Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus are provided for browsing maps of events of various types that occurred on a piece of land on various dates. A map is displayed on a map interface that allows a user to navigate to other maps using different types of navigation that are triggered by different types of user input. A single instance of a first type of user input triggers display of another map of the same event type as a currently displayed map. A single instance of a second type of user input triggers display of another map that is chronologically adjacent to the currently displayed map, regardless of event type. Alternately, the second type of user input triggers skipping maps of the same event type to navigate to a map of a different event type. The maps each include a graphical representation of a measurement at a given location.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus are provided for browsing maps of events of various types that occurred on a piece of land on various dates. A map is displayed on a map interface that allows a user to navigate to other maps using different types of navigation that are triggered by different types of user input. A single instance of a first type of user input triggers display of another map of the same event type as a currently displayed map. A single instance of a second type of user input triggers display of another map that is chronologically adjacent to the currently displayed map, regardless of event type. Alternately, the second type of user input triggers skipping maps of the same event type to navigate to a map of a different event type. The maps each include a graphical representation of a measurement at a given location.

Abstract: A standardized receiver for bulk materials containers such as seeds for the quick and efficient loading of seed into a planter with bulk handling capability. Delivery mechanism associated with the receiver is disposed to accept materials discharged from the container after it has been placed on the planter frame and to transport such materials to the opener rows. A manifold of the mechanism is fitted with output pipe fixtures for the discharge of the seed to individual rows via flexible hose. The inlet of the manifold is on the top surface of the structure and aligned with the slidegate opening of the shipping container. Air pressure is created within the manifold by a fan assembly. Airflow exiting the manifold carries seed through the pipe fittings, into the hoses and on to the planter rows. The receiver mounts to the planter frame above the mechanism. The receiver conforms to the general dimensions of the bottom of a shipping container.

Abstract: A standardized receiver for bulk materials containers such as seeds for the quick and efficient loading of seed into a planter with bulk handling capability. Delivery mechanism associated with the receiver is disposed to accept materials discharged from the container after it has been placed on the planter frame and to transport such materials to the opener rows. A manifold of the mechanism is fitted with output pipe fixtures for the discharge of the seed to individual rows via flexible hose. The inlet of the manifold is on the top surface of the structure and aligned with the slidegate opening of the shipping container. Air pressure is created within the manifold by a fan assembly. Airflow exiting the manifold carries seed through the pipe fittings, into the hoses and on to the planter rows. The receiver mounts to the planter frame above the mechanism. The receiver conforms to the general dimensions of the bottom of a shipping container.

Abstract: A method for establishing universal standards as a measure of a crop grower's skill and management uses crop yield and soil productivity values to determine real-time yield indices which are provided such as on a video display during crop harvesting. This allows a harvesting equipment operator to visually inspect the field at the time these measurements are made to observe specific conditions, i.e., weeds, insects, disease, drainage, fertility, etc., at any location in the field to identify opportunities to improve management and cultural practices for any given tract of land. By alerting the operator to the relationships between the various aforementioned conditions, as well as to changes in these relationships, to plant productivity, important information is made available, and may be stored for subsequent review and analysis, for improving crop yields.

Abstract: A method for establishing universal standards as a measure of a crop grower's skill and management uses crop yield and soil productivity values to determine real-time yield indices which are provided such as on a video display during crop harvesting. This allows a harvesting equipment operator to visually inspect the field at the time these measurements are made to observe specific conditions, i.e., weeds, insects, disease, drainage, fertility, etc., at any location in the field to identify opportunities to improve management and cultural practices for any given tract of land. By alerting the operator to the relationships between the various aforementioned conditions, as well as to changes in these relationships, to plant productivity, important information is made available, and may be stored for subsequent review and analysis, for improving crop yields.

Abstract: A stand-alone monitoring apparatus is provided for monitoring a plurality of selectable functions of an agricultural planter. The planter includes a plurality of seed sensors, each associated with a corresponding seed dispensing unit and generating a seed signal representative of the depositing of a seed by the associated seed dispensing unit. The monitoring apparatus includes memory for cumulatively storing population data. The population data includes a cumulative count of seeds dispensed by each dispensing unit, and a cumulative count of seeds dispensed by all the dispensing units. A microprocessor simultaneously receives seed signals from selected seed sensors, asynchronously accumulates and updates the cumulative counts associated with the selected seed sensors, and asynchronously stores the updated cumulative counts in the memory. The monitoring apparatus is intended to monitor signals from up to 16 seed sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus use in a vehicle used for multiple business purposes or for business and personal use allows one to record and display mileage for each type of use. Employing a plurality of selectable memory banks each dedicated to a designated business or personal activity, the apparatus allows a user to select one of the memory banks following an automatic audio reminder after engine start-up. If no memory bank is selected, the apparatus automatically defaults to a designated memory bank. Vehicle mileage is then stored in either the selected or the designated default memory bank. A control/display module allows for the display of present trip mileage or mileage accumulated over a given period for each memory bank. Each memory bank retains recorded mileage until reset and cleared. Calibration of the device's odometer is provided for by a mode selector which also permits the display of vehicle speed or distance traveled in miles or feet.

Abstract: A caddy with a guidance system for towing agricultural implements is provided for row crop farming. The caddy converts mounted agricultural implements to pull-type implements, allowing larger implements to be pulled by relatively small tractors. A guidance system automatically maintains the desired position of the implement and the caddy with respect to the crop rows. The frame assembly of the caddy includes a tongue assembly for attachment to a tractor. The tongue is pivotally connected to an axle which is rotatable about a vertical axis at the rear of the caddy. A three-point hitch is provided in association with the axle of the caddy for attachment to a mounted implement. The guidance system of the invention is provided as a sensor-activated hydraulic mechanism having at least one hydraulic cylinder to rotate the axle about the vertical axis to steer the caddy and provide the necessary correction to its path of travel.

Abstract: A crop spraying system adapted for attachment to an implement frame pulled by a traction vehicle employs a spray nozzle for each crop row in combination with a photo detector arrangement for sensing the presence of weeds or other unwanted plants extending above the crop height. Following detection of a weed in a crop row, a controller momentarily turns on a spray nozzle covering that row after a selected time interval depending upon traction vehicle speed and detector-spray nozzle spacing for applying a herbicide to the detected weed. Operating in the near infrared (IR) band, the crop spraying system allows for selected spraying of oversized, unwanted plants in the crop row in reducing herbicide usage, and thus cost, and minimizing the environmental impact of such chemicals. One embodiment employs an IR beam bending reflector arrangement to detect not only weeds extending above the crop height, but also weeds extending laterally beyond the crop row into the inter-row space.

Abstract: A guidance system for a tractor drawn farm implement for providing an indication to the operator of the tractor as to variance of the implement from a desired course includes a pair of horizontally extending feeler rods supported by a shaft and having free ends extending in a parallel spaced relation to sense the crop and rotate the shaft if the implement veers off course. A light sensitive photopotentiometer coupled to the shaft has its output voltage varied as a function of the angular position of the shaft. A signal processing circuit responds to variation in the voltage of the light sensitive photopotentiometer to drive the needle of an analog meter to indicate the direction and amount of deviation of the implement from the desired course, the meter being mounted on the tractor and within the line of sight of the operator.