Abstract: A system for controlling the depth of at least one closing wheel in an agricultural row unit for planting seeds in a furrow. The row unit includes a firming device that passes the seeds into the soil at the bottom of the furrow, and at least one closing wheel that is pressed into a side of the furrow to close the furrow over the seeds. A control system senses the depth of the closing wheels in the furrow relative to the depth of the firming device, and adjusts the downward pressure on the closing wheel, based on changes in the sensed depth of the closing wheel, to compensate for changes in the hardness of the soil. The up and down movement of the firming device can be adjusted independently of the movement of the closing wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for making holes in plastic along a ridge row has a frame with wheels spanning a ridge row, a furrow reference wheel centered in the frame adapted to roll on soil surface between two raised ridge rows, a first vertically translatable mechanism positioned at a distance to a first side of the furrow reference wheel to be directly over the ridge row adjacent the furrow reference wheel, the vertically translatable mechanism having a first electrically-heated hole punch element at a lower extremity, and a control system having a power supply, sensors and actuators for managing operation of the apparatus. As the apparatus is towed, the furrow reference wheel triggers signals to the control system to activate the vertically translatable mechanism at repeated intervals to descend and make holes in the plastic covering on the raised ridge row.

Abstract: A particulate metering system includes an air flow origin and a plurality of particulate accelerators. A single particulate source is in communication with the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of operated conveyances can be in operable communication with the single particulate source and one of the particulate accelerators. The system includes a confluence of the air flow and the particulate within the mixing area of each of the particulate accelerators. Each of a plurality of discharges can be associated with the particulate accelerators. The operated conveyances can operate at different rates. The system can include one or more gearboxes adapted to be inverted and controlled by a second drive system. The system and controls provide variable application rates of particulate across rows in a field.

Abstract: An includes a soil-sensing arrangement. The apparatus (1) includes a seed-delivery mechanism. The soil-sensing arrangement includes one or more soil-sensing elements. Each of the one or more soil-sensing elements senses one or more conditions of the soil. The one or more soil-sensing elements can take the form of one or more soil-sensing tines (19). In the method, material is delivered to a locally-optimised soil depth LOD. In the method, there is at least periodic sensing of one or more conditions of the soil, and at two or more depths at mutually differing proximities to the locally-optimised depth.

Abstract: A first source of an electromagnetic signal is configured to illuminate or radiate the evaluation channel through which a series of particular seeds pass. For example, the electromagnetic signal comprises a pulse with at a primary reference phase and primary reference magnitude. A first receiver of the electromagnetic signal comprises a detector to determine or identify a first seed-related characteristic (e.g., first seed characteristic) based on an observed primary phase and an observed primary magnitude. For instance, a seed treatment device is configured to treat or spray discharged particular seed with a seed treatment based on the estimated characteristic, or to reject non-conforming seeds that do not meet seed specifications.

Abstract: A rotary tillage, sowing, ditching and pressing compound operation machine includes a fertilization and sowing device, an intermediate rotary tillage and ditching device, a frame, a liftable ditcher, and a multi-stage press wheel device. The multi-stage press wheel device includes a front press wheel and a rear press wheel. The front press wheel includes a front press roller shaft, front press rollers, and connecting rods. The rear press wheel includes a connecting plate, a rear press roller shaft, and a rear press roller. A first end of the connecting plate is connected to the rear press roller shaft by a support, and the connecting plate is connected to the frame in a manner of a sliding pair. The rear press roller is mounted on the rear press roller shaft in a manner of a revolving pair, and the rear press roller is located behind the liftable ditcher.

Abstract: A method for controlling a material flow rate from a metering system of an agricultural system includes receiving at a controller, a weight of a material in a storage tank. The method also includes receiving, at the controller, a volume of the material in the storage tank. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a density of the material in the storage tank using the weight of the material in the storage tank and the volume of the material in the storage tank. The method further includes determining, via the controller, a calibration of the metering system based on the density of the material in the storage tank.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a row cleaning device of a seed-planting implement may include a row cleaning device configured to adjust a surface cleanliness of a portion of a field, at least one row sensor, and a controller. The at least one row sensor may generate data indicative of a first surface cleanliness parameter within a worked area of the field positioned aft of the row cleaning device and a second surface cleanliness parameter within an unworked area of the field, the unworked area being outside of the worked area. The controller may be configured to receive the data indicative of the first and second surface cleanliness parameters from the at least one row sensor, and to determine an efficiency of the row cleaning device based at least in part on the first and second surface cleanliness parameters.

Abstract: A metering unit for granular material, such as seed or fertilizer, is arranged to convey the granular material in adjustable quantities, where the metering unit includes a metering housing and a drivable metering wheel rotatably supported in the metering housing, where, for rotatably supporting the metering wheel, the metering unit includes a bearing housing and a metering cover which is movable to various positions. For reliably securing the bearing housing in position, the metering cover includes a nose-piece-like extension and the extension defines an abutment for the bearing housing.

Abstract: An agricultural seeder (10) for research plots includes a front gang (21) of planting units (22) and a rear gang (23) of planting units (24) spaced a distance behind the front gang. Metering systems (14) are provided for metering seed to the planting units (22, 24) of the front and rear gangs (21, 23). A tripping system (27) is used to start and stop the seed metering systems (14) and to change seed between plots while planting. A programmable logic controller (28) is programmed with the distance between the front and rear gangs (21, 23) and is used to delay the tripping of the metering system (26) for the rear gang (23) relative to the metering system (25) for the front gang (21) until the seeder (10) has traveled the distance (L) between the front and rear gangs (21, 23). The delayed tripping for the rear gang (23) keeps the planted rows and alleyways created by the front gang planting units (22) laterally aligned with those created by the rear gang planting units (24).

Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an agricultural implement for applying fertilizer beneath the surface of the soil. The implement has a main frame for connecting the agricultural implement to agricultural equipment. A swing arm is pivotally connected to the main frame. An adjustable actuator interconnects the swing arm to the main frame to control the movement of the swing arm with respect to the main frame. A pair of discs are mounted to the free end of the swing arm for rotation with respect to the swing arm. The discs are offset mounted with respect to one another and are angled outwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the implement. The discs form grooves for receipt of fertilizer. Fertilizer tubes are mounted to the swing arms adjacent the discs. The fertilizer tubes deposit fertilizer in the grooves formed by the discs.

Abstract: A system for dispensing low rate agricultural products, includes a syringe-based agricultural product metering system, at least one agricultural product tube, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to a source of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tube is operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.

Abstract: An illustrative modular smart implement for precision agriculture includes a chassis having a hydraulic system, a control system, and articulating tool arms that are adapted to releasably receive one of a tool attachment for working a crop and/or field, including precision planting, cultivating, thinning, spraying, harvesting, and/or data collection. A toolbar fixed to the chassis receives and supports the articulating tools arms. An alignment member and side shift actuator provide movement of a portion of the tool arms along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the toolbar, and a lift actuator provides movement along a vertical axis.

Abstract: A method including: recording a first image of a first field region; automatically treating a plant within the first region in-situ based on the first image; automatically verifying the plant treatment with a second image of the first region; and automatically treating a second region concurrently with treatment verification.

Abstract: A tool assembly for a planter row unit resides at the forward end of the row unit beneath the tool bar. The assembly includes a bracket assembly connected to the row unit, with a ground engaging tool removably mounted on the bracket assembly for movement between raised and lowered positions. A linear actuator controls the position of the tool. The tool may also include a depth control mechanism. Different tools can be interchanged on the bracket assembly.

Abstract: A mountable furrow closing assembly is integrated into a system for closing a furrow including a frame having a forward end and a rearward end and closing wheels. A method utilizing the system to operate an agricultural implement includes opening a furrow, planting a seed in the furrow, and closing the furrow with the system. The system may be assembled by removing existing closing wheels from a first location of a frame of an agricultural implement, operatively attaching the closing wheels at a second location of the frame, and operatively attaching the mountable furrow closing assembly at the first location of the frame.

Abstract: A system is configured for nozzle control. The system includes an overall system pressure valve, configured to adjust the pressure of an agricultural product within a boom. A master node is configured to receive an overall system flow rate measurement, an overall target flow rate, and an overall system pressure measurement, the master node configured to adjust the overall system pressure valve to control the pressure of the agricultural product. A plurality of smart nozzles are configured to dispense the agricultural product, the plurality of smart nozzles each associated with an electronic control unit (ECU) and one or more individual nozzle, the smart nozzle is configured to control a nozzle flow rate of the associated one or more individual nozzles.

Abstract: A first biasing element is positioned between an opening unit and a first frame for urging the opening unit downward. A lateral pivot combines the first biasing element to the first frame to allow for lateral movement in a horizontal plane of the opening unit. A first resilient device is positioned between the closing unit and the first frame to allow for lateral movement about a vertical axis of the closing unit and to urge the closing unit back to a neutral position. A second resilient device is positioned between the closing unit and the first frame to allow for vertical movement about a horizontal axis and to urge the closing unit back to a neutral position.

Abstract: A fluid application system includes a manifold defining an internal passageway for fluid flow therethrough and a plurality of nozzle assemblies connected in fluid communication with the internal passageway. Each nozzle assembly of the plurality of nozzle assemblies includes a body defining a fluid passage, an inlet connected to the manifold for receiving fluid flow into the fluid passage, and a spray outlet for discharging fluid from the fluid passage. Each nozzle assembly also includes an electrically actuated valve fluidly connected between the inlet and the spray outlet and configured to control fluid flow through the fluid passage. Each nozzle assembly further includes a pressure dampener connected in fluid communication with the fluid passage upstream of the electrically actuated valve. The pressure dampener is configured to dampen fluctuations in fluid pressure within the fluid passage.