Abstract: A new and unique X Mangave plant named ‘Kaleidoscope’ characterized by long arching succulent foliage with blue-green centers and variegated yellowish-green to yellowish-cream margins developing under ultra violet light grey-purple to cherry red speckling throughout and strong cherry-red tinting in the margin. The green flowers on tall stiff scapes are loaded with nectar are highly attractive to hummingbirds.

Abstract: A new cultivar of hybrid Coreopsis plant named, ‘URIGS01’, that is characterized by its inflorescences with ray florets that are dark orange-yellow in color with yellow margins, its relatively small leaves, its relatively small inflorescences, and its compact, densely branched plant habit.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Hilmooocosy’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong and healthy roots; dark green-colored leaves; strong flowering stems; numerous large inflorescences with dark pink-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Hilmooojoy’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong and healthy roots; dark green-colored leaves; strong flowering stems; numerous large inflorescences with orange-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A portulaca plant particularly distinguished by having white flowers with yellow-green eyes, long flower blooming period and a dense, compact, and mounding plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct Salvia plant was formed by controlled breeding followed by selection. Over a long blooming season attractive fuchsia colored blossoms with dark calyxes are formed. The growth habit is well-branched compact and bushy. The blossoms are borne on sturdy stems. Attractive green foliage is formed. The plant can be readily asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings. Hardiness to at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 7 is displayed. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes.

Abstract: A new and distinct Salvia plant was formed by controlled breeding followed by selection. Over a long blooming season attractive red blossoms are formed. The growth habit is compact and bushy. The blossoms are borne on sturdy stems. The plant can be readily asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings. Hardiness is displayed to at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 7. The plant is well suited for providing attractive colorful ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Sedum plant named ‘Wildfire’ characterized by its variegated foliage that emerges with a tri-color look of green, pink and yellow in the spring and turns bright shiny cherry red in color with bright orange-pink margins as it matures in full sun with color retention throughout the entire growing season, its heavy branching with branches from every leaf node along the stems producing a mounded groundcover-type plant habit with no open centers and that does not flop in the summer, and its large inflorescences that are pink in color and appear in late summer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetron assembly comprises a plurality of magnets and a yoke configured to hold the plurality of magnets in at least four independent linear arrays. The plurality of magnets is arranged in the yoke so as to form a pattern comprising an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion substantially surrounds the perimeter of the inner portion. The magnets used to form the outer portion have a first polarity and the magnets used to form the inner portion having a second polarity. The outer portion of the pattern comprises a pair of elongated sections that are substantially parallel to one another. The outer portion of the pattern comprises a pair of turnaround sections, wherein each turnaround section substantially spans respective ends of the pair of elongated sections and wherein each turnaround section comprises a plurality of magnets having the first polarity. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: The cooking appliance (1) having a control panel (2) is equipped with one or more gas flow (Q) regulating valves, wherein the rotary regulating plug (6) is provided with various peripheral through holes (16-19). The control knob (9) being interchangeable for fitting to the actuating shaft (7), is chosen from the two units available, one and the other permitting different angular limit positions of the regulating plug (6) for the supply of a constant minimum gas flow Qmin, adjusted each one for a different type of gas N gas or LP gas. The outlet conduit (5) of the valve is equipped with a further injector nozzle (21,23) for adjusting a constant gas flow Qmax to be fed into the conduit (25) of the correspondent burner, when the cooking appliance is supplied with a LP gas. A valve adapted to regulate the flow of both a natural gas and a liquefied petroleum gas.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus is provided in which occurrence of a moiré pattern can be prevented without largely reducing front luminance. A liquid crystal display apparatus 1 includes a surface light source 4, a liquid crystal display panel 2, and first and second prism sheets 5 and 6 for condensing light emitted from the surface light source 4 and guiding the light toward the liquid crystal display panel. The first and second prism sheets 5 and 6 are disposed such that prism array directions thereof are orthogonal to each other. When a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is defined as Pp [?m]; a prism array pitch of the first prism sheet 5 is defined as Px [?m]; and a prism array pitch of the second prism sheet 6 is defined as Py [?m], relationships of Px?Pp/(14?0.045 Pp) and Py?Pp/(11.5?0.032 Pp) are satisfied.

Abstract: In a wireless mobile communications system, a method of transmitting and receiving radio access information that allows a faster and an efficient way of establishing a radio connection between a terminal and a target base station while performing a handover for the terminal to a cell of the target base station. The network transmits in advance, the radio access information and the like, to the terminal so that the terminal can be connected with the target cell in a faster manner which minimizes the total time for the handover process.

Abstract: A row unit for an agricultural planter having features for releasably operably coupling a seed meter of the row unit to a seed deposition apparatus of the row unit such as a seed conveyor, seed tube or the like. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the seed deposition apparatus. Apparatus are provided for biasing the seed deposition apparatus into operative engagement with the seed meter. The row unit includes features such as latches for releasably operably coupling the row unit to crop input and vacuum supply lines. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the crop input and vacuum supply lines. Systems are provided for supplying vacuum and crop inputs to the seed meter via the releasably engageable apparatus.

Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.

Abstract: Seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods of planting seed may include a housing defining a chamber, a seed disc rotatably coupled to the housing and at least partially positioned within the chamber with the seed disc adapted to engage a seed, and a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the seed after the seed disengages the seed disc and before the seed exits the seed meter. The sensor may be coupled to a seed chute of the seed meter and may detect a wide variety of seed characteristics such as seed position within the seed chute, seed size, and seed shape. The seed characteristic may be used to adjust operation of the seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods. In some instances, the adjustment may be manual. In other instances, the adjustment may be automatic.

Abstract: A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a loading wheel at the upper opening to the housing engages seed on a metering disk to move seed into the housing. The metering disk and housing can be arranged in planes parallel to one another.

Abstract: A robotic mower area coverage system includes a load sensor on the robotic mower signaling load on a cutting blade motor, a boundary sensor on the robotic mower indicating the distance from the sensor to a boundary wire, a timer on the robotic mower indicating when the robotic mower last used a specified boundary coverage, and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower selecting the type of area coverage based on input from the load sensor, the boundary sensor and the timer, and commanding a pair of traction drive motors to drive the robotic mower using the selected type of area coverage.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine has a header designed as a front attachment for cutting and picking up crop and a driver assistance system for controlling the header. The driver assistance system has a memory for storing data and a computing unit for processing the data stored in the memory. The header together with the driver assistance system forms an automated header, in that a plurality of selectable harvesting-process strategies is stored in the memory and in order to implement a selected harvesting-process strategy or the selected harvesting-process strategies, the computing device autonomously determines at least one machine parameter, a header parameter and specifies this to the header.

Abstract: An improved knife assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester. The assembly includes a knife head, a knife back and a plurality of sickle sections fastened to the knife head and knife back. The sickle sections include first and second portions where a second portion of one knife section overlaps a first portion of an another sickle section when the knife sections are arranged in adjacent relationship. The overlapping areas of the adjacent knife sections include aligned though holes which shared fasteners. The resultant construction reduces the overall knife assembly mass thereby leading to increased cutting speeds and corresponding harvester ground speeds. Additionally, the time and labor associated with manufacture and maintenance is reduced while the assembly strength and force distribution capability is enhanced.

Abstract: A limb and branch trimming apparatus includes a frame having a support platform and an upstanding mast member; a cutting assembly having a plurality of cutting members, wherein the cutting members are rotatably connected at the mast member; and a power source for powering the cutting members independently from the vehicle's power source. The support platform of the limb and branch trimming apparatus is removably mountable to or near the top front portion of a vehicle. The apparatus is used for vertically cutting limbs, branches, and brush along a walkway, pathway, or trail where a tractor would typically be too large to navigate said pathway or trail.

Abstract: A mower deck side discharge chute mounting includes a wire form hinge having a first leg, a second leg that is collinear with the first leg, and an intermediate mounting portion attached directly to a multi-blade mower deck between the first leg and the second leg. A side discharge chute pivots on the wire form hinge and can be installed or removed from the wire form hinge only if the chute is in a raised position relative to the mower deck.

Abstract: An autonomous robot lawnmower includes a chassis, a drive supporting the chassis above a lawn and configured to maneuver the robot lawnmower about the lawn, and a motorized lawn cutting assembly including one or more blades. The robot lawnmower further includes a first blade guard movably mounted to a first lateral side of the chassis and extending from the chassis toward the lawn, and a second blade guard movably mounted to a second lateral side of the chassis and extending from the chassis toward the lawn.

Abstract: A method and control system are disclosed for monitoring operating modes of a harvester. A harvester may include one or more harvesting devices driven by one or more hydraulic circuits. A lower pressure limit and a current operating pressure may be determined for a hydraulic circuit of a harvesting device. The determined pressure limit and operating pressure may be compared, and a current operating mode for the harvester identified accordingly. The operating mode may include at least one of a waiting mode, a transport mode, a maneuvering mode, and a harvesting mode.

Abstract: A set of sensor inputs are received in an agricultural machine. The sensor inputs are indicative of sensed or measured variables. A probabilistic control system probabilistically infers values for another set of variables and generates a set of control signals based on the probabilistically inferred values.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; at least one ground engaging traction member held by the chassis; a cutter held by the chassis; a sensor held by the agricultural harvester so that the sensor is directed in front of the cutter and configured to emit and receive sound and/or radio waves and produce a plurality of output signals; and an electrical processing circuit coupled to the sensor. The electrical processing circuit is configured to produce a field map from the plurality of output signals and adjust an operating parameter of the agricultural harvester based on the field map.

Abstract: A transport vehicle arrangement includes a transport vehicle, a transport implement coupled with the transport vehicle, a sensor arrangement for establishing an angular orientation of the transport implement relative to the transport vehicle, a wireless receiver for receiving harvester information related at least to the speed and direction of an agricultural harvester vehicle, and an electrical processing circuit coupled with the sensor arrangement and the wireless receiver. The electrical processing circuit is configured for steering the transport vehicle arrangement in a reverse direction such that the transport implement is positioned at a desired position relative to an unloading conveyance of the agricultural harvester vehicle, based upon the sensed angular orientation of the transport implement and the harvester information.

Abstract: A cam reel for use on a harvesting header that can be configured in both operating and transport positions is provided. The reel comprises a plurality of finger-bearing reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each rotatably attached through the distal ends of radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft. A cam disc is attached to the frame and engages each reel bat by a cam follower, to provide rotational movement of the reel bats relative to the radial arms, during rotation of the shaft in the operating position. The cam has at least one operating position, and a transport position in which the engaged reel bats will be pivoted into transport mode that substantially reduces the risk of damage to the fingers.

Abstract: A swath roller apparatus is adapted to be attached to a swather, where the swather is operative to cut standing crop plants and lay cut plants in a swath as the swather moves along the ground in an operating travel direction. A drum is rotatably attached to an axle that is adapted to be movably attached to a rear portion of the swather such that the axle is oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and such that the drum moves up and down and rolls along a top of the swath exerting a downward anchoring force on the swath. A bias element is operative to exert a bias force on the axle, and a bias force control is operative to vary the bias force to vary the anchoring force.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis that is configured for threshing and separating grain from gathered crop material. The threshing and separating system includes: a rotor defining a longitudinal axis; a concave at least partially surrounding the rotor; a transition cone defining an infeed to the rotor; and a transition surface connecting the transition cone to the concave and having a conical portion defined about the longitudinal axis and a blended portion connected to the conical portion. The blended portion defines a first end connected to the conical portion and a second end distanced from the first end in a lateral direction. The blended portion defines a substantially conical shape about the longitudinal axis at the first end and approaches a substantially cylindrical shape about the longitudinal axis toward the second end.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine such as a combine harvester has multiple working units for processing crop picked up from a field, a driver assistance system for the sensor-supported control of the working units, an environmental sensor system for detecting environmental information and spatial areas of applicability located in the environment of the harvesting machine. The driver assistance system has a memory for storing data and a computing unit for processing data, including the data stored in the memory. A functional system model for at least one part of the harvesting machine is stored in the memory. The computing unit functions as a characteristic control on the basis of the system model and autonomously determines machine parameters of at least one working unit and specifies these to the particular working unit.

Abstract: A combine harvester threshing drum spiked threshing bar includes a rigid, integral, unitary threshing fixture having a leading edge, a trailing end, an upstream face, a downstream face, a threshing side, including a trailing threshing face and a leading threshing face, a threshing drum emplacement side, and a threshing spike that extends outwardly from the leading threshing face.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing the collection of a windrowed crop are described. In an exemplary implementation, conditions data is accessed and used to estimate the moisture content of a windrowed crop. The estimated moisture content is used to create an optimal collection prescription for the operation of baling equipment to collect the crop. During the collection of the crop, the moisture content of the crop is measured and compared to the estimated moisture value. The system may then revise the optimal collection prescription based on the measured moisture value. This process can then be repeated until all of the windrowed crop is collected.

Abstract: A knotter table of a baler includes a plurality of tucker finger assemblies which each aid in tying together ends of a set of twine strands so as to tie a loop of twine about a bale formed in a baling chamber. Each tucker finger assembly includes a tucker finger defined by a plate pivotally mounted alongside a baling chamber needle slot for being pivoted horizontally between a standby position, wherein the tucker finger is entirely to one side of the needle slot, and a working position, wherein the tucker finger is pivoted across the needle slot. A stop arrangement is provided for being engaged by the tucker finger or by an operating linkage coupled to the tucker finger in the event that the tucker finger pivots a preselected distance beyond a desired working range so as to prevent the operating linkage from going over-center and causing linkage damage.

Abstract: A bale shredder apparatus may comprise a frame and a bale hopper mounted on the frame and defining an interior bale chamber for receiving a bale to be shredded with a bale feed opening. A bale shredding assembly may be in communication with the bale chamber through the opening to shred a bale in the bale chamber. A side wall of the hopper may be movable away from the primary side wall to permit removal of a bale from the bale chamber. A primary bale movement assembly may move a bale in a lateral direction toward the opening and a secondary bale movement assembly may move the bale in a direction substantially transverse to the lateral direction. A shredding rotor of the shredding assembly may include at least one brace including at least one leg extending outwardly from the outer surface of the rotor.

Abstract: The present application provides a handheld plant trimming apparatus. The handheld plant trimming apparatus, in one aspect, includes a wand having a longitudinal axis. The wand includes a wand inlet tube defining a void and an elongate slot, an outlet port having a through bore parallel to the wand longitudinal axis and an outlet bore where the outlet bore is in fluid communication with the void, and a handle. A cutting element is contained in the wand inlet tube and coupled to a motor to provide rotative force to the cutting element. A drum is in fluid communication with the wand and a vacuum pulls plant parts that are cut by the cutting element from the wand to the drum.

Abstract: A wreath and a method of producing a wreath; the wreath comprising a base, at least one permanent decoration coupled to the base to cover at least a portion of the base, and at least one removable decoration releasably coupled to a predetermined, unobstructed area of the base. The base and the removable decorations include a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the removable decorations to the base. The removable decorations further include labels that correspond to labels located on the base. The labels located on the base identify a suggested location for the removable decorations on the wreath, such that the wreath can be constructed independent of a user's artistic ability.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination apparatus for plant cultivation, including a unit configured to change light in any wavelength region of 300 nm or higher and 600 nm or lower (wavelengths of 452 nm to 474 nm, for example) to light in the wavelength region having dominantly a right-circularly polarized light component. The illumination apparatus of the present invention enables irradiation with light that is capable of giving a specific effect in plant cultivation.

Abstract: A vertical planter having a partitioned tray, a liner, and a sliding wire support grid, wherein the partitioned tray engages the sliding wire support grid to provide access to the partitioned tray.

Abstract: A plant cultivating container comprising a hollow cell (10) for holding a growing medium and a plant. The cell has side walls (11), a base (20) and an open top (12). Air vents (30) are disposed on the side walls of the container. The base is vertically-movable base with guide tabs (21) which are extendable though an air vent. When the vertically-movable base is pushed upwards to eject the cultivated plant, the vertical movement is guided by engagement of the tabs within the air vents resulting in uniform support at all sides of the base. This enables the removal of the growing medium and the plant cultivated within it, in a substantially compact unit resulting in minimized root damage and transplant shock to the cultivated plant. The air vents of the plant cultivating container further comprises retaining flaps (31) to aid in the pruning of the roots.

Abstract: A drip irrigation tube is provided with metering elements comprising respectively inlet regions, through which the water in the tube arrives in the metering elements, metering regions, formed by a labyrinth channel, which is delimited by two lateral walls, a cover and the walling of the drip irrigation tube and in which a pressure reduction of the water flowing through takes place, and outlet regions, through which the water emerges out of the drip irrigation tube via outlet openings made in the tube walling. The respective outlet region borders at least on one lateral wall, of the labyrinth channel; at least one region of this lateral wall is covered by an elastic membrane forming a portion of the cover, so that the lateral wall is able to be lifted off of the tube wall by means of the elastic membrane and forms a passage through which the water from the labyrinth channel arrives directly in the outlet region.

Abstract: Apparatus system and method of maintaining differential atmospheric control with respect to CO2 and O2 gases in a first, stem/leaf zone, Z-1, of a plant from a second, root zone, Z-2, of the plant. The atmosphere in a stem/leaf zone is controlled to be high in CO2 while the root zone Z-2 is isolated and provided with ambient or higher O2, at a pressure to prevent infiltration of CO2 from zone Z-1. The differential atmosphere in each zone can be selectively monitored and adjusted to provide improved growing conditions. The inventive plant environment control system and method is particularly useful in the field of hydroponic and aeroponic growing enclosures, wherein nutrients are periodically provided to the roots, and a high CO2 atmosphere, plus heat and light of appropriate growth-enhancing wavelengths, are provided to the leaves for forced, high-yield growth of selected plants indoors, regardless of the season.

Abstract: Embodiments of a hydroponic growing system include raft segments that can be reversibly attached together to form a raft. Rafts can have one or more plant holes to support a plant body, and one or more thermal chimneys to provide for gas transport from underneath the raft to the upper surface, to control temperature and humidity of the plant. Additional embodiments include wireless sensors that may or may not be part of a raft, and a growing environment control system that can receive data from one or more sensors of environmental conditions of a plant and in other embodiments, can detect discrepancies between the actual environmental conditions and desired conditions. In still further embodiments, a growing environment control system can automatically adjust an actuator to return an environmental condition to a desired state.

Abstract: Molecular markers associated with soybean reproductive stage, methods of their use, and compositions having one or more marker loci are provided. Methods comprise detecting at least one marker locus, detecting a haplotype, and/or detecting a marker profile. Methods may further comprise crossing a selected soybean plant with a second soybean plant. Isolated polynucleotides, primers, probes, kits, systems, etc., are also provided, as well as plants and seeds comprising one or more marker loci and having a preferred reproductive growth phenotype.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated 103B159, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line 103B159, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line 103B159 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line 103B159 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 103B159, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 103B159 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to the sorghum variety designated GSV616359. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the sorghum variety GSV616359. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the sorghum variety GSV616359 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing sorghum plants by crossing the sorghum variety GSV616359 with itself or another sorghum variety and plants produced by such methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to the sorghum variety designated GSV674558. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the sorghum variety GSV674558. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the sorghum variety GSV674558 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing sorghum plants by crossing the sorghum variety GSV674558 with itself or another sorghum variety and plants produced by such methods.

Abstract: A novel sweet corn hybrid plant, designated HMX5382YS is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of sweet corn hybrid HMX5382YS, to the plants and plant parts of sweet corn hybrid HMX5382YS, and to methods for producing a sweet corn plant by crossing the sweet corn hybrid HMX5382YS with itself or another sweet corn plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a sweet corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other sweet corn plants derived from the sweet corn hybrid plant HMX5382YS.

Abstract: A novel maize variety designated X05H233 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X05H233 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05H233 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05H233, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05H233. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05H233.