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: A coulter assembly for collecting soil samples from an agricultural field in one embodiment comprises an annular collection blade configured for penetrating soil to capture a sample, an annular cam ring configured for stationary mounting to a frame of an agricultural vehicle and comprising a cam track, a blade hub coupled to the blade for rotatably supporting the annular collection blade from the annular cam ring, and a movable sample collector mounted to the annular collection blade. The moveable sample collector is configured and operable for extracting a soil sample as the annular collection blade is rotated through the soil. The moveable sample collector in one embodiment comprises a piston mechanism including a cylinder and rod movably disposed therein which actuated by the annular cam ring to alternatingly open and close a collection end of the cylinder as the annular collection blade rotates through the soil.

Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit of an agricultural planter. The row unit includes a trench depth adjustment assembly configured to modify the furrow depth. In one embodiment, the depth adjustment assembly may include a gear box having one or more gears which engage with a gear rack. The gear box may be pivotally connected to a depth adjustment body supporting a rocker that adjusts upward travel of gauge wheel arms. In another embodiment, the depth adjustment assembly may include a depth adjustment arm having a screw receiver that cooperates with a driven screw that adjusts the position of the depth adjustment arm acting on the gauge wheels to adjust trench depth.

Abstract: A system for seed orientation includes a seed disk capable of rotation in operation and having at least one singulator to adjust an orientation of seed to a desired seed orientation for placement within a furrow during planting. A vision system in proximity to the seed disk determines seed orientation data for seed on the seed disk.

Abstract: An automated programmable processor-controlled system and related methods for packaging an agricultural sample such as soil which may be tested for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The packaging system includes a sample packaging apparatus which allows raw bulk sample material collected in the agricultural field to be expediently and conveniently containerized for processing and analysis. The apparatus may include a die block disposed between bulk material and sample collection chambers. A sample blade mechanism inserts a sample blade array through the bulk material chamber and die block. The sample blades extrude the sample material from the bulk material chamber through die slots in the die block, thereby forming plugs or blanks of the material collected in the sample collection chamber coupled to the sample container. A cleaning blade mechanism inserts a cleaning blade array through the die slots after the extrusion for removing residual soil or debris.

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 other samples.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and harvesters for adjusting settings of a harvester. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method includes capturing, with at least one image capture device that is located on the harvester, images of a field view of an unharvested region to be harvested, analyzing the captured images to determine crop information for a crop of a harvested region that is adjacent to the unharvested region, and adjusting settings or operating parameters of the harvester for the unharvested region based on the crop information for the crop of the harvested region.

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 agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.

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 coulter assembly for collecting soil samples from an agricultural field in one embodiment comprises an annular collection blade configured for penetrating soil to capture a sample, an annular cam ring configured for stationary mounting to a frame of an agricultural vehicle and comprising a cam track, a blade hub coupled to the blade for rotatably supporting the annular collection blade from the annular cam ring, and a movable sample collector mounted to the annular collection blade. The moveable sample collector is configured and operable for extracting a soil sample as the annular collection blade is rotated through the soil. The moveable sample collector in one embodiment comprises a piston mechanism including a cylinder and rod movably disposed therein which actuated by the annular cam ring to alternatingly open and close a collection end of the cylinder as the annular collection blade rotates through the soil.

Abstract: A rotary analysis apparatus and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a rotary machine operable to rotate or spin a removable disk-type analytical cartridge. The cartridge includes a plurality of fluidly isolated processing trains for processing multiple samples simultaneously. Each process train includes an extractant mixing chamber, slurry filtration chamber, supernatant collection chamber, and reagent mixing chamber in fluid communication. In one use, soil sample slurry is prepared and added to the extractant mixing chamber. The slurry is mixed with an extractant by rotating the cartridge to separate out an analyte from the mixture. A sediment filter in the filtration chamber deliquifies and traps soil particles to produce clear supernatant. A color changing reagent or fluorescent agent may be mixed with the collected supernatant for subsequent colorimetric, fluorescent, turbidimetric, or other type of analysis.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and harvesters for adjusting settings of a harvester. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method includes capturing, with at least one image capture device that is located on the harvester, images of a field view of an unharvested region to be harvested, analyzing the captured images to determine crop information for a crop of a harvested region that is adjacent to the unharvested region, and adjusting settings or operating parameters of the harvester for the unharvested region based on the crop information for the crop of the harvested region.

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 other 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 to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.

Abstract: A system may analyze agricultural materials. The system may include one or more inlets receiving the agricultural materials. The agricultural materials may be a slurry (e.g., soil slurry) including at least one solid and at least one liquid. The system may include a chamber configured to house the agricultural materials. The chamber may include a mixing device configured to mix the agricultural materials. The system may include a flow control device configured to stop the flow of the agricultural materials in a first state, or move the flow of the agricultural materials in a second state. The system may include an agricultural materials density device configured to determine the density of the agricultural materials when the flow of the agricultural materials is stopped in the first state and when the flow of the agricultural materials is moving in the second state.

Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.