Abstract: A seed firming assembly and method for agricultural seeders includes a large diameter seed-firming wheel for firming seeds into soil at the bottom of a furrow. The seed-firming wheel is located immediately behind a furrow opener and a seed guide. The seed-firming wheel is rotatably supported by an attaching arm, which is pivotally attached to a planter subframe at a location behind the seed-firming wheel so as to push the seed-firming wheel in a forward direction during operation. The attaching arm has a forward portion on which the seed-firming wheel is rotatably supported, a rearward portion on which an extension spring is attached for imparting a downward force on the seed-firming wheel during operation, and a horizontal transverse axis of rotation located between the forward and rearward portions. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the downward force imparted on the seed-firming wheel by the spring.

Abstract: A seed firming assembly and method for agricultural seeders includes a large diameter seed-firming wheel for firming seeds into soil at the bottom of a furrow. The seed-firming wheel is located immediately behind a furrow opener and a seed guide. The seed-firming wheel is rotatably supported by an attaching arm, which is pivotally attached to a planter subframe at a location behind the seed-firming wheel so as to push the seed-firming wheel in a forward direction during operation. The attaching arm has a forward portion on which the seed-firming wheel is rotatably supported, a rearward portion on which an extension spring is attached for imparting a downward force on the seed-firming wheel during operation, and a horizontal transverse axis of rotation located between the forward and rearward portions. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the downward force imparted on the seed-firming wheel by the spring.

Abstract: A furrow closing wheel for an agricultural seeder has a center body portion and spokes extending radially outwardly from the body portion. The spokes each have a base attached to the body portion and a blunt tip located radially outwardly thereof. The blunt tip of each spoke has a circumferential length which is 1 to 6 times larger than a thickness of the blunt tip. The spokes each have a substantially constant thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5? from the base to the blunt tip, and are tapered such that a circumferential length of the base of each spoke is 1.5 to 5 times larger than the circumferential length of the blunt tip. The spokes are 0.8 to 1.8 inches long in a radial direction from the base to the blunt tip. A mounting system having a protective shroud is provided for mounting the furrow closing wheel to the seeder.

Abstract: A furrow closing wheel for an agricultural seeder has a center body portion and spokes extending radially outwardly from the body portion. The spokes each have a base attached to the body portion and a blunt tip located radially outwardly thereof. The blunt tip of each spoke has a circumferential length which is 1 to 6 times larger than a thickness of the blunt tip. The spokes each have a substantially constant thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5″ from the base to the blunt tip, and are tapered such that a circumferential length of the base of each spoke is 1.5 to 5 times larger than the circumferential length of the blunt tip. The spokes are 0.8 to 1.8 inches long in a radial direction from the base to the blunt tip. A mounting system having a protective shroud is provided for mounting the furrow closing wheel to the seeder.