Method for Adjusting Sensor on Swathboard of Mower

A method for collecting nutrient information from plant material being cut by a mower as the mower moves over a field, the mower including a header assembly having a cutter bed, conditioning rollers, and a swathboard, the swathboard being positionable to shape a rearwardly-directed stream of cut plant material into windrows, the method comprising:

• mounting a sensor on the swathboard to coincide with the location where the stream of cut plant material interacts with the swathboard;
• moving the sensor to a base position when the swathboard to a full down position such that the swathboard is maximizing contact of the swathboard with the crop material such that the crop material is directed down to the ground, wherein in the base position, a shoe plate on which the sensor is co-planer with the swathboard;
• and
• moving the sensor to an extended position such that the shoe plate is pivoted relative to the swathboard when the swathboard is positioned toward a full up position such that some of the crop stream avoids the swathboard and is directed back to forming shields of the header assembly.