Abstract: A subsurface soil sampler constituted of a hollow tube having a pointed closure at its lower end for soil penetration and a handle at its upper end for manipulation of the sampler. A combined footrest and penetration limiter is detachably secured at a vertically selected position on the tube enabling application of the user's weight to soil penetration to a selected depth. The tube is provided with a lateral opening adjacent its lower end that is partially bounded by an outwardly offset lip for cutting and diverting a specimen of ambient soil into the tube on movement of the tube such as to advance the free edge of the lip into the soil. Species are disclosed with tangentially and vertically directed lips respectively operative to sample on turning and vertical movement of the tube. A ladle is provided for removing the specimen from the tube. One form of the ladle includes a valve element such that the ladle can be selectively positioned to close and open the lateral opening.

Abstract: An attachment arm pivotally mounted on a combine to project forwardly from below the sickle cutter for limited vertical swinging movement to accommodate ground surface irregularities, wherein the arm is detachably pivoted to an individual sickle guard unit by structure spaced from and independent of the detachable connection of the guard unit to the combine, whereby the sickle guard unit serves to couple the arm to the combine in addition to its customary function, and enables the arm to be pivotally secured to and removed from the combine without disturbing the connection of the guard unit to the combine.

Abstract: A hay loader employing an elongated support member carried by and extending horizontally between articulated supports positioned at the opposite ends of a wheeled cargo bed, each of the articulated supports including a primary arm having a fixed pivot at one end and having its other end pivoted to one end of a secondary arm, with the other end of the secondary arm being connected to the support member. Provision is made to move pivotally the primary arms in unison as is also done relative to the secondary arms. The longitudinal extent of the support member is provided with a plurality of units operable in unison selectively to engage and release hay.