A baler implement includes a housing that defines a baling chamber for forming crop material into a bale. The baler implement further includes a knotter system having a component that is moveable between a standby position and a wrapping position while wrapping the bale. A knotter sensor communicates a knotter engagement signal in response to movement of the component. A reader is in communication with the knotter sensor and is emits an interrogation signal for reading an identification tag on the bale. The reader emits the interrogation signal for a predefined period of time in response to the knotter engagement signal from the knotter sensor indicating movement of the component of the knotter system while wrapping the bale with the strand material.