Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a row unit frame (202) coupled to a draw bar (204) by a height-adjustable mount, a set of opening discs (212) coupled to the row unit frame such that the opening discs are vertically fixed relative to the row unit frame, and a biasing member (210) configured to adjust a height of the row unit frame to maintain the opening discs in soil at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar. A method of planting may include determining a height of a draw bar relative to a surface of soil, and adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar to apply a force to push a seed trench opening assembly into the soil and form a trench therein. The height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar may be independent of the hardness of the soil.

Abstract: Systems, implements, and methods for seed orientation during planting operations of agricultural plants of agricultural include a system for seed orientation having a vision system positioned in proximity to a seed disk. The vision system determines seed orientation data for seed on the seed disk. A seed belt receives seed from the seed disk and the seed belt adjusts an orientation of the seed from the seed disk to a desired seed orientation with a furrow during planting.

Abstract: Systems, implements, and methods for seed orientation during planting operations of agricultural plants of agricultural fields include a seed firmer having a base support to be positioned in operation in proximity to a trench for planting seed in the trench, a vision system coupled to the base support in operation to determine seed orientation data for a first seed in a pre-orientation position, and an actuator coupled to the base support. The actuator adjusts an orientation of a second seed to a desired seed orientation within the trench if desired based on the pre-orientation data for the first seed in the pre-orientation position.

Abstract: Systems, implements, and methods for seed orientation during planting operations of agricultural plants of agricultural fields include a seed firmer having a base support to be positioned in operation in proximity to a trench for planting seed in the trench and a lower member integrated with the base support or coupled to the base support. The lower member includes a non-planar ground contacting lower surface to adjust an orientation of the seed to a desired seed orientation within the trench and to position the seed within the trench at a desired depth.

Abstract: A mini-hopper for an agricultural row unit that has a fill tube supplying material to a hopper. A backflow preventer is disposed in the fill tube or in a line to the inlet to prevent flow of material from the mini-hopper through the fill tube when the mini-hopper is in a transport position.

Abstract: A seed firmer and bracket combination for a planter row unit. The bracket includes a forward end configured to mount to a frame member of the planter row unit. The seed firmer includes a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a resiliently flexible central portion. The upper portion of the seed firmer body is releasably retained between a forward surface and a back surface of the rearward end of the bracket by a rearwardly extending upper arm and lower arms that respectively engage a top edge and a bottom edge of the back surface preventing the seed firmer body from moving vertically and horizontally relative to the bracket until the upper arm is disengaged from the top edge of the back surface.

Abstract: A closing wheel assembly is provided for a row unit agricultural planter. The planter is configured to open a trench in the soil and the closing wheel assembly is configured to close the trench.

Abstract: A trench closing sensor adapted to mount to an agricultural implement to detect whether a seed trench is sufficiently closed with soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. The trench closing sensor may also detect the amount of compaction of the soil over the seed within the seed trench. The trench closing sensor may be in the form of a seed firmer from which a drag wire extends. As the open seed trench and drag wire are covered with soil, instrumentation measures or detects whether the seed trench is being adequately closed with soil by measuring the amount of force required to pull the wire through the soil or by measuring the amount of strain, pulling force or tension in the wire or by measuring the amount of soil pressure acting on the wire. The trench closing sensor may include other sensors for detecting soil characteristics.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit of an agricultural planter. The row unit includes a trench depth adjustment assembly configured to modify the furrow depth. In one embodiment, the depth adjustment assembly may include a gear box having one or more gears which engage with a gear rack. The gear box may be pivotally connected to a depth adjustment body supporting a rocker that adjusts upward travel of gauge wheel arms. In another embodiment, the depth adjustment assembly may include a depth adjustment arm having a screw receiver that cooperates with a driven screw that adjusts the position of the depth adjustment arm acting on the gauge wheels to adjust trench depth.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a seed-planting implement, the system having: a furrow closing assembly including at least one ground engaging component configured to rotate relative to soil within a field as the seed-planting implement is moved across the field, the furrow closing assembly configured to close a furrow formed in the soil by the seed-planting implement; a sensor configured to capture data indicative of an operational parameter of the furrow closing assembly; and an implement-based controller supported on the seed-planting implement and being communicatively coupled to the sensor, the implement-based controller being configured to initiate control of a drive parameter of a work vehicle configured to tow the seed-planting implement based on sensor data received from the sensor in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement.

Abstract: A trench closing sensor adapted to mount to an agricultural implement to detect whether a seed trench is sufficiently closed with soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. The trench closing sensor may also detect the amount of compaction of the soil over the seed within the seed trench. The trench closing sensor may be in the form of a seed firmer from which a drag wire extends. As the open seed trench and drag wire are covered with soil, instrumentation measures or detects whether the seed trench is being adequately closed with soil by measuring the amount of force required to pull the wire through the soil or by measuring the amount of strain, pulling force or tension in the wire or by measuring the amount of soil pressure acting on the wire. The trench closing sensor may include other sensors for detecting soil characteristics.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system having: a row unit coupled to a tool bar of an agricultural implement; an opener system coupled to the row unit and configured to engage soil to form a trench; a soil condition sensor; a closing system, configured to close the trench created by the opener system, the closing system comprises: a first disk configured to engage the soil and close the trench; a second disk configured to engage the soil and close the trench; and a controller configured to couple to the soil condition sensor and control a position or orientation of the first disk or the second disk in response to feedback from the soil condition sensor.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system having: a row unit coupled to a tool bar of an agricultural implement; an opener system coupled to a chassis of the row unit and configured to engage soil to form a trench; a downforce system configured to apply a downforce to the row unit to adjust a contact force between the row unit and the soil; a soil condition sensor configured to detect a condition of the soil and/or an operational sensor configured to detect operation of the agricultural implement system; a closing system, configured to close the trench created by the opener system; and a controller coupled to the soil condition sensor and/or the operational sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control the downforce system and the closing system in response to feedback from the soil condition sensor and/or the operational sensor.

Abstract: A seed trench depth sensor is adapted to mount to an agricultural implement. The trench depth sensor comprises an elongate member which drags within the seed trench and a second part which detects the distance to the elongate member within the seed trench.

Abstract: A fluid control system for supplying fluid to multiple actuators associated with different implements disposed on an agricultural planter row unit. A first one of the multiple actuators is associated with a first implement disposed on the agricultural planter row unit. A second one of the multiple actuators is associated with a second implement disposed on the agricultural planter row unit. The fluid control system controls fluid flow from a fluid source to each of the first and second actuators. In one embodiment, the fluid control system includes an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a pressure sensor, wherein the inlet valve is in fluid communication with the fluid source and the pressure sensor is disposed to measure fluid pressure in a fluid line in fluid communication with the inlet valve and each of the first and second actuators.

Abstract: A row unit downforce system including: a downforce actuator in operational communication with the row unit and constructed and arranged to apply supplemental downforce to the row unit and opening disks; a monitoring system comprising at least one furrow depth sensor constructed and arranged to generate furrow depth values; and a control system module, wherein the control system module is constructed and arranged to generate actuator command signals in response to the furrow depth values.

Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.

Abstract: Described herein is an agricultural row unit that has a knife disposed ahead of the gauge wheel for delivering material to soil adjacent to a trench. In one example, an agricultural row unit includes a frame, a wheel mounted to the frame, and a knife disposed ahead of the wheel and comprising a material delivery conduit disposed on, through, or adjacent the knife.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit includes a gauge wheel and a soil-penetrating tool. A sensor is coupled to the soil penetrating tool and the gauge wheel and produces an output corresponding to changes detecting between the position of the gauge wheel and the soil penetrating tool A control system is coupled to an actuator configured to apply a downward pressure on the soil-penetrating tool, wherein the control system receives the output from the sensor for controlling the actuator and the downward pressure on the soil.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for closing a planting trench. Embodiments include a disc assembly for loosening soil adjacent to the planting trench. In some embodiments a closing wheel assembly pivots relative to a subframe of the row unit.