Abstract: An agricultural system which includes at least one agricultural implement with at least one application device for applying crop inputs, where the agricultural implement includes an agricultural harvester and/or an agricultural planter. A databus is connected to the at least one agricultural implement, and at least one input device is connected to the databus. At least one data storage device is connected to the databus, and an application controller is connected to the at least one application device. A processor is connected to the databus and the application controller, where the processor applies inputs to the application controller to adjust and/or optimize in real time a current operation of the application device(s) in order to efficiently and accurately apply the crop inputs.

Abstract: An agricultural system which includes at least one agricultural implement with at least one application device for applying crop inputs. A databus is connected to the at least one agricultural implement, and at least one input device is connected to the databus. At least one data storage device is connected to the databus, and an application controller is connected to the at least one application device. A processor is connected to the databus and the application controller, where the processor applies inputs to the application controller to adjust and/or optimize in real time a current operation of the application device(s) in order to efficiently and accurately apply the crop inputs.

Abstract: A seed meter includes an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area and a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate. The seed disk has a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side. The seed meter further includes a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second housing portion.

Abstract: A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seed plate rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seed plate at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seed plate.

Abstract: A planting unit is provided having a seed trench opener that forms a seed trench in a ground surface as the planting unit travels along the ground. A depth regulating member is provided that has a predetermined vertical position relative to the opener. The depth regulating member is operable to ride along the ground and thus predetermined the seed trench depth. A suspension assembly is provided to reduce the shock forces on the planting unit when obstacles are encountered. Furthermore, a suspension system is provided to the seed trench opener, in addition to the depth regulating member.

Abstract: A planting unit is provided having a seed trench opener that forms a seed trench in a ground surface as the planting unit travels along the ground. A depth regulating member is provided that has a predetermined vertical position relative to the opener. The depth regulating member is operable to ride along the ground and thus predetermined the seed trench depth. A suspension assembly is provided to reduce the shock forces on the planting unit when obstacles are encountered. Furthermore, a suspension system is provided to the seed trench opener, in addition to the depth regulating member.

Abstract: A central tire inflation system for an agricultural implement that is linked to a work vehicle for movement in a field. The central tire inflation system includes a database of soil conditions corresponding to location, an implement load sensor, a location determiner, a processor, and tire inflation controller. The processor determines the proper inflation of implement tires based on factors including the soil conditions and implement load.

Abstract: A seed planting assembly is provided having a plurality of planting units supported by a tool bar, each of which being operable to form a seed trench in soil, plant seeds in the seed trench, and close the seed trench. The seed trench defines a depth that is achieved via a pair of gauge wheels. A press wheel assembly packs the trench after it has been seeded and closed. The planting assembly links the forward gauge wheels with the rear press wheel assembly for reciprocal motion to reduce the trench depth displacement when either a gauge wheel or a press wheel travels over an obstacle.

Abstract: A seed planting assembly is provided having a plurality of planting units supported by a tool bar, each of which being operable to form a seed trench in soil, plant seeds in the seed trench, and close the seed trench. The seed trench defines a depth that is achieved via a pair of gauge wheels. A press wheel assembly packs the trench after it has been seeded and closed. The planting assembly links the forward gauge wheels with the rear press wheel assembly for reciprocal motion to reduce the trench depth displacement when either a gauge wheel or a press wheel travels over an obstacle.

Abstract: A seed planting assembly is provided having a plurality of planting units supported by a tool bar, each of which being operable to form a seed trench in soil, plant seeds in the seed trench, and close the seed trench. The seed trench defines a depth that is achieved via a pair of gauge wheels. A press wheel assembly packs the trench after it has been seeded and closed. The planting assembly links the forward gauge wheels with the rear press wheel assembly for reciprocal motion to reduce the trench depth displacement when either a gauge wheel or a press wheel travels over an obstacle.

Abstract: A planting unit is provided having a seed trench opener that forms a seed trench in a ground surface as the planting unit travels along the ground. A depth regulating member is provided that has a predetermined vertical position relative to the opener. The depth regulating member is operable to ride along the ground and thus predetermined the seed trench depth. A down pressure assembly is provided that maintains the depth regulating member in proper engagement with the ground.

Abstract: A yield monitor system for determining quantity of harvested sugar cane on a sugar cane harvesting vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a harvesting mechanism including a base cutter assembly for severing sugar cane from a field, a chopper assembly for chopping the severed sugar cane into billets, and an elevating assembly for elevating the billets during transport to a storage device, the elevating assembly having an elevator motor coupled to a pressurized hydraulic fluid source. The yield monitor system includes a sensing assembly and a control monitor. The sensing assembly generates a sensed signal representative of a quantity of harvested sugar cane being transported to the storage device. The control monitor receives the sensed signal and determines the quantity of harvested sugar cane therefrom.

Abstract: An agricultural system for acquiring grain samples from a field includes a combine, a grain sample acquiring apparatus for acquiring a grain sample at a plurality of locations within the field, a location signal generating circuit, and a data recorder which communicates with the location signal generating circuit and records the sample site locations.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) based soil tillage system is disclosed herein. The system includes an agricultural implement such as a plow having electro-hydraulically controlled plow elements which may include plow points, furrowers, ripple coulters, disks, sweeps, tines, etc. The system also includes a control system for monitoring the location of the implement relative to the field, and determining the desired tilling orientation between the plow element and the soil. More specifically, the control system determines the location of the implement based upon a GPS signal, compares the location to a location stored in a data file, and looks up the desired tilling orientation in the data file associated with the location. Based upon the tilling orientation selected from the data file, the control system applies appropriate signals to the electro-hydraulic controls which move the plow elements to the desired orientation.

Abstract: A field mapping system for an agricultural vehicle such as a combine, planter or cultivator is disclosed herein. The system includes a circuit for determining the position of the vehicle relative to a field, and a sensor for sensing a characteristic (e.g., grain moisture content, grain harvest yield, soil compaction, altitude, etc.) at locations of the vehicle within the field. The system also includes an electronic display controlled by a control circuit coupled to the position determining circuit and the sensor. The control circuit produces display signals applied to the electronic display to generate a map of an area of the field at a desired scale which includes indicia of the current vehicle location and of the characteristic data being gathered. The map is dynamically redrawn at the desired scale to keep the visual indicia displayed when the vehicle has moved such that the vehicle location no longer corresponds to the displayed area.

Abstract: A field mapping system for an agricultural vehicle such as a combine or tractor is disclosed herein. The system includes a location signal generator for determining the position of the vehicle relative to a field, a correction signal generator for receiving correction signals used to improve the accuracy of the position determination and a sensing circuit for detecting a characteristic (e.g., grain moisture, grain flow, soil compaction, soil moisture) at predetermined locations of the vehicle within the field. The system also includes an electronic display controlled by a control circuit coupled to the location signal generator, the correction signal generator, and the sensing circuit. The control circuit applies signals to the electronic display which produces a map of the field which includes indicia of the characteristic at respective locations within the field. For example, if the characteristic is grain moisture, different colors can be used on the display to represent different moisture levels.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which analyzes spatially-variable harvest data for one of the passes made by an agricultural harvesting vehicle through an agricultural field. The harvesting vehicle supports an implement for harvesting crop during each pass through the field. The apparatus includes a digital memory, an electronic display, a processor circuit and an operator-actuatable input device. The digital memory stores a geo-referenced map of the field including harvest data representative of at least one sensed parameter of the harvested crop and pass data representative of the plurality of passes of the harvesting vehicle through the field. The processor circuit is configured to read the geo-referenced map of the field from the memory and to generate a display signal therefrom which, when applied to the electronic display, generates visible indicia of at least a portion of the field and at least one sensed parameter of the harvested crop.

Abstract: A farming system which identifies the boundaries of agricultural fields and performs functions based upon whether a vehicle is located within a particular field is disclosed. The system includes a location signal generation circuit which receives positioning signals and generates location signals representative of the location of the vehicle. The system further includes a memory circuit which stores geo-referenced digital maps of the fields and may include boundary data or application maps for each field. The system further includes a control circuit which compares the location signals to the data stored in the memory circuit to determine when the vehicle is located in a particular field. In one embodiment, the control circuit selects a variable-rate application map for the particular field and generates variable-rate control signals from the map data which are applied to a variable-rate applicator.

Abstract: A farming system which identifies the boundaries of agricultural fields and performs functions based upon whether a vehicle is located within a particular field is disclosed. The system includes a location signal generation circuit which receives positioning signals and generates location signals representative of the location of the vehicle. The system further includes a memory circuit which stores geo-referenced digital maps of the fields and may include boundary data or application maps for each field. The system further includes a control circuit which compares the location signals to the data stored in the memory circuit to determine when the vehicle is located in a particular field. In one embodiment, the control circuit selects a variable-rate application map for the particular field and generates variable-rate control signals from the map data which are applied to a variable-rate applicator.

Abstract: A field mapping system for an agricultural vehicle such as a combine, planter or cultivator is disclosed herein. The system includes a circuit for determining the position of the vehicle relative to a field, and a sensor for sensing a characteristic (e.g., grain moisture content, grain harvest yield, soil compaction, altitude, etc.) at locations of the vehicle within the field. The system also includes an electronic display controlled by a control circuit coupled to the position determining circuit and the sensor. The control circuit produces display signals applied to the electronic display to generate a map of an area of the field at a desired scale which includes indicia of the current vehicle location and of the characteristic data being gathered. The map is dynamically redrawn at the desired scale to keep the visual indicia displayed when the vehicle has moved such that the vehicle location no longer corresponds to the displayed area.