Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products that includes a multiple low rate agricultural (MLRA) product application device configured to cooperate with a planting equipment monitor assembly positioned to sense a seed being discharged from high speed planting equipment. Each MLRA product application device comprises a common housing for a number of low rate agricultural product input assemblies.

Abstract: A system for dispensing crop input products from multiple meters per crop row, including: a) a georeferencing module configured to receive and process georeferenced location information; b) a prescriptive control module configured to receive the processed georeferenced location information from the georeferencing module and utilize the georeferenced location information to generate specific prescriptive rate information for individual meters in the field; and, c) a meter controller module operatively connected to the prescriptive control module. The meter controller module is configured to utilize the specific prescriptive rate information to individually control multiple meters per crop row, to simultaneously dispense crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field.

Abstract: A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed. A seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit having a seed metering system, operating at a high speed configured to dispense seed. The seed transport mechanism is configured to provide a seed release speed at which the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism, the seed release speed being varied in a manner proportional to the variation in the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling to optimize accurate placement of seed and chemical granule agricultural product at varying ground speeds of the seed planter row unit. In the various embodiments, the agricultural product is directed away from moving parts after the seed leaves the seed metering system of the seed planter row unit.

Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products, includes an agricultural product metering system, a number of agricultural product tubes, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to sources of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tubes are operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.

Abstract: A system for dispensing agricultural products includes: a master controller, sets of agricultural product containers, meter devices, and secondary controllers. The meter devices are operatively connected to the product containers and configured to dispense products from the containers to rows in a field wherein each of the sets of containers is associated with a respective row in the field. The secondary controllers actuate the meter devices. Each secondary controller receives command data from the master controller and controls the meter devices for dispensing in response to the command data. Agricultural product from each product container is dispensed in accordance with operator defined instructions to the master controller. The instructions are capable of being provided to the master controller during the planting allowing the dispensing of individual containers to be controlled.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. The apparatus includes a seed tube assembly for dispensing seed. A seed firmer assembly is operatively connected to the seed tube assembly. A seed firmer application tube assembly is mounted to the seed firmer assembly. The seed firmer application tube assembly has an outlet end for dispensing a carrier containing an agricultural product. A seed firmer brush is mounted to the outlet end of the seed firmer application tube assembly. The seed firmer brush is configured to contact the carrier containing the agricultural product during the dispensing thereof and brushing the carrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. In one embodiment, a spray nozzle is mounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the furrow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. In one embodiment, a spray nozzle is mounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the furrow. In one embodiment a seed cover assembly is operatively connected to a seed tube assembly. A seed cover application tube is mounted to the seed cover assembly. A seed cover brush is mounted to the outlet end of the seed cover application tube configured to contact the carrier containing the product during the dispensing thereof and brush the carrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly. In another embodiment, a seed firmer application tube assembly is utilized.

Abstract: A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed. A seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit having a seed metering system, operating at a high speed configured to dispense seed. The seed transport mechanism includes a conduit for introducing agricultural product with seed. The agricultural product is configured to be introduced with the seed after output from the seed metering system. A seed sensing device is operably connected to the seed transport mechanism and configured to sense a dispensation of the seed from the seed transport mechanism. The agricultural product conduit is configured to dispense agricultural products into the seed transport mechanism to provide dispensing of the agricultural products with the seed as the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism. The agricultural products comprise chemical granules.

Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products, includes an agricultural product metering system, a number of agricultural product tubes, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to sources of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tubes are operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. In one embodiment, a spray nozzle is mounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the furrow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. In one embodiment, a spray nozzle is mounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the furrow. In one embodiment a seed cover assembly is operatively connected to a seed tube assembly. A seed cover application tube is mounted to the seed cover assembly. A seed cover brush is mounted to the outlet end of the seed cover application tube configured to contact the carrier containing the product during the dispensing thereof and brush the carrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly. In another embodiment, a seed firmer application tube assembly is utilized.

Abstract: A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed includes a seed transport mechanism affixed to a seed planter row unit. A seed sensing device senses dispensation of the seed from the seed transport mechanism. An agricultural product conduit dispenses agricultural products into the seed transport mechanism to provide dispensing of the products with the seed as the seed and product exit the seed transport mechanism. A control interface electronic system dispenses a particular quantity of product with the seed in the seed transport mechanism. A pulsing valve dispenses products from the conduit when the seed sensing device senses the dispensation of the seed. A seed release speed is provided which is proportional to the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling and optimize accurate placement of seed and product at varying ground speeds of the row unit.

Abstract: A system for dispensing agricultural products includes: a master controller, sets of agricultural product containers, meter devices, and secondary controllers. The meter devices are operatively connected to the product containers and configured to dispense products from the containers to rows in a field wherein each of the sets of containers is associated with a respective row in the field. The secondary controllers actuate the meter devices. Each secondary controller receives command data from the master controller and controls the meter devices for dispensing in response to the command data. Agricultural product from each product container is dispensed in accordance with operator defined instructions to the master controller. The instructions are capable of being provided to the master controller during the planting allowing the dispensing of individual containers to be controlled.

Abstract: A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed includes a seed transport mechanism affixed to a seed planter row unit. A seed sensing device senses dispensation of the seed from the seed transport mechanism. An agricultural product conduit dispenses agricultural products into the seed transport mechanism to provide dispensing of the products with the seed as the seed and product exit the seed transport mechanism. A control interface electronic system dispenses a particular quantity of product with the seed in the seed transport mechanism. A pulsing valve dispenses products from the conduit when the seed sensing device senses the dispensation of the seed. A seed release speed is provided which is proportional to the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling and optimize accurate placement of seed and product at varying ground speeds of the row unit.

Abstract: A system for dispensing agricultural products includes: a master controller, sets of agricultural product containers, meter devices, and secondary controllers. The meter devices are operatively connected to the product containers and configured to dispense products from the containers to rows in a field wherein each of the sets of containers is associated with a respective row in the field. The secondary controllers actuate the meter devices. Each secondary controller receives command data from the master controller and controls the meter devices for dispensing in response to the command data. Agricultural product from each product container is dispensed in accordance with operator defined instructions to the master controller. The instructions are capable of being provided to the master controller during the planting allowing the dispensing of individual containers to be controlled.

Abstract: A system for dispensing crop input products from multiple meters per crop row, including: a) a georeferencing module configured to receive and process georeferenced location information; b) a prescriptive control module configured to receive the processed georeferenced location information from the georeferencing module and utilize the georeferenced location information to generate specific prescriptive rate information for individual meters in the field; and, c) a meter controller module operatively connected to the prescriptive control module. The meter controller module is configured to utilize the specific prescriptive rate information to individually control multiple meters per crop row, to simultaneously dispense crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. In one embodiment, a spray nozzle is mounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the furrow. In one embodiment a seed cover assembly is operatively connected to a seed tube assembly. A seed cover application tube is mounted to the seed cover assembly. A seed cover brush is mounted to the outlet end of the seed cover application tube configured to contact the carrier containing the product during the dispensing thereof and brush the carrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly. In another embodiment, a seed firmer application tube assembly is utilized.