Abstract: A sod scrap collection apparatus is disclosed that enables pickup and collection of scraps of sod that have been discarded on the ground. The apparatus is pulled by a tractor and includes a pickup head followed by a dump bed. A pickup head conveyor moves pickup teeth along and over the ground at a particular distance in order to scrape up sod scraps and discard them into the dump bed where they are collected. A dump bed conveyor of the dump bed, which runs in the opposite direction as the pickup head conveyor, moves parallel spaced sweeping bars along a top of the sod scraps residing in the dump bed at an upward angle from front to back, so that the dump bed fills with the sod scraps efficiently from front to back.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating dispensation of seeds, fertilizer or other items. The system comprises a hopper, at least first and second movable metering plates, and an agitator assembly. Movement of the first and second movable metering plates in first and second directions, respectively, that are opposite one another increases a size of a plurality of output holes defined by interleaved portions of the metering plates, whereas movement of the first and second movable metering plates in the second and first directions, respectively, decreases the size of the output holes. An adjustable control handle can be moved to simultaneously move the first and second movable metering plates to adjust the size of the output holes. Each agitator remains in alignment with a center of a respective output hole regardless of a decrease or increase in the size of the output holes, resulting in more efficient dispensation.

Abstract: A turf slicer includes a gang of six slicer wheels that “walk” through the turf in response to the forward motion of the turf slicer. In the meantime, the power takeoff from the tractor vertically oscillates the slicer wheels out of phase with one another, so that every sixth wheel is being thrust downwardly to bear most of the weight of the turf slicer as the other five wheels in the gang of six are either being withdrawn upwardly or moved downwardly and do not bear much weight, so that the weight of the turf slicer is concentrated on the downwardly moving slicer wheel that is approaching bottom dead center of its movement, thereby amplifying the effective weight of the turf slicer against the turf below.

Abstract: A frozen microwavable bakery product having an open grain structure including from about 40 to about 58% by weight of a cereal grain flour having high protein content. The bakery product has a yeast leavened bread dough matrix including from about 4 to about 8 weight percent of a blend of sweeteners including water activity reducing agents effective to bind water within the bakery product to reduce the amount of free moisture in the bread dough matrix and minimize sublimation of moisture in frozen storage. Preferred embodiments can contain an enrobed portion containing a food or foods. Methods of making the frozen microwavable bakery products are also disclosed including a step of freezing the products for frozen storage following proofing the products to a rise of about 30 to about 35% of the actual projected leavening capacity.

Abstract: A seeder (20) includes a seed hopper (22) that feeds seed by gravity to a seed dispenser (24). The seed feed wheels (38) of the seeder are mounted in a seed metering tube (30) so that rotation of the seed feed wheels meters the output of the seeds. The seed feed wheels can be formed in segments (50 and 60) so that by matching different segments, different sizes of seed receiving detents can be used for dispensing the seeds. An adjustment bracket (72) shifts the seed feed wheels so that different sizes of detents can register with the openings of the seed metering tube (30), thereby achieving the desired matching of sizes of detents with the sizes of the seeds.