Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a tank carried by the chassis, and at least one meter module coupled to the tank. The at least one meter module has at least one gate. A gate control link is coupled with the at least one gate of the at least one meter module. A control rod is carried by the chassis. A connector couples the control rod to the gate control link at a connection interface such that movement of the control rod controls an open state of the at least one gate of the at least one meter module. The connector has a frangible portion adjacent the connection interface; the control rod and the gate control link uncouples from one another upon a breaking force causing the frangible portion to break.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring fluid conduit connections of an agricultural machine may include a first fluid conduit having a first coupling device, a second fluid conduit having a second coupling device, and a third fluid conduit having a third coupling device. Each of the second and third coupling devices may, in turn, include an identification device. A controller of the system may be configured to receive an input from the identification device of one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit when the respective second coupling device or third coupling device is coupled to the first coupling device. Furthermore, the controller may be configured to identify the one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit as a connected fluid conduit based on the received input.

Abstract: A bale accumulator for a round baler including a frame configured for being located behind the bale chamber of the round baler and a plurality of bale holders configured for receiving and temporarily holding the bales. Each bale holder is pivotally and rotatably connected to the frame such that each bale holder is configured for rolling the bales by pivoting relative to the frame and realigning the bales by rotating relative to the frame.

Abstract: A disc opener unit for an agricultural implement has a down pressure adjustment device that automatically adjusts the amount of down pressure applied on a furrowing disc based on strain measurements taken by a strain gauge or load cell. The strain gauge, which may be mounted to an arm that is used to set the position of a depth setting gauge wheel, provides feedback to a processor that in turn controls the amount of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic cylinder to adjust the down force applied on the disc. The amount of down pressure is therefore adjusted in substantially real-time in response to changes in field conditions, which improves furrow depth consistency and reduces wear on the gauge wheel and its components.

Abstract: A distribution ramp system for a dry product applicator with a pneumatic conveyance system is provided which lifts product that drags along a bottom surface(s) of a delivery line's wall(s) back into a main central or primary airflow portion that carries the product downstream through the pneumatic conveyance system. The system may include a ramp that nests against a bottom wall of the delivery line with a narrow front and wide back so the ramp presents a gradual wedge facing toward the incoming upstream airflow entrained with particulate material of the product, urging particulate material dragging on the bottom wall to lift away from the bottom wall and toward reentry into the primary airflow portion.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a chassis and a shank carried by the chassis. The shank includes: a shank body configured to penetrate a soil top surface; a sensor attached to an outer surface of the shank body and defining a probing area; and a sensor shield carried by the shank body in front of the sensor, the sensor shield being configured to deflect oncoming soil flow away from the sensor without substantially disrupting soil flow into the probing area.

Abstract: A system for acquiring agricultural data includes a UAV with a controller and a sensing device is provided. In several embodiments, the controller is configured to receive data associated with a data collection point located within the field and control the operation of the UAV such that the UAV is flown over the field and lands in the field at the data collection point. The sensing device, in several embodiments, is configured to capture field condition data associated with the field while the UAV is maintained in a landed condition at the data collection point.

Abstract: A particulate material leveling system includes an agitating system disposed within a storage tank for a particulate material. The agitating system includes a drive system and a shaft coupled to the drive system. Further, the drive system drives the shaft to rotate about a central axis. The agitating system also includes a wrapped wire coupled to the shaft. The wrapped wire extends around the shaft along a helical path in an axial direction and a circumferential direction, and the wrapped wire moves the particulate material in the axial direction in response to rotation of the shaft in a first direction about the central axis.

Abstract: A first and second work vehicle may be configured to perform agricultural operations within a working area of a field. A controller may be configured to divide a plurality of swath lines extending between opposed ends of the working area into first and second work route segments, which are separated by a transition region positioned between the opposed ends and respectively assigned by the controller to the first and second work vehicles. The controller may instruct the work vehicles to perform the agricultural operations based on the respective first and second work route segments of the swath lines. For example, the instructions may include that the work vehicles transition between adjacent swath lines at the respective transition regions, that the work vehicles begin working simultaneously or sequentially, and/or that the work vehicles work one or more of the swath lines simultaneously for at least a period of time.

Abstract: An agricultural implement including a toolbar, a plurality of row units connected to the toolbar, and a pneumatic seeding system. The pneumatic seeding system includes at least one storage tank configured for storing the particulate matter, a plurality of fluid lines fluidly interconnecting the at least one storage tank with each row unit of the plurality of row units, a fan fluidly connected to the at least one storage tank and to the plurality of fluid lines, and at least one pinch valve fluidly coupled to at least one fluid line of the plurality of fluid lines for adjustably balancing a respective airstream within the at least one fluid line of the plurality of fluid lines.

Abstract: An agricultural metering device with a variable geometry meter roller is provided. The agricultural metering device includes a meter roller having a plurality of flutes. An aggregate cross sectional area of the flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller.

Abstract: A method of precision depth control for seed planting units of an agricultural implement. The agricultural implement can include a plurality of seed planting units, with each seed planting unit being configured to provide an individually adjustable depth setting and having a visual indicator associated therewith. The method can include receiving a selection of a seed planting unit of the plurality of seed planting units, visually indicating the selected seed planting unit with the visual indicator associated therewith, receiving depth adjustment data for the selected seed planting unit, and adjusting the depth of the selected seed planting unit based on the depth adjustment data.

Abstract: A disc-opener implement for use with an agricultural implement includes a disc configured to form a trench in a surface of a field and a scraper adjacent to the disc. The disc-opener implement also includes a knife that is configured to form a furrow next to or into a sidewall of the trench, wherein the knife comprises a leading edge, and a portion of the leading edge is aligned with a trailing edge of the scraper along a lateral axis of the disc-opener implement.

Abstract: An agricultural metering system includes a releasable bearing coupler configured to selectively couple a meter roller to a housing of the agricultural metering system. The releasable bearing coupler includes a shaft configured to be disposed through an opening in the housing and to engage a bearing, wherein the bearing is configured to be disposed within a recess of the meter roller to facilitate rotation of the meter roller about the shaft and to couple the meter roller to the housing via contact with the shaft. The releasable bearing coupler includes a locking segment configured to selectively interlock with a corresponding locking feature of the housing to secure the releasable bearing coupler to the housing.

Abstract: A method for reducing an overall transport profile of a multi-section tillage implement. The tillage implement may include a frame including a center frame section and at least one wing frame section. The tillage implement may include a plurality of ground-engaging tools pivotally mounted to the frame. The method may include pivoting each of the plurality of ground-engaging tools away from the ground surface from a ground-engaging position to a retracted position. The frame may be disposed at an initial height relative to the ground surface before pivoting. After pivoting, the frame may be lowered to a transport height relative to the ground surface. At least one wing frame section may be folded relative to the center frame section from an operating position to a transport position to reduce a width of the tillage implement in the widthwise direction.

Abstract: A method for acquiring agricultural data using a UAV is provided. In several embodiments, the method includes receiving data associated with a data collection point located within a field and controlling an operation of the UAV such that the UAV is flown over the field and lands in the field at the data collection point. In such an embodiment, the method includes capturing field condition data associated with the field using a sensing device supported by the UAV. The field condition data is captured by the sensing device while the UAV is maintained in a landed condition at the data collection point.

Abstract: A plenum of distributing a flow of air from an air source includes ports extending from a face element of a body. The ports are configured to direct the flow of air out of the plenum, and the ports are arranged on the face element in a first row having first length, a second row having a second length, and a third row having a third length. The first row is positioned proximate to the top element, the third row is positioned proximate to the bottom element, and the second row is positioned between the first row and the third row. In addition, the second length is greater than the first length and the third length, and a shape of the face element is configured to accommodate the first length of the first row, the second length of the second row, and the third length of the third row.

Abstract: A method, system and an apparatus minimize over-seeding and disruption of previously placed seed in an overlap area, when applying an agricultural product to a field with an agricultural product delivery arrangement having row units, by dispensing a predetermined first product amount equal to one hundred percent of a desired application to the field in a first pass through the entire field including the overlap area, and then dispensing a second product amount in a subsequent pass through the overlap area without raising row units out of the soil during the subsequent pass. The second product amount is determined as a function of a percentage the predetermined first product amount applied to the overlap area during the first pass that is disturbed by operative engagement of the row units with the soil during the subsequent pass over the overlap area.

Abstract: An agricultural product delivery system having a controller with a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions. The instructions may include instructions to determine a first time-to-target of a first metering section of an agricultural implement in a field, determine a second time-to-target of a second metering section of the agricultural implement in the field, control a first motor coupled to the first metering section to an ON state when the first time-to-target is less than or equal to a first delivery delay of the first metering section, and control a second motor coupled to the second metering section to the ON state when the second time-to-target is less than or equal to a second delivery delay of the second metering section.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an agricultural metering system includes a processor configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors positioned about the agricultural metering system. The processor is also configured to compare the sensor data to one or more thresholds to determine a condition of one or more drive units of the agricultural metering system. The processor is further configured to provide an output indicative of the condition of the one or more drive units of the agricultural metering system.