Abstract: A tracking device for assisting in traceability of grain includes a plastic body, an RFID chip disposed within the plastic body, and a weight comprised of a ferromagnetic material disposed within the plastic body. A method provides for dispensing tracking devices into a stream of grain so as to associate identifying information with the stream of grain. A system includes a dispensing device configured to singulate and dispense tracking devices into a flow of grain.

Abstract: A system for performing agricultural operations includes a plurality of electronic modules for use on an agricultural machine, the plurality of electronic modules configured for controlling agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine, at least one shared data bus operatively connected to each of the plurality of electronic modules, wherein each of the plurality of electronic modules being configured to monitor the at least one shared data bus and determine an unused location for itself and claim the location, wherein the system uses the location of each of the plurality of electronic modules in controlling the agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine. A method provides for automatic assignment of a physical (or logical) address to each of a plurality of devices mounted on either a vehicle or implement used for an agricultural operation.

Abstract: A method for compensating for planter shut off delay in a planter includes automatically calculating by an intelligent control associated with the planter, a time delay look-ahead distance based on groundspeed of the planter and a time delay, and a total look-ahead distance based on the time delay look-ahead distance and a distance delay look ahead distance. The method further includes determining by the intelligent control if seeding should be off or on at a point in the field at the total look ahead distance, and sending a signal to a row shutoff device of the planter to control the seeding. A control system is also provided.

Abstract: A system for performing agricultural operations includes a plurality of electronic modules for use on an agricultural machine, the plurality of electronic modules configured for controlling agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine, at least one shared data bus operatively connected to each of the plurality of electronic modules, wherein each of the plurality of electronic modules being configured to monitor the at least one shared data bus and determine an unused location for itself and claim the location, wherein the system uses the location of each of the plurality of electronic modules in controlling the agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine. A method provides for automatic assignment of a physical (or logical) address to each of a plurality of devices mounted on either a vehicle or implement used for an agricultural operation.

Abstract: A tracking device for assisting in traceability of grain includes a plastic body, an RFID chip disposed within the plastic body, and a weight comprised of a ferromagnetic material disposed within the plastic body. A method provides for dispensing tracking devices into a stream of grain so as to associate identifying information with the stream of grain. A system includes a dispensing device configured to singulate and dispense tracking devices into a flow of grain.

Abstract: Control apparatus for a pneumatic seed meter having a seed disc that uses a pneumatic pressure differential to hold and release seed on a rotating disc. The control apparatus is controlled to disrupt the pressure differential in an area of the rotating disc to selectively disrupt planting of seed by the seed meter to, for example, reduce overlap planting.

Abstract: A control system for a seeder implement with a plurality of row units grouped into one or more sections, is provided. The control system includes an intelligent control, a plurality of down force sensors electrically connected to the intelligent control, each of the one or more sections having at least one down force sensor associated therewith. The system further includes a plurality of down force actuators electrically connected to the intelligent control, each of the row units associated with at least one of the plurality of down force actuators. The intelligent control is configured to determine whether each of the one or more sections is in a plant zone or a no plant zone and to control down force applied by the plurality of down force actuators differently when one or more of the plurality of sections is in a no plant zone.

Abstract: A method for compensating for planter shut off delay in a planter includes automatically calculating by an intelligent control associated with the planter, a time delay look-ahead distance based on groundspeed of the planter and a time delay, and a total look-ahead distance based on the time delay look-ahead distance and a distance delay look ahead distance. The method further includes determining by the intelligent control if seeding should be off or on at a point in the field at the total look ahead distance, and sending a signal to a row shutoff device of the planter to control the seeding. A control system is also provided.

Abstract: A pitch plow and a method of controlling an elevation of a cutting edge of a pitch plow having a frame and a shank that is pivotally mounted to the frame, with the shank defining a cutting edge includes a control system that controls an elevation of the cutting edge. The control system includes a hydraulic control between the shank and the frame to pivotally adjust the shank and an electronic control to control the hydraulic actuator. The electronic control includes a processor and first and second sensors. The processor produces an output that adjusts the hydraulic control in a manner that controls the elevation of the cutting edge. The first sensor may measure GNS location and provides a GNS location input to the processor. The second sensor may measure orientation of said shank and provides a shank orientation input to the processor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control apparatus for a planter implement having a drill shaft and at least one row unit including a seed meter. A clutch unit is mounted inside the row unit so that it is protected against contact and damage by crop debris and other material passing by the planting implement. An input of the clutch driven off of the drill shaft of the planting implement and an output of the clutch is operably connected to the seed meter so that operation of the clutch unit interrupts dispensing of seed by the seed meter. The clutch unit is controlled by an electrical control system to limit or prevent overlap of seed being planted by the planting implement.

Abstract: A method of predicting the number of passes a harvesting machine can complete within a field without unloading grain from a grain tank of the harvesting machine includes determining a reference pass, the reference pass having a reference pass amount of crop, an optional reference pass distance, and a reference pass spatial location. The method further includes determining an amount of crop in the grain tank of the harvesting machine. The method further includes calculating a number of predicted passes from a capacity of the grain tank of the harvesting machine, the amount of crop in the grain tank of the harvesting machine, and the reference pass amount of crop and displaying the number of predicted passes.

Abstract: A combine bin level monitor may include a yield monitor to determine how much grain has been added to the combine tank, a container weighing system (e.g. scales on a grain cart) that measures the amount of grain unloaded from the combine tank and wirelessly transfers the amount to the combine bin level monitoring system. The system further includes a software routine in the combine bin level monitoring system that calculates and displays the bin level by adding grain accumulated by the yield monitor and subtracting grain accumulated by the container weighing system from the last known amount of grain in the combine tank. The accumulated grain is the amount accumulated since the last time the amount of grain in the combine tank was known.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for creating a pass marker in a field. During planting, planting of seed is stopped and started on pass marker rows differently than on adjacent rows to create a visible offset to assist a harvester or applicator to find and drive down the right row to prevent skips and overlaps.

Abstract: Control apparatus for a pneumatic seed meter having a seed disc that uses a pneumatic pressure differential to hold and release seed on a rotating disc. The control apparatus is controlled to disrupt the pressure differential in an area of the rotating disc to selectively disrupt planting of seed by the seed meter to, for example, reduce overlap planting.

Abstract: A method is provided for updating a legend of a spatial display for use with graphical user interface of a field computer linked to one or more sensors for sensing data or information from a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation. The method provides a field computer with a graphical user interface, at least one sensor operatively linked to the field computer, and a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation and in operative communication with the at least one sensor for sensing data or information for display on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an instrument for measuring in relatively short periods of time concentrations of constituents in optically dense materials using the spectra near infrared radiation transmitted through thick samples of the material while the material is either stationary or flowing. The invention uses a broadband incandescent intensity stabilized light source combined with collimating optics to transmit a parallel beam of light through the material under test. The light transmitted through the material is then collected by a focusing lens and imaged onto a rectangular entrance slit of a special purpose spectrometer. This spectrometer has no moving parts and employs a fixed diffraction grating to physically spread the image of the entrance slit into a continuous range of wavelengths. A portion of the diffracted slit images covering the selected portion of the near infrared range is focused onto an array of individual rectangular photodiodes.