An agricultural baler including a main bale chamber, a plunger configured to compress crop material in the bale chamber, a plunger drive, and a plurality of needles. The plunger drive is drivingly coupled to the plunger. The plurality of needles are configured to deliver twine through the bale chamber. The agricultural baler further includes a pivoting latch system drivingly coupled to both the plunger drive and the needles. A knotter is activated by the needles moving to a predetermined position.