AGRICULTURAL BALER WITH CONTROLLED TAILGATE LOCKOUT

A tailgate assembly (120) for an agricultural baler (10) includes a tailgate (21) that is movable between an open position and a closed position and a tailgate actuator (230) coupled to the tailgate (21) and configured to move the tailgate (21) between the open position and the closed position. A controller (210, 220) is configured to: determine that a bale formation cycle is beginning; enter a lockout mode responsively to determining the bale formation cycle has begun, the lockout mode preventing the tailgate actuator (230) from moving the tailgate (21) to the open position; determine that the bale formation cycle is complete; and enter an ejection mode from the lockout mode responsively to determining the bale formation cycle has completed, the ejection mode allowing the tailgate actuator (230) to move the tailgate (21) to the open position.