Abstract: A protection system for a rotary cutter, with the rotary cutter including a deck and one or more blade assemblies extending below the deck for cutting vegetation. The protection system comprises a protection annulus associated with one of the blade assemblies, with the protection annulus secured to a bottom surface of the deck and positioned between the deck and the blade assembly. The protection annulus has a width extending from an inner radius of the protection annulus to an outer radius of the protection annulus. The protection annulus has a height extending vertically downward from the bottom surface of the deck. The width of the protection annulus is greater than the height of the protection annulus.

Abstract: A system for dispensing seeds and a treatment. The system includes a first tube for dispensing the seeds via a first outlet, a second tube for dispensing the treatment via a second outlet, and a first valve at an upper portion and a second valve at a lower portion of the second tube. The second outlet is located between the discs of a furrow-opening wheel. The first valve is positioned outside of the furrow during operation and controls movement of the treatment from a container into the second tube. The second valve controls release of the treatment from the second outlet into the furrow. The second valve may open and close in response to pressure exerted by the treatment in the second tube. Depending on the treatment, the valves may release the treatment on, adjacent to, or both behind and in front of the dispensed seeds.

Abstract: A blade assembly for a rotary cutter. The blade assembly comprises a blade carrier rotatably connected to the rotary cutter. The blade assembly additionally comprises one or more cutter blades secured to the blade carrier such that rotation of the blade carrier causes a corresponding rotation of the cutter blades. The blade assembly further comprises a blade stop associated with the blade carrier and configured to inhibit rotation of the cutter blades with respect to the blade carrier.

Abstract: A level indicator for a skid steer attachment. The level indicator comprises a reference component configured to display a plurality of references, with each of the references being associated with a particular orientation of the skid steer attachment. The level indicator additionally comprises a securement component for supporting the reference component with respect to the skid steer attachment. The level indicator further comprises an indicator mechanism rotatably connected to the reference component or to the securement component. The indicator mechanism is configured to highlight one of the references of the reference component based on an orientation of the skid steer attachment.

Abstract: A seed meter comprising a housing including one or more air inlets for receiving pressurized air into the housing. The seed meter additionally includes a first metering disc and a second metering disc, each rotatably received in the housing. Each of the first and second metering discs comprises seed pockets for receiving seeds therein.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for use with a tractor. The agricultural implement comprises a main body, a hitch, a plurality of wheel support assemblies, and a pair of wheels coupled to each of the wheel support assemblies. Each of the wheel support assemblies includes a longitudinal support assembly extending rearward from the main body. The wheel support assemblies further include a transverse support assembly coupled to the longitudinal support assembly, with each of the wheels of the pair of wheels being disposed on opposite sides of the transverse support assembly, and with the transverse support assembly being rotatable relative to the main body, such that raising one wheel of the pair of wheels causes the corresponding lowering of another wheel of the pair of wheels. The wheel support assemblies also include a rotational damping mechanism for restricting rotation of the transverse assembly and the pair of wheels relative to the main body.

Abstract: A shield assembly for agricultural equipment. The agricultural equipment can include rotary-power distribution components for distributing rotary power through the agricultural equipment. The shield assembly comprises a sliding shield configured to be selectively positioned in a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the sliding shield is configured to cover at least a portion of the rotary-power distribution components of the agricultural equipment. In the open position the sliding shield is configured to provide access to at least a portion of the rotary-power distribution components of the agricultural equipment. The sliding shield is configured to shift from the closed position to the open position via substantially linear actuation.

Abstract: A seed meter comprising a housing including one or more air inlets for receiving pressurized air into the housing. The seed meter additionally includes a first metering disc and a second metering disc, each rotatably received in the housing. Each of the first and second metering discs comprises seed pockets for receiving seeds therein.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame provided with power-actuated lift wheels at the rear of the frame and a pair of gauge wheels at the front of the frame. A linkage system connecting the rear wheels with the front wheels transmits the raising and lowering motion of the rear wheels to the front wheels so that the main frame remains level as it is raised and lowered by all of the wheels in unison. However, a coupling that uses an equalizing rocker bar between front and rear linkages of the linkage system permits either of the front wheels to be raised or lowered in a non-corresponding manner relative to the other front wheel as differences in terrain contour are experienced between the two front wheels. During such non-corresponding shifting of the front wheels relative to one another, movement of the two front wheels is in equal amounts but opposite directions to maintain both front wheels engaging the ground at all times and equally sharing the load.

Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.

Abstract: A seed planting machine for dispensing seed. The seed planting machine includes a transmission with a lockout clutch having an actuator for shifting the lockout clutch between a first configuration and a second configuration. As such, the lockout clutch, in the first configuration, is operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to a roller mechanism of the seed planting machine rotating in a first direction and to not dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in a second direction. Furthermore, the lockout clutch, in the second configuration, is not operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in either the first or second directions.

Abstract: Systems for mounting a plurality of agricultural tools on a transverse support bar and a method for operating an agricultural implement having a transverse support bar. The systems include a lateral positioning structure that can attach to the transverse support bar and a detachable base that can be releasably coupled to the lateral positioning structure.

Abstract: A seed planting machine for dispensing seed. The seed planting machine includes a transmission with a lockout clutch having an actuator for shifting the lockout clutch between a first configuration and a second configuration. As such, the lockout clutch, in the first configuration, is operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to a roller mechanism of the seed planting machine rotating in a first direction and to not dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in a second direction. Furthermore, the lockout clutch, in the second configuration, is not operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in either the first or second directions.

Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.

Abstract: An agricultural seeding implement has a seed hopper that is weighed continuously during field operations as the seed volume in the hopper progressively diminishes. The weight information is used to perform ongoing control functions on the implement. One embodiment uses the weight information to reduce the down pressure on compaction wheels of a wing section of the machine as a function of the diminishing weight of the hopper on the main section.

Abstract: A tillage implement has gang assemblies of rotatable tillage tools that can be angle-adjusted from the seat of the towing tractor using hydraulic actuators. The tillage tools may comprise generally flat, wavy coulter blades or the like so that the machine may be set up for vertical tillage with the coulters aligned at a zero degree angle with the path of travel of the implement or for residue management operations with the coulters maintained at an oblique angle of up to ten degrees relative to the path of travel. A six degree angle is preferred for the residue management position. A master-slave hydraulic flow arrangement for the actuators assures simultaneous actuation, while mechanical synchronizing apparatus between the two front gang assemblies on the center frame section of the machine assures synchronized movement of those assemblies. Mechanical motion-transmitting mechanism transmits the hydraulically powered adjusting movement of the front gang assemblies to the rear gang assemblies.

Abstract: A tillage implement equipped with a finishing attachment for chopping and leveling soil. The implement includes at least one soil engaging element (e.g., a shank) operable to form a trench with mounds on either side of the trench. The finishing attachment includes at least one soil chopping and leveling assembly that is operable to chop up clods of soil and crop remnants in the mounds and to level off the mounds by pushing the mounds at least partially into the trench.