Abstract: System for determining seed orientation in a seed passageway comprises a first sensor array disposed at a first orientation with a seed passageway of a row unit. First sensor array includes a first plurality of sensors with each sensor to transmit light through the seed passageway and receive reflected light from seed to generate a reflectance signal. An optional second sensor array is disposed at a second orientation with the seed passageway of the row unit, the second sensor array includes a second plurality of sensors with each sensor to transmit light through seed passageway and receive reflected light from seed to generate a reflectance signal. A processor is configured to analyze reflectance signals from first sensor array and the optional second sensor array to determine attributes of the reflectance signals, and to determine in passageway seed orientation based on the determined attributes of the reflectance signals from the sensors.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure there is provided a system including nozzles disposed along an implement, a camera disposed on the implement to capture images of a spray from a nozzle of the nozzles over a time period and a processor to assign a rating to the images to account for the nozzle intermittently being off and not counting the nozzle as plugged. The processor to determine a running average for a condition of the nozzle using the assigned rating for the images.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (e.g., mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The preparation sub-system may comprise a slurry recirculation flow loop configured with devices to stir, measure, and adjust a water to solids ratio of the slurry.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for determining state data for agricultural parameters during agricultural applications and providing spatial state maps. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises obtaining as applied data of an agricultural implement as the agricultural implement passes through a field for an agricultural application. The computer implement method also includes processing the as applied data to calculate data for a parameter of the agricultural application and determining state data (e.g., quality indicator state) for each row unit based on the data for the parameter and at least one of default configuration settings or user configuration settings for the quality indicator state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a soil apparatus includes a soil engaging portion to engage with soil and a plurality of sensors disposed in the soil apparatus and having a pivotable axis within the soil apparatus. Each sensor is independently pivotable about the pivotable axis to independently position for sensing soil characteristics of soil.

Abstract: A downforce load sensor for a planter row unit includes a load sensing connector rod coupled with a depth selector of the planter row unit. The load sensing connector rod is disposed to receive a load applied by a stop member supported on the row unit frame, the stop member being in abutment with an abutment member of a gauge wheel arm of a furrow opening assembly of the planter row unit. The load sensing connector rod generating load signals corresponding to a downforce applied to the soil by the gauge wheels of the furrow opening system of the planter row unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment a first light plane is generated across the passageway by a first LED emitter array. A corresponding photodiode receiver array detects particles passing through a first number of light channels comprising the first light plane. In a second embodiment a second light plane is generated across the passageway at 90 degrees from the first light plane and longitudinally offset from the first light plane by a second LED emitter array. A corresponding photodiode receiver array detects particles passing through a second number of light channels comprising the second light plane. The second light plane is capable of identifying particles in a third dimension that may go undetected when passing through the first light plane. The raw output signals generated by respective photodiodes is normalized, analyzed and characterized to differentiate between particles passing through light planes as individual particles or groups of overlapping particles to be separately counted.

Abstract: A soil or plant analysis apparatus to perform low and high frequency measurements is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil analysis apparatus comprises a first sub-system to perform low frequency soil measurements and a second sub-system to perform high frequency soil measurements. The high frequency measurements of the second sub-system are at least 1.25 times the low frequency measurements of the first sub-system.

Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or other samples.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.

Abstract: A meter module for metering a product in communication with the meter module. The meter module includes a meter housing portion and a lower chamber portion, the meter housing portion having a top opening through which the product enters the meter housing portion. A metering mechanism is disposed in the meter housing portion and is rotatably driven by an electric motor about a longitudinal axis. As the metering mechanism rotates about the longitudinal axis, the metering mechanism meters the product into the lower chamber portion, the metered product exits the lower chamber portion through a bottom opening in the lower chamber portion. The lower chamber portion may include a flow sensor and/or internal structure to capture and weigh the metered product before exiting through the bottom.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit has a knife disposed ahead of the gauge wheel for delivering material to soil adjacent to a trench. In one example, an agricultural row unit includes a frame, a gauge wheel mounted to the frame, and a knife disposed ahead of the gauge wheel and comprising a material delivery conduit disposed on, through, or adjacent the knife.

Abstract: A method of transferring as applied data from one agricultural monitor to another agricultural monitor without using external software to convert the data. The method includes collecting as applied data as a first machine that is coupled with a first agricultural implement both traverse a field and perform an agricultural operation on a first region of the field. The method further includes storing the as applied data into a file of a first device of the first machine and embedding prescription data and field boundary data into the file of the first device.

Abstract: A row cleaner assembly includes an upper subframe mounted to an agricultural planter forward of the planter row unit and longitudinally aligned with the trench opening assembly. A lower subframe rotatably supports first and second row cleaner wheels. An intermediate subframe is pivotally connected at a forward end to the upper subframe and is pivotally connected at a rearward end to the lower subframe. A first and second linkages are pivotally connected at a forward end to the upper subframe and are pivotally connected at a rearward end to the lower subframe. An actuator system is capable of applying a downforce and an optional lift force to the lower subframe. The row cleaner assembly may include a gauge wheel supported by a rear strut subframe. The row cleaner assembly may include a depth selector to change the depth of penetration of the row cleaner wheels into the soil surface.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a row unit frame (202) coupled to a draw bar (204) by a height-adjustable mount, a set of opening discs (212) coupled to the row unit frame such that the opening discs are vertically fixed relative to the row unit frame, and a biasing member (210) configured to adjust a height of the row unit frame to maintain the opening discs in soil at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar. A method of planting may include determining a height of a draw bar relative to a surface of soil, and adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar to apply a force to push a seed trench opening assembly into the soil and form a trench therein. The height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar may be independent of the hardness of the soil.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an agricultural sprayer includes a spray nozzle, a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, and control circuitry. The spray nozzle is configured to generate a spray of a fluid, the pressure sensor is adjacent to the spray nozzle and is configured to measure a pressure of the fluid sprayed by the spray nozzle, and the flow rate sensor is adjacent to the spray nozzle and is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid sprayed by the spray nozzle. The control circuitry is configured to receive the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, receive the measured flow rate from the flow rate sensor, and cause a user interface to display the measured pressure and the measured flow rate. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of analyzing nutrient content in soil, the method comprising a) obtaining a soil sample, b) adding a liquid to the soil sample to form a soil slurry, c) flowing the soil slurry through a filter, whereby the filter is oriented such that the soil slurry flows downward through the filter at least partially under the effects of gravity, d) blending a reagent composition with the soil slurry to form a soil mixture, and e) measuring an absorbance of the soil mixture.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a product bin configured to store particulate material; a conveyor configured to draw the particulate material from the product bin; a distribution plate including a plurality of apertures; and a sectional control funnel box mounted on the distribution plate. The sectional control funnel box is configured to receive particulate material from the conveyor, and has a plurality of chutes extending therethrough and connecting the sectional control funnel box to the distribution plate. Distribution lines are configured to receive particulate material from a single aperture of the distribution plate and provide the particulate material to a distribution point of the distribution line. A system controller is configured to individually control a flow of the particulate material to each distribution line based on a location of the agricultural machine. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.