Abstract: A liquid application apparatus for applying liquid to soil during a planting operation, having: a ground-engaging component mounted to a planter row unit, the planter row unit opening a planting trench, the planter row unit depositing seeds in the planting trench, the ground-engaging component disposed at least partially within the planting trench as the planter row unit traverses the field; a first liquid injection conduit mounted to the ground-engaging component and disposed to inject liquid into a first sidewall of the planting trench, and wherein the ground-engaging component is mounted in a housing via at least one of a height adjustment arm that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for height adjustment of the ground-engaging component, and a spring that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for vertical deflection of the ground-engaging component.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring conditions of soil in a field during performance of one or more agricultural operations in the field by an agricultural machine. The method includes receiving, by a monitor computing device of an agricultural machine, from an image capture device coupled to the agricultural machine, an image of soil in a field at a location in the field corresponding to performance of an agricultural operation by the agricultural machine in the field, and then also receiving, by the monitor computing device, from a sensor coupled to the agricultural machine, a soil property of the soil in the field included in the received image. The method further includes causing, by the monitor computing device, display of the received image of the soil together with the soil property of the soil included in the image, at a graphical display.

Abstract: A balance includes a central portion and a lever pivotably coupled to the central portion about a fulcrum centered along a length of the lever. The lever has opposing distal ends thereof. A display of the balance is positioned on a front surface of the central portion. The display is configured to change between a greater-than sign, an equals sign, and a less-than sign in correlation with different orientations of the lever such that the display is operable to show a symbolic relationship between respective loads positioned at the respective opposing distal ends of the lever.

Abstract: A system for measuring soil properties has at least one sensor coupled to a row unit of an agricultural implement and a camera coupled to the row unit of the agricultural implement. The at least one sensor is configured to measure at least one soil property of soil worked by the row unit and/or of soil in a trench opened by an opening assembly of the row unit. And, the camera is arranged, on the row unit, to capture images of the soil worked by the row unit and/or the trench opened by the opening assembly of the row unit.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: A system is provided for measuring soil properties. The system includes at least one sensor coupled to a row unit of an agricultural implement and a camera coupled to the row unit of the agricultural implement. The at least one sensor is configured to measure at least one soil property of soil worked by the row unit and/or of soil in a trench opened by an opening assembly of the row unit. And, the camera is arranged, on the row unit, to capture images of the soil worked by the row unit and/or the trench opened by the opening assembly of the row unit.

Abstract: A liquid application apparatus for applying liquid to soil during a planting operation, having: a ground-engaging component mounted to a planter row unit, the planter row unit opening a planting trench, the planter row unit depositing seeds in the planting trench, the ground-engaging component disposed at least partially within said planting trench as the planter row unit traverses the field; a first liquid injection conduit mounted to said ground-engaging component and disposed to inject liquid into a first sidewall of said planting trench, and wherein said ground-engaging component is mounted in a housing via at least one of a height adjustment arm that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for height adjustment of said ground-engaging component, and a spring that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for vertical deflection of said ground-engaging component.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties. An example control and monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units includes a reflectivity sensor, a camera, a processor, and a monitoring device. The reflectivity sensor generates a reflectivity signal related to reflectivity of soil worked by the row units. The camera captures images of a seed trench opened by an opening assembly of the row units. The camera is disposed on a shank extension forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row units. The processor is configured to calculate a statistical variation in the reflectivity signal and the monitoring device is configured to display one or more of the images captured by the camera and a representation of the statistical variation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seed firmer having a resilient portion and a firming portion that are molded together into a unitary part with each portion being a different material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seed firmer having a resilient portion and a firming portion that are molded together into a unitary part with each portion being a different material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seed firmer having a resilient portion and a firming portion that are molded together into a unitary part with each portion being a different material.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture, soil electrical conductivity and soil temperature during an agricultural input application. Embodiments include a soil reflectivity sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor mounted to a seed firmer for measuring moisture and temperature in a planting trench. A thermopile for measuring temperature via infrared radiation is described herein. In one example, the thermopile is disposed in a body and senses infrared radiation through an infrared transparent window. Aspects of any of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in or communicate with an agricultural intelligence computer system as described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition with improved scratch and/or abrasion resistance and methods of their manufacture. Compositions for injection moulding, extrusion, (co)extrusion and/or thermoforming are described. The composition comprises (a) an acrylic (co)polymer and (b) a fatty acid amide. At least 30 wt % of the acrylic (co)polymer residues are residues of an alkacrylic acid or ester monomer such as methyl methacrylate and 0 to 70 wt % are residues of one or more other vinyl comonomers. A process for the production of a composition comprising the steps of melt blending the fatty acid amide with the acrylic (co)polymer or adding the fatty acid amide to the monomer during production of the acrylic (co)polymer. Use of the composition may be in injection moulding, extrusion or co-extrusion. Co-extruded laminates comprising a cap layer of the composition are also described.

Abstract: A seed firmer and bracket combination for a planter row unit. The bracket includes a forward configured to mount to a frame member of the planter row unit. A rearward portion extends rearward of the seed tube or seed conveyor. The seed firmer includes a body having an upper portion, a tail portion, and a resilient flexible portion between the upper portion and the tail portion. The upper portion is releasably received in a vertical opening in the bracket such that the resilient flexible portion and tail portion extend downwardly and rearwardly from the bracket. The seed firmer is releasably restrained in the bracket preventing the seed firmer from moving upward, forward, rearward and downward until the upper portion of the seed firmer is disengaged from the bracket.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture, soil electrical conductivity and soil temperature. Embodiments include a soil reflectivity sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor for measuring moisture and temperature.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition with improved scratch and/or abrasion resistance and methods of their manufacture. Compositions for injection moulding, extrusion, (co)extrusion and/or thermoforming are described. The composition comprises (a) an acrylic (co)polymer and (b) a fatty acid amide. At least 30 wt % of the acrylic (co)polymer residues are residues of an alkacrylic acid or ester monomer such as methyl methacrylate and 0 to 70 wt % are residues of one or more other vinyl comonomers. A process for the production of a composition comprising the steps of melt blending the fatty acid amide with the acrylic (co)polymer or adding the fatty acid amide to the monomer during production of the acrylic (co)polymer. Use of the composition may be in injection moulding, extrusion or co-extrusion. Co-extruded laminates comprising a cap layer of the composition are also described.