feature on the center rail structure which is configured to allow the plant material to expand and mix after cutting.