Abstract: A mobile agricultural machine includes a row unit having a furrow opener mounted to the row unit and configured to engage a surface of ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels to open a furrow in the ground. A furrow closer is mounted to the row unit behind the furrow opener and configured to engage the surface of the ground to close the furrow. A furrow sensor system is mounted to the row unit and configured to sense characteristics relative to the furrow opened by the furrow opener and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristics. The mobile agricultural machine can further include a control system configured to determine a furrow quality metric corresponding to the furrow sensed by the furrow sensor system based on the sensor signal and generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile agricultural machine based on the furrow quality metric.

Abstract: Method for uncapping and emptying a sample tube, preferably containing a soil sample, using a machine to uncap and rotate the sample tube into an inverted position and thereafter eject the contents of the sample tube, the sample tube preferably having a top cap and a bottom cap. The ejection step may involve the use of a piston-plunger that pushes out the bottom push cap from the tube.

Abstract: A sample unloading system comprising: a sample staging rack comprising at least one inclined feed ramp configured for receiving an elongated sample tube configured for holding the sample, the sample tube including a first end cap and a second end cap; an unloading apparatus coupled to the staging rack, the unloading apparatus configured to receive the sample tube from the staging rack; and a transfer mechanism operable to transfer the sample tube from the staging rack to the unloading apparatus.

Abstract: A sample unloading system comprising: a sample staging rack comprising at least one inclined feed ramp configured for receiving an elongated sample tube configured for holding the sample, the sample tube including a first end cap and a second end cap; an unloading apparatus coupled to the staging rack, the unloading apparatus configured to receive the sample tube from the staging rack; and a transfer mechanism operable to transfer the sample tube from the staging rack to the unloading apparatus. Method for unloading a sample container.

Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system and method includes a light source (2002), a receiver (2003) and a sensor (2004). The light source directs light downwardly toward a trench previously opened in a soil surface. The receiver is disposed at an angle relative to the light source to receive reflected light. A sensor connected to the receiver senses a pattern of the reflected light. A monitoring system in communication with the sensor, generates a data frame containing triangulated line coordinates and intensity values of the reflected light indicative of a measured depth of the trench. The generated data frame may be associated with GPS coordinates for generating spatial maps and may be used to control operating parameters. The generated data frames may also identify relative soil moisture versus trench depth, or presence of dry topsoil or residue in the trench, or to identify seeds, seed spacing and seed depth.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural machine includes a row unit having a furrow opener mounted to the row unit and configured to engage a surface of ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels to open a furrow in the ground. A furrow closer is mounted to the row unit behind the furrow opener and configured to engage the surface of the ground to close the furrow. A furrow sensor system is mounted to the row unit and configured to sense characteristics relative to the furrow opened by the furrow opener and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristics. The mobile agricultural machine can further include a control system configured to determine a furrow quality metric corresponding to the furrow sensed by the furrow sensor system based on the sensor signal and generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile agricultural machine based on the furrow quality metric.

Abstract: A sample unloading system comprising: a wash-down enclosure defining an inner chamber; a rotatable carriage disposed in the inner chamber, the carriage configured to receive a sample tube containing an agricultural material and rotate the sample tube between a plurality of rotational positions; a tube gripper mechanism disposed on the carriage, the tube gripper mechanism configured to selectively engage the sample tube when positioned in the carriage; wherein the tube gripper mechanism retains the sample tube in the carriage when the sample tube is in an inverted position.

Abstract: A sample container for an agricultural sample such as soil comprises: an elongated tubular body defining a longitudinal axis, a top end, a bottom end, and an internal cavity extending between the ends configured for holding the sample; a first cap detachably coupled to the top end; and a second cap slideably disposed in the cavity, the second cap being movable in opposing directions between the top and bottom ends.

Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural machine includes a row unit having a furrow opener mounted to the row unit and configured to engage a surface of ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels to open a furrow in the ground. A furrow closer is mounted to the row unit behind the furrow opener and configured to engage the surface of the ground to close the furrow. A furrow sensor system is mounted to the row unit and configured to sense characteristics relative to the furrow opened by the furrow opener and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristics. The mobile agricultural machine can further include a control system configured to determine a furrow quality metric corresponding to the furrow sensed by the furrow sensor system based on the sensor signal and generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile agricultural machine based on the furrow quality metric.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

Abstract: A system for collecting and chemically analyzing water samples extracted from the soil to measure one or more analytes of interest such as soil nutrient levels of agricultural interest for increasing crop yield and quality in one use of the system. The system includes a sample collection probe (20) comprising a filter media (26) arranged to contact the soil when embedded therein and capture a water sample from the soil, and operably coupled to a sample processing sub-system (180) thereby collectively forming a sampling station (190). The sub-system (180) is configured to receive and analyze the water sample. A programmable probe controller (60) directs operation of the sample collection, processing, and chemical analysis in situ. A networked array (110) of sampling probes dispersed throughout the field may communicate wirelessly with at least one remote electronic device such as via the cloud computing (102). A modular version of a sampling probe (200) permits customized sampling at various soil depths.

Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system and method includes a light source (2002), a receiver (2003) and a sensor (2004). The light source directs light downwardly toward a trench previously opened in a soil surface. The receiver is disposed at an angle relative to the light source to receive reflected light. A sensor connected to the receiver senses a pattern of the reflected light. A monitoring system in communication with the sensor, generates a data frame containing triangulated line coordinates and intensity values of the reflected light indicative of a measured depth of the trench. The generated data frame may be associated with GPS coordinates for generating spatial maps and may be used to control operating parameters. The generated data frames may also identify relative soil moisture versus trench depth, or presence of dry topsoil or residue in the trench, or to identify seeds, seed spacing and seed depth.

Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.