Device and method for harvesting woody crops

A method for harvesting woody material, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a processor arranged to mechanically work the woody material and to feed the mechanically worked woody material to a bale-forming mechanism, the bale-forming mechanism being arranged to form a bale of the mechanically worked woody material, the processor including:
• a crusher arranged to cut standing woody material and to compress or shred the woody material along its length to make the woody material more pliable, wherein the crusher includes a rotor in a housing, the rotor having crushing elements arranged to compress or shred the woody material against the housing in a crushing zone as the rotor rotates, and
• an adjustable adjustor plate that protrudes into the crushing zone to vary the extent of compression of the woody material by controlling the entry of the woody material into the crushing zone;
• (b) mechanically working the woody material using the processor;
• (c) feeding the mechanically worked woody material to the bale-forming mechanism;
• and
• (d) forming a bale from the mechanically worked woody material.