Abstract: In one embodiment, a method implemented in an agricultural machine harvesting alfalfa plants, the method comprising: receiving, in real time, input corresponding to a plurality of sensed parameters corresponding to alfalfa plant height and cut alfalfa volume; associating the cut alfalfa volume to an alfalfa stem diameter; and automatically determining a feed quality value for the alfalfa plants based on the sensed alfalfa plant height and the alfalfa stem diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for evaluating agricultural material which comprises, in one embodiment, a housing having a passage in or through an interior of the housing with an inlet for receiving agricultural material and an outlet for outputting the agricultural material. The system further comprises a wall opening in a wall of the passage. An imaging device having a lens is located inward from a border of the imaging device. The imaging device is pivotally mounted for rotation with respect to a housing such that in a closed state the border of the imaging device rests on, engages or interlocks the wall opening of the housing, and in an open state the border exposes the wall opening and an interior of the housing.

Abstract: An air seeder distribution apparatus has a manifold and a plurality of delivery conduit connected to ports of the manifold. A supply conduit carries a product air stream and is connected the manifold interior. A port valve when open connects a delivery conduit to the manifold interior through the port and disconnects same when closed. A purging conduit connects the supply conduit, at a clean air location configured to receive from the supply conduit a clean air stream with no agricultural products entrained therein, to the delivery conduit such that the clean air stream has an open path from the supply conduit to the delivery conduit. When the port valve is open the clean air stream flows through the purging conduit at a low first flow rate, and when the port valve is closed the clean air stream flows through the purging conduit at a second significantly greater flow rate.

Abstract: A row unit of an agricultural planter includes a seed meter. The seed meter includes first and second disks within a seed meter housing. The first and second seed disks are positioned in the seed meter housing such that the disks rotate in the same rotation direction and include a common seed release point. A single drive member is operatively connected to both the first and second seed disks such that the drive member selectively rotates one or both of the first or second seed disks at a time. The seed disks may be angularly positioned and conical-shaped member with a central axis and comprising seed cells radially positioned about an outer portion and being substantially non-perpendicular to the central axis. An air pressure source also is included to adhere seed to the disks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool system for an agricultural ground cultivating machine having a base part which communicates, by means of a releasable connection, with a carrier element, in particular with a tine of the agricultural ground cultivating machine, wherein the base part comprises a cutter and, adjoining the cutter, at least one hard material element, and wherein the carrier element comprises, in its end region pointing in the operating direction, laterally arranged wing shares which are fitted with hard metal plates. In this case, it is provided that the edge of the wing share which is fitted with hard metal plates runs up to a lateral surface of the carrier element. The present invention additionally relates to an associated wing coulter. The tool system has reduced wear and tear and consequently extended changing intervals.

Abstract: A system for discharging residue from an agricultural combine to a ground surface. The system including a spreader operatively connected to a rear end of the agricultural combine. The spreader having one or more impellers each having an axis of rotation and a housing. The impellers are operatively connected to the housing for rotating therein. The housing has an inlet for receiving a flow of residue, an outlet configured about a lateral side of the housing for discharging the flow of residue, and one or more residue flow distributors each pivotably movable in a direction generally parallel with the axis of rotation. Each flow distributor is configured to guide the discharged flow of residue sidewardly away from the spreader to the ground surface. The rotation of the one or more impellers discharge a flow of residue received through the inlet out through the outlet.

Abstract: Land cultivating systems and methods utilizing high-pressure fluid jet cutting techniques are disclosed. An example system includes a mobile unit, a traveler arrangement operably coupled to the mobile unit to ride on the surface of stubble residues as the mobile unit moves across land to be cultivated, and a fluid jet cutting head supported by the traveler arrangement. The cutting head is configured to selectively discharge a high-pressure fluid jet to make a cut through the stubble residues and underlying soil as the mobile unit moves across the land. A soil opening device is provided to form a furrow in the ground in line with the cut made by the high-pressure fluid jet, and a liquid injector nozzle is provided to discharge fertilizer or other chemical(s) into the soil.

Abstract: A wear extender is presented for use with planters, air seeders and drills that utilize the engagement of a flexible wheel with a disc to scrape mud from the side of the disc. The wear extender is formed of an ultra-high molecular weight plastic that is compression molded. The wear extender is generally cylindrical in shape and when installed covers the interior edge of the tire. Installation of the wear extender extends the life of the tire and reduces the need to replace the tire. In addition, due to the more-rigid nature of the wear extender as compared to the more-flexible nature of the tire, the wear extender does a better job of scraping mud than the tire. As such, use of the wear extender reduces the number amount of downtime that occurs due to poor scraping and reduces the amount and cost of maintenance due to tire wear.

Abstract: A fluid application system includes a manifold defining an internal passageway, a plurality of nozzles connected in fluid communication with the internal passageway, a plurality of electrically actuated valves for controlling fluid flow through the plurality of nozzles, where each valve of the plurality of electrically actuated valves is connected in fluid communication between the internal passageway and a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles, and a pressure dampener connected to the manifold and configured to dampen fluctuations in fluid pressure within the internal passageway.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester including a chassis for power directional movement across a field with a row dividing assembly feeding a base cutter that severs sugar cane stalks for delivery to a feed system. A rotor assembly is provided between the base cutter and the feed assembly with the rotor assembly being powered for rotation about an axis at right angles to the flow of sugar cane stalks through the harvester. The rotor assembly includes a pair of cylinders powered by a hydraulic motor with the cylinders having axially extending ribs and radially extending fingers for moving sugar cane in a downstream direction. The rotor assembly is connected to the harvester chassis by a linkage and supported by an actuator which is controlled by a hydraulic system to maintain a uniform and preselected downward pressure on sugar cane stalks as they move in a downstream direction through the harvester.

Abstract: A mower provides a frame intended to be implemented on a tractor, or to form a structure of a trailer. The mower provides a plurality of cutting units (6), at least six, generally disposed side by side, each cutting unit (6) comprising at least one roller (44) intended to roll on the ground. The mower provides a lift assembly linking the cutting units (6) to the frame and configured for articulating the cutting units (6) between a mowing position and a non-mowing position. In the mowing position, the lift assembly is configured for pressing the cutting units (6) against the ground in order to distribute, at least partially, the mower's weight on the ground via the rollers (44) of the cutting units (6). The mower provides lateral articulated beams (10) linking the cutting units (6). The beams (10) are foldable inwardly and forwardly.

Abstract: A product distribution system includes a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper. The hopper is configured such that an air stream flowing into the pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits. The product distribution system further includes a container for storing product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly and a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system.

Abstract: An agricultural combine has a threshing drum and a matching concave, the threshing drum comprising multiple threshing slats having an outer surface segment which, when the drum is rotated with respect to the concave with crop material in the drum, beats and squeezes the crop material thereby releasing grain from residue in the crop material, wherein at least the outer surface segment is formed from a material having a Shore A hardness higher than 90 and lower than 95.

Abstract: An agricultural air seeding system, comprising: an agricultural planting implement including at least one section at least one secondary header removably attached to the at least one section, at least one attachment bar attached to the at least one section, and a plurality of application tools removably attached to the at least one attachment bar and fluidly coupled to the at least one secondary header; an agricultural air cart coupled to the agricultural planting implement; and a pneumatic distribution system fluidly coupled to the agricultural planting implement and the agricultural air cart, the pneumatic distribution system including a plurality of conduits capable of transporting agricultural product, at least one of the plurality of conduits including at least one flow obstruction such that a substantially equal air pressure is delivered to the plurality of application tools.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a header for picking up a swath from a ground surface. The header includes a first and a second distance sensor adapted to measure a sensor-to-target distance respectively along a first and second sensor axis. The first distance sensor is mounted at a first lateral end of the header, and the second distance sensor is mounted at a second lateral end of the header. The first and second distance sensors are positioned such that, when the forage harvester is placed on an even ground surface, the first sensor axis crosses the second sensor axis before reaching the even ground surface in front of the harvester.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a chassis, a flywheel carried by the chassis, and a driveline associated with the flywheel and couplable with a PTO of a traction unit. The baler is characterized by an auxiliary power system coupled with the driveline. The auxiliary power system is configured for receiving power from the driveline, storing the power, and utilizing the stored power to power at least one functional component onboard the baler.

Abstract: An agricultural baler is characterized by an APS coupled with a driveline and configured for receiving power from the driveline, storing the power, and transmitting the stored power back to the driveline. An electrical processing circuit which is coupled with the APS is operable to control operation of the APS to rotate the flywheel upon start up of the baler.

Abstract: A control system and method for adjusting a rotational speed of a header on an agricultural vehicle based on ground speed of the agricultural vehicle. The header may include a plurality of cutters rotatably actuated with a header actuator. The control system may have a processor that compares a ground speed of the agricultural vehicle with a threshold ground speed. If the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle is below the threshold ground speed, the processor may command the header actuator to rotate the cutters at a constant predetermined rotational speed. If the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle is above the threshold ground speed, the processor may command the header actuator to increase rotational speed of the cutters in proportion to the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle.

Abstract: An exemplary seed metering system for the distribution of various sizes of seeds comprises a seed meter and a metering disc. The metering disc has one or more pockets, and each pocket has at least two openings. The pockets are configured to receive at least two different seed types.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system including a hitch assembly configured to couple to a tow vehicle, a plurality of wing tool bars coupled transversely to the hitch assembly, and a plurality of wing frames pivotally coupled to the plurality of wing tool bars Each wing frame is configured to support a plurality of row units and is positioned forward of a respective wing tool bar. The agricultural implement system further includes an air cart support arm with a first and second end. The first end of the air cart support arm is pivotally coupled to the wing tool bar and the second end of the air cart support arm is configured to couple to an air cart and the air cart support arm is configured to drive the air cart in a rearward direction relative to the hitch assembly in response to rotation of the wing tool bar in the rearward direction.