Method and apparatus for drying forage crops

A machine for harvesting a standing crop and removing excess moisture carried by said crop above a desired range of residual moisture so that said crop resists rotting, molding, shatterinng and spontaneous combustion while stored in bales, said machine comprising:

• a means for cutting said standing crop as said machine moves at a speed in a first direction so that a continuous flow of cuttings issues from said cutting means in a direction opposite said first direction;
• a plurality of induction jacket rollers between which induction jacket rollers said flow of cuttings passes;
• said plurality of induction jacket rollers squeezing said flow of cuttings so that some of said excess moisture is squeezed therefrom;
• said plurality of induction jacket rollers heated to a temperature for evaporating any remaining excess moisture in said flow of cuttings above said desired level of residual moisture as said flow of cuttings passes between said rollers so that substantially all of said excess moisture is removed and said flow of cuttings may be baled immediately upon issuing therefrom;
• a first conveying means for conveying said flow of cuttings from said cutting means to said plurality of heated induction jacket rollers;
• a means for detecting said level of excess moisture carried by said flow of cuttings and generating a signal corresponding to said level;
• and
• a controlling means for receiving said signal, comparing said signal to a reference, determining a difference between said signal and said reference, and adjusting said level of moisture in said flow of cuttings conveyed from said induction jacket rollers so that said difference is reduced;
• said controlling means adjusting said level of moisture in said flow of cuttings by commanding a change in said heat energy applied to said flow of cuttings by said plurality of induction jacket rollers.