Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the condition of seedbed within a field may include a plurality of ground-penetrating tools supported by an implement frame adjacent to its forward end. The system may also include a plurality of surface-finishing tools supported by the implement frame adjacent to its aft end. Moreover, the system may include a seedbed floor detection assembly coupled to the implement frame behind the plurality of ground-penetrating tools and in front of the plurality of surface-finishing tools. The seedbed floor detection assembly may include a seedbed tool configured to ride along the seedbed floor. Additionally, the seedbed detection assembly may include a seedbed floor sensor configured to detect a position of the seedbed tool relative to the implement frame, with such position being indicative of variations in a profile of the seedbed floor.

Abstract: In one aspect, a shank assembly for an agricultural implement may include a shank and a tillage point coupled to a distal end of the shank. The tillage point may include a body having first and second retention walls, with the retention walls being spaced apart such that a retention slot is defined directly between the retention walls. In addition, the first retention wall may define an inner cavity that extends from an inner surface of the first retention wall towards an opposed outer surface of the first retention wall. Moreover, the shank assembly may include a retention collar received within the inner cavity and a retention pin configured to be inserted through aligned openings of the tillage point and the shank, as well as though the retention collar, when the distal end of the shank is received within the retention slot.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the condition of a seedbed within a field may include an implement having a plurality of ground-engaging tools supported by a frame, with the implement being configured to create or be traversed across a seedbed extending downwardly within the field from an outer seedbed surface to a seedbed floor. The system may also include an auxiliary support arm coupled to a portion of the frame at or adjacent to the aft end of the frame and a seedbed surface detection assembly coupled to the auxiliary support arm such that the seedbed surface detection assembly is located behind the ground-engaging tools relative to a forward travel direction of the implement. The seedbed surface detection assembly may be configured to detect variations in a profile of the outer seedbed surface as the implement is moved in the forward travel direction.

Abstract: A knife for creating berms in agricultural fields for strip-till farming is improved by adding wings on opposing sides of the knife edge that are configured to fracture and raise soil in a wider path for building a berm behind the knife. The wings can be swept back, angled downward from front to back, and angled downward from inside to outside, for better loosening compacted soil below the surface and creating improved berms rearward of the knife. The knife edge can be replaceable by removal of a single pin. If a difficult object is encountered, such as large rocks or tree roots, the knife can swing reward with respect to a supporting shank to minimize damage to the knife. Upon swinging reward, an agricultural product delivery tube rearward of the knife for depositing agricultural product into the berm can swing forward to minimize crimping of the delivery tube.

Abstract: An auxiliary tool assembly for an agricultural implement is configured to support a finishing tool(s) at a location at or adjacent to the aft end of the implement. The auxiliary tool assembly includes a support arm extending lengthwise between a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of the support arm being pivotally coupled to a portion of the implement at or adjacent to its aft end so that the tool assembly is pivotable relative to the implement between a work position and a transport position. In addition, the finishing tool(s) is configured to be coupled to or otherwise supported relative to the ground by the support arm at a location between its proximal and distal ends. Moreover, the auxiliary tool assembly includes one or more surface-engaging wheels coupled to the distal end of the support arm.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the condition of a seedbed within a field may include an implement having a plurality of ground-engaging tools supported by the frame, with the implement being configured to create or be traversed across a seedbed extending downwardly within the field from an outer seedbed surface to a seedbed floor. The system may also include an auxiliary support arm coupled to a portion of the frame at or adjacent to the aft end of the frame and a seedbed floor detection assembly coupled to the auxiliary support arm such that the seedbed floor detection assembly is located behind the ground-engaging tools relative to a forward travel direction of the implement. The seedbed floor detection assembly may be configured to detect variations in a profile of the seedbed floor as the implement is moved in the forward travel direction.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method, for enhancing resolution during remotely controlled adjustment of a fore/aft trim angle of a frame of a towable tillage implement, utilize a fore/aft trim angle adjustment arrangement operatively attached between a hitch and the frame of the implement for tilting the frame at a desired trim angle along a fore/aft axis of the frame. An adjustable-length fore/aft trim linkage is operatively connected between the frame and the hitch for adjusting and maintaining the trim angle. A linear actuator is operatively attached to the trim angle linkage for remotely controlling the length of the trim angle adjustment linkage to thereby adjust the trim angle as a function of a stroke of the actuator. The fore/aft trim linkage provides an adjustment in its length that is proportionally less than the stroke of the actuator, to thereby provide enhanced resolution for remote control of the trim angle.

Abstract: In one aspect, an auxiliary tool assembly for an agricultural implement may be configured to support a finishing tool(s) at a location at or adjacent to the aft end of the implement. The auxiliary tool assembly may include a support arm extending lengthwise between a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of the support arm being pivotally coupled to a portion of the implement at or adjacent to its aft end so that the tool assembly is pivotable relative to the implement between a work position and a transport position. In addition, the finishing tool(s) may be configured to be coupled to or otherwise supported relative to the ground by the support arm at a location between its proximal and distal ends. Moreover, the auxiliary tool assembly may include one or more surface-engaging wheels coupled to the distal end of the support arm.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement including a carriage frame assembly and pull hitch towed by a tractor and forward and aft secondary frames supported by the carriage frame assembly. The forward and aft secondary frames mount gangs of disk blades for tilling the soil. The secondary frames establish a plane and the aft secondary frame is connected to the carriage frame assembly at a greater distance from the plane than the forward secondary frame so that the depth of penetration of the disk blades is uniform during field operation. The tillage implement has outboard wing sections pivotally connected to the secondary frames and annular shims are provided to establish the wing sections and secondary frames in common plane during field operation, the annular shim being rotatable about central axis to present a common surface to the implements irrespective of the orientation of the shims.

Abstract: A method for reducing material accumulation relative to ground-engaging tools of a tillage implement may include monitoring, with a computing device, an accumulation parameter as a tillage operation is being performed, wherein the accumulation parameter provides an indication of material accumulation relative to a plurality of ground-engaging tools of the tillage implement. The method may also include comparing, with the computing device, the accumulation parameter to a material accumulation threshold, wherein the material accumulation threshold is indicative of a given degree of material accumulation relative to the plurality ground-engaging tools.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a seedbed within a field may include an implement having a plurality of ground-engaging tools supported by the frame, with the implement being configured to create or be traversed across a seedbed extending downwardly within the field from an outer seedbed surface to a seedbed floor. The system may also include an auxiliary support arm coupled to a portion of the frame at or adjacent to the aft end of the frame. In addition, the system may include a seedbed floor detection assembly coupled to the auxiliary support arm that is configured to detect variations in a profile of the seedbed floor. Moreover, the system may include a seedbed surface detection assembly coupled to the auxiliary support arm that is configured to detect variations in a profile of the outer seedbed surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, a shank assembly for an agricultural implement may include a shank and a biasing element configured to exert a biasing force on the shank. The shank assembly may also include a reversible mounting plate defining a mounting aperture offset from a centerline of the reversible mounting plate such that a position of a second mounting location of the biasing element relative to a first mounting location of the biasing element differs depending on whether the reversible mounting plate is provided in a first orientation relative to the biasing element or a second orientation relative to the biasing element. The biasing element may exert a first biasing force on the shank when the reversible member is oriented in the first orientation and a second, different biasing force on the shank when the reversible member is oriented in the second orientation.

Abstract: A tillage implement includes at least one row unit having at least one shank assembly. The shank assembly includes a shank engaged at one end to the at least one row unit and at an opposing end to a tool. Planar members are positioned on a portion of each lateral side of the shank and the tool. The shank includes at least two mounting features and the tool includes one mounting feature. Each planar member has at least two matching mounting features for the shank and at least one matching mounting feature for the tool. A first connecting member engages at least one of the at least two matching mounting features, and a second connecting member also engages one of the at least two matching mounting features. One additional connecting member engages one mounting feature of the tool and one matching mounting feature of each planar member.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the displacement of a ground engaging tool of an agricultural implement. A controller of the system may be configured to monitor a magnitude of a displacement defined between a current position of a ground engaging tool of the implement and a predetermined ground engaging tool position. The controller may also be configured to initiate a first control action when it is determined that the magnitude of the displacement of the ground engaging tool exceeds a first threshold displacement value. Moreover, the controller may further be configured to initiate a second control action when it is determined that the magnitude of the displacement of the ground engaging tool exceeds a second threshold displacement value, with the second threshold displacement value corresponding to a greater displacement relative to the predetermined ground engaging tool position than the first displacement threshold value.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a floating hitch and a frame pivotally coupled to the floating hitch and having a front end and a back end. The agricultural implement further includes a plurality of main lift wheels coupled to the frame adjacent to the back end by a main adjustment mechanism, a pair of front wheels coupled to the main frame section adjacent to the front end thereof, and a pair of stabilizer wheels coupled to the frame by a stabilizer adjustment mechanism. The main adjustment mechanism is configured to control a vertical distance between the frame and the plurality of main lift wheels. The pair of front wheels are coupled to the main adjustment mechanism for vertical adjustment therewith. The stabilizer adjustment mechanism is configured to control a vertical distance between the pair of stabilizer wheels and the frame and is physically isolated from the main adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement for a towable agricultural implement utilizes an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired position of the stabilizer wheel, and/or a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, to automatically control a hydraulic positioning cylinder of the remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement to position and hold the stabilizer wheel at the desired position of the stabilizer wheel.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a chassis; an implement frame carried by the chassis; a shank connected to the implement frame, the shank including a shank point configured to break apart soil and a load sensor associated with the shank point which is configured to output shank load signals as the shank point advances through soil; an actuator carried by the chassis and configured to adjust a depth of the shank point; and a controller electrically coupled to the load sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to receive the shank load signals; generate a load profile from the received shank load signals; analyze the load profile to determine whether the shank point is in a soil compaction layer; and activate the actuator to adjust the depth of the shank point based on the analyzed load profile.

Abstract: A method for reducing material accumulation relative to ground-engaging tools of a tillage implement may include monitoring, with a computing device, an accumulation parameter as a tillage operation is being performed, wherein the accumulation parameter provides an indication of material accumulation relative to a plurality of ground-engaging tools of the tillage implement. The method may also include comparing, with the computing device, the accumulation parameter to a material accumulation threshold, wherein the material accumulation threshold is indicative of a given degree of material accumulation relative to the plurality ground-engaging tools.

Abstract: A suspension system for a row cleaner used with an agricultural row unit. A base is connectable with the agricultural row unit and a support is provided for journaling row cleaner sweeper blades. Links pivotally connect the base and the support for up and down movement of the sweeper blades towards the ground. A pair of coil springs have one end connected to the upper links and the other a free end. A series of holes in the base receive an adjustment pin to provide preselected levels of downward force towards the ground.

Abstract: In one aspect, a shank assembly for an agricultural implement may include a shank and a biasing element configured to exert a biasing force on the shank. The shank assembly may also include a reversible mounting plate defining a mounting aperture offset from a centerline of the reversible mounting plate such that a position of a second mounting location of the biasing element relative to a first mounting location of the biasing element differs depending on whether the reversible mounting plate is provided in a first orientation relative to the biasing element or a second orientation relative to the biasing element. The biasing element may exert a first biasing force on the shank when the reversible member is oriented in the first orientation and a second, different biasing force on the shank when the reversible member is oriented in the second orientation.