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 applies signals to the electronic display which produces a map of the field including indicia of the characteristic at respective locations within the field. (For example, if the characteristic is grain moisture content, different colors can be used on the display to represent different moisture levels.

Abstract: A control system for controlling outputs associated with off-road vehicles is disclosed herein. The outputs are actuated by actuators in response to control signals generated by a control circuit. In a normal mode, the control circuit generates the control signals based upon command signals generated by operator-actuatable command devices, and applies the control signals to the actuators to control the outputs. In a record mode, the control circuit stores a sequence of commands in a memory circuit to record the sequential actuations of the command devices. Then, in a playback mode, the control circuit generates the control signals based upon the recorded command sequence instead of the command signals. Playback can be triggered manually by a playback switch, or automatically based upon the geo-graphic position of the off-road vehicle. The control system can record and playback more than one command sequence.

Abstract: A site-specific farming system which performs various functions while remaining relatively unaffected by spurious farming data is disclosed. The farming data may be received in real-time from location signal generation and sensing circuits, or may be received from a digital memory which stores the farming data. The farming data includes both valid and spurious farming data which are identified by integrity checking the data. Existing relationships which exist within the valid farming data are exploited to generate synthesized farming data used to replace the spurious farming data. The valid and synthesized farming data are used to perform a function of the farming system such as performing a statistical analysis of the farming data, generating an electronic display of the farming data, generating a prescription map, or generating variable rate application signals.

Abstract: A site-specific farming system for performing work on an agricultural field while the field is being scouted is disclosed herein. The system includes a vehicle such as a combine or tractor equipped with a tool for working the field such as a header or variable-rate applicator. A sensing circuit detects a site-specific characteristic of the field such as crop yield harvested from the field or fertilizer applied to the field. An input device is used to mark the positions of visible elements associated with the field. A location signal generation circuit generates signals relating to the locations at which the characteristic is sampled and to the positions of the visible elements. Characteristic data is correlated with the locations at which the characteristic was sampled, and scouting data representative of the visible elements is correlated with the positions of the visible elements. The correlated data is stored in a memory. The input device may include re-definable switches.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for analyzing statistical data for a region of a farming field defined by a boundary on a set of georeferenced agricultural maps of the field. Input data includes digital maps of the field which represent spatially-variable characteristics. The characteristics may represent soil properties, crop properties and farming inputs applied to the field. The characteristic data is georeferenced to specific field locations by longitude and latitude coordinates. An electronic display is used to display a visual map of the field together with a visual representation of a first characteristic of the field. An input device is used to draw a boundary around an area of the display, thereby defining a geographic area of the field. Analysis of a second characteristic of the field which correlates to the defined geographic area is then performed.

Abstract: A bander assembly for effecting a substantially even distribution of granular or particulate matter across a relatively wide band. The bander assembly includes a housing defining a throat section and a distributor section. The throat section has a series of baffles arranged toward one end thereof for agitating the granular material as it flows therepast. A series of deflectors are arranged in the distributor section for deflecting the granular material into a wide band having a substantially even or equal distribution thereacross. The present invention also relates to a method for effecting a substantially even or equal distribution of granular material from a bander assembly.

Abstract: An implement that includes a pair of furrow forming disks, a seed tube located between the disks for depositing seed in the furrow, a seed firming wheel rotatably supported between the disks for movement in the furrow generally adjacent the tube exit and a pair of pivotally mounted furrow closing and gauge wheels located generally adjacent the seed firming wheel. The elements of the implement are particularly constructed and arranged primarily to achieve accurate seed depth control.