Abstract: A liquid capture tray and conservation system for capturing agricultural liquids which would otherwise be wasted and could contaminate groundwater. The liquid capture tray has a tray body and a reservoir matrix across the tray body. The reservoir matrix has a plurality of adjacent interconnected concave liquid capture cups, each with a sidewall and bottom wall defining an upwardly disposed reservoir. The tray is positioned below the root zone of a plant growing area to capture liquids that pass through the root zone into the reservoirs of the cups. Apertures in the tray body allow excess liquids to drain from the tray. A connecting mechanism can be utilized to connect two trays together. Cut-outs in the sidewalls of the cups allow liquid to move from one cup to another to disperse liquid across the reservoir matrix. The system includes a growing area, root zone, liquid and liquid capture tray.

Abstract: Disclosed is a honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device including base frame, spike assemblies and a movement mechanism, wherein the pricking mechanism of the pricking device has a rotatable eccentric mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distribution system for distributing an olfactory attractant that stimulates ovipositioning of insects, comprising a central receptacle such as a container for holding an olfactory attractant and/or for holding a source of olfactory attractant, a delivery system comprising tubes, pipes and/or ducts, said tubes, pipes and/or ducts coupled to the receptacle and ending at locations where ovipositioning is desired, for delivering a liquid or gas from the receptacle such as a container to said locations, and a driver system for moving the attractant through the delivery system from the receptacle such as a container to said locations. The invention also relates to a method for stimulating ovipositioning of insects, such as black soldier flies, comprising delivering olfactory attractant from a receptacle such as a container to multiple ovipositioning areas via a driver system, said ovipositioning areas preferably located in a cage for insects.

Abstract: A water distribution assembly includes a water capture cup adapted to hold a volume of water, the capture cup including an open recess disposed centrally thereon extending upward into the internal volume thereof, a location spike having a fin configuration, the location spike having a bottom portion and a top portion, the top portion culminating at a central stem, the bottom and top portion separated by a flange, the location spike fitted into the recess of the capture cup extending orthogonally below and above the bottom of the capture cup, and a water regulator with a central emitter valve disposed centrally above the capture cup, the regulator cup connected to a water inlet line via a feed stem and to a vertical feeder tube below center, the feeder tube extending downward and connected at the remaining end over the central stem of the location spike.

Abstract: A waterfowl decoy animation device comprising a frame having a first elongated frame member and a second elongated frame member configured in a cruciform configuration, a first pulley wheel rotatably attached to a first end of the first frame member, a second pulley wheel rotatably attached to a second end of the first frame member, a third pulley wheel rotatably attached to a first end of the second frame member, and a fourth pulley wheel rotatably attached to a second end of the second frame member; a drive motor operatively associated with one of the pulley wheels; a drive belt around the pulley wheels; an electric source operatively associated with the drive motor; and at least one waterfowl decoy attached to the drive belt.

Abstract: A milking device for milking a dairy animal includes a teat cup with a cup wall and a teat liner and a pulsation space situated in between, the pulsation space being connected to a pulsation device that is configured to apply a pressure that varies in pulsations to the pulsation space in order to open and close the teat liner. The pulsation device includes a supply line controllable by a first operable valve for supplying a first pressure, a supply line controllable by a second operable valve for supplying a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and a control unit configured to generate control signals for operating the first and second valves. At least the first valve is a controllable valve having a passage that is adjustable during at least one pulsation phase by the control unit.

Abstract: A protective animal harness has a collar portion having a substantially annular shape with a first central opening configured for receiving a neck of an animal. The harness further has a torso portion having a substantially annular shape with a second central opening configured for receiving a torso of the animal. The harness further has a connecting strap connecting at least a portion of the collar portion to the torso portion and configured to extend between the front legs of the animal. A protective apron is connected to the collar portion. The protective apron has an arcuate shape that extends over a portion of a circumference of the collar portion. The protective apron has a flexible covering extending between a plurality of radially spaced apart reinforcement members.

Abstract: The pot for culturing an epiphyte is integrally injection molded from a transparent plastic. The pot has a bottom, a lower edge, an upper edge and a sidewall extending between the lower edge and the upper edge. The sidewall of the pot is provided with an outwardly protruding lip at the level of the upper edge. A cross section through the sidewall of the pot, tangent to the lower face of the lip, has a substantially hexagonal or octagonal shape. Consequently, the pot, at least at the top, is hexagonal or octagonal, thus allowing more pots to be positioned per unit area compared to a round shape having the same diameter as the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the hexagonal or octagonal shape.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. The grow module defines a root chamber and a plurality of apertures for positioning a root end of the plant pod in the root chamber. A resonator may be positioned on each plant pod or at each of the plurality of apertures for generating a unique sound signature when a specific plant pod is inserted into a specific aperture. A detection device, such as a microphone, measures the sound waves generated by the resonator and a controller determines a location and/or a type of the plant pod based on the unique sound signature.

Abstract: An insect trapping device includes a base with a shroud and a cartridge. The cartridge includes an adhesive portion that is positioned adjacent the shroud, when the cartridge is attached to the base. The shroud includes an electric heating element, which heats the shroud and the adhesive portion of the cartridge.

Abstract: An insect-trapping device includes a container, a funnel element, two photo interrupters and a controller. The container has an inlet and an accommodation space. The funnel element is placed on the inlet to extend into the accommodation space of the container. The photo interrupters are arranged within an inner passage of the funnel element along a long axis direction of the inner passage for sensing whether at least one insect passes through the inner passage from the inlet. The controller is electrically connected to the photo interrupters for counting the insects passing through the inner passage according to the photo interrupters.

Abstract: Devices and methods for pest control, including devices useful to place pest control devices at locations of use such as at a crop (e.g., at a branch of a tree), certain embodiments of devices including a capsule and a tether that can become tangled or caught in a tree or other crop location.

Abstract: Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover is a retractable cover for a greenhouse that is mounted on top of the greenhouse. Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover comprises: a spine clamp, a left furling cover assembly, a right furling cover assembly, a hinge pin assembly, and an electrical control box. Left and right furling assemblies each comprise a curtain or cover, a furling rod, a furling motor, and a support arm. Electrical control box sends electronic signals to cause left and right covers or curtains to furl above the greenhouse when retracted and to unfurl down to the ground when extended to cover the greenhouse. The top-mounted design allows efficient use of gravity to apply tension to the furled rolls.

Abstract: A watering tank circulating assembly includes a frame submerged in a livestock watering tank. A fluid pump is coupled to the frame to circulate the water when the fluid pump is turned on. In this way the fluid pump inhibits the water from freezing. A heating coil is coupled to the frame to heat the water when the heating coil is turned on, thusly inhibiting the water from freezing. A thermostatic switch is coupled to the frame and each of the fluid pump and the heating coil is electrically coupled to the thermostatic switch. The thermostatic switch turns on each of the fluid pump and the heating coil when the temperature of the water drops below a trigger temperature. Additionally, the thermostatic switch turns off each of the fluid pump and the heating coil when the temperature of the water rises about the trigger temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for a free-standing device that uses a pool of stagnant water to attract female mosquitoes to deposit their eggs in a container whereby the device automatically self-flushes periodically the eggs from the container through a valve into its self-contained reservoir which then replenishes the container after the eggs have been discarded.

Abstract: A feeding system for freely moving poultry or other small animals including a feeding pan with an outer distribution cone. An overlying horizontal transport channel for feed is provided above the distribution cone having a passage for regular feeding, and the feed passes through the opening at the top of the distribution cone to the inner side of the distribution cone. There is a passage for initial feeding out of the transport channel, arranged such that the feed passes out of the initial feeding passage and impinges on separate chutes externally on the distribution cone having a dividing line between the two chutes.

Abstract: A circuit and method for boosting the voltage input to the gate of a MOSFET switch used in an electronic rodent trap is provided. By boosting the voltage to the gate, the MOSFET can be fully turned on to activate an effective killing cycle in the electronic rodent trap even when the trap's battery voltage has dropped to a level that would otherwise be insufficient to fully activate the MOSFET.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of valves, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid movement through the fluid lines is selectively controlled by the valves, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the valves. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more valves to direct the fluid, determine valve parameters for each of the valves that achieve the fluid direction, and transmit one or more control signals to the valves for directing the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.

Abstract: Systems and methods that include a metallic panel having an upper surface for contacting an animal and a lower surface, at least one metallic cooling element thermally contacting the lower surface of the metallic panel and having an internal passage therein, and a coolant supply that flows a coolant through the internal passage of the cooling element. Flow of the coolant through the cooling element reduces the temperature of the upper surface of the metallic panel and thereby reduces the body temperature of the animal when the animal is in contact with the metallic panel.

Abstract: A device for enclosing treated material impregnated with a pesticide and/or parasiticide and adapted for access by rodents or other targeted small animals includes a shell forming an enclosure to contain the treated material. The shell includes at least one entrance opening for accessing the enclosed treated material. Each entrance opening has a width less than a maximum inner width of the shell. The device may be formed completely of biodegradable material.