Abstract: An agricultural planting apparatus includes a chassis, and a row unit having a unit body carried by the chassis. The unit body includes a metering device, at least one furrowing disc, a biasing element selected from at least one of the following: an extension spring, a compression spring, and a cylinder. A pair of pinch wheels are also carried by the unit body and includes an axle assembly pivotally movable relative to the unit body and connected to the biasing element. The axle assembly is configured to readily connect to at least one biasing element.

Abstract: An agricultural planter has at least one wing section that can rotate forward to a transport configuration and can also rotate outward to a working configuration. The at least one wing section has a caster assembly attached to a strut pivotable between a raised position forward of the at least one wing section and a lowered position beneath the at least one wing section. At least one wing section lift cylinder is located above and horizontally rearward of the at least one wing section, and is connected to the at least one wing section using a rearward extending wing section lift cylinder mounting bracket. The at least one wing section lift cylinder is connected to at least one bell crank, which is connected to at least one drop link, which is connected to the strut.

Abstract: A planting apparatus includes a chassis and a row unit carried by the chassis. The row unit includes a unit body carried by the chassis; a metering device carried by the unit body; at least one furrowing disc carried by the unit body; at least one pressing wheel carried by the unit body behind the furrowing disc in a direction of travel; a travel arm carried by and pivotally movable relative to the unit body that defines a travel path; at least one closing disc positioned behind the at least one furrowing disc and in front of the at least one pressing wheel in the direction of travel and pivotally movable along the travel path by the travel arm; and a stop placed in the travel path of the travel arm that is configured to limit a vertical travel of the at least one closing disc.

Abstract: Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop or other planting of an agricultural field. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system. The system may include a seed metering system that can be controlled at each of multiple row units to selectively plant different types or varieties of seed based on seed type or variety zones agricultural field, which may correspond to field characteristics defined in a seed variety prescription map.

Abstract: A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop or other planting of an agricultural field. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system. The system may include a seed metering system that can be controlled at each of multiple row units to selectively plant different types or varieties of seed based on seed type or variety zones agricultural field, which may correspond to field characteristics defined in a seed variety prescription map.

Abstract: A diffuser for the vacuum fan used with agricultural equipment. The diffuser has a rectangular outlet fixed to the outlet of the fan and a diverging rectangular cross-section outlet for increasing the cross-sectional flow area. A primary flow path between the inlet and the outlet is no less in area than the inlet to the diffuser and a series of rectangular side chambers with perforated walls covered by sound deadening material have predetermined dimensions to decrease the outlet air velocity attenuate selected noise frequencies.

Abstract: Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: An agricultural planter has at least one wing section that can rotate forward to a transport configuration and can also rotate outward to a working configuration. The at least one wing section has a caster assembly attached to a strut pivotable between a raised position forward of the at least one wing section and a lowered position beneath the at least one wing section. At least one wing section lift cylinder is located above and horizontally rearward of the at least one wing section, and is connected to the at least one wing section using a rearward extending wing section lift cylinder mounting bracket. The at least one wing section lift cylinder is connected to at least one bell crank, which is connected to at least one drop link, which is connected to the strut.

Abstract: An agricultural planter has a chassis with at least one wing section, which is operable to rotate forward about a vertical hinge to a transport configuration and to rotate outward about the vertical hinge to a working configuration. The agricultural planter has a telescoping hitch assembly made of an inner hitch bar and an outer hitch bar in a sliding relationship. A horsehead is attached to the at least one wing section and configured in such a way as to support the at least one wing section when in the transport configuration by resting upon the top of the outer hitch bar of the telescoping hitch assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural seed planting implement has a frame moveable in an up and down direction relative to soil over which the frame traverses. A seed trench opening assembly mounted on the frame includes disks mounted side by side and having a forming point positioned in between. A wearable insert of plastic is slidably but non-rotatably retained in the forming point to abut the disks when they are deflected. The disks are removable to enable simple replacement of the wearable insert.

Abstract: An agricultural planting apparatus includes a chassis and a row unit carried by the chassis that defines a width. The row unit includes a unit body carried by the chassis; a metering device carried by the unit body; at least one furrowing disc carried by the unit body; at least one closing disc carried by the unit body behind the furrowing disc(s); a restraining member carried by the mounting body; and a pressing wheel carried by the unit body, pivotally movable about an axis of rotation relative to the unit body, positionable behind the closing disc(s), and reversibly connectable to the restraining member. The pressing wheel has a constrained pivoting configuration when connected to the restraining member that resists pivoting and a freely pivoting configuration when disconnected from the restraining member to reduce the width of the row unit when pivoted in an upward direction about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An agricultural planting apparatus including a chassis; and a row unit carried by the chassis. The row unit includes a unit body carried by the chassis; a metering device carried by the unit body; at least one furrowing disc carried by the unit body; a biasing element carried by the unit body that is selected from the group consisting of an extension spring, a compression spring, and a cylinder; and a pair of pinch wheels carried by the unit body behind the at least one furrowing disc and including an axle assembly pivotally movable relative to said unit body and connected to said biasing element. The axle assembly is configured to readily connect to any of the group members of the biasing element.

Abstract: A planter includes a chassis and a row unit carried by the chassis. The row unit includes a unit body carried by the chassis; a metering device carried by the unit body; at least one furrowing disc carried by the unit body; at least one pressing wheel carried by the unit body behind the furrowing disc(s); a travel arm carried by and pivotally movable relative to the unit body that defines a travel path; at least one closing disc positioned behind the furrowing disc(s) and in front of the pressing wheel(s) and pivotally movable along the travel path by the travel arm; and a stop having a stop portion placed in the travel path that limits a vertical travel of the closing disc(s) and at least one adjustment feature formed thereon that allows the stop portion to be held in at least two different locations in the travel path.

Abstract: An adjustable scraper structure is attached to a press wheel arm and suspends an adjustable scraper above the press wheel for removing mud buildup above the treads on the tire. The scraper is rotatably adjustable about the rotational axis of the press wheel and the blade pitch is rotatably adjustable about an axis parallel to and removed from the press wheel axis.

Abstract: A planting apparatus includes a chassis and a row unit carried by the chassis. The row unit includes a unit body carried by the chassis; a metering device carried by the unit body; at least one furrowing disc carried by the unit body; at least one pressing wheel carried by the unit body behind the furrowing disc in a direction of travel; a travel arm carried by and pivotally movable relative to the unit body that defines a travel path; at least one closing disc positioned behind the at least one furrowing disc and in front of the at least one pressing wheel in the direction of travel and pivotally movable along the travel path by the travel arm; and a stop placed in the travel path of the travel arm that is configured to limit a vertical travel of the at least one closing disc.