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: The present invention relates to a reseeding device (1) configured for introducing grass seeds into an existing turf, comprising a rotatable shaft (2) which is provided with a number of blades (3) along its length which are at right angles to the shaft (2) and which are configured for cutting furrows into the turf and loosening and removing parts of the turf, a seed distributor (4) configured for spreading grass seeds at least in the furrows produced, in which the device (1) is configured, in use, to discharge the material loosened by the blades (3) over the shaft (2) and the seed distributor (4), along a direction (A) opposite to the direction of travel, so that the scattered grass seeds are at least partly covered by the loosened material. A reseeding device (1) of such design has the significant advantage that the loosened material does not form an impediment during reseeding.

Abstract: A fertilizer tube system for efficiently dispensing and placing fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. The fertilizer tube system generally includes a fertilizer tube having an input opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube, a tab attached to the fertilizer tube between the input opening and the output opening, a guard scraper attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the guard scraper is removably attachable within a slot of a planter shank.

Abstract: A fertilizer tube system for efficiently dispensing and placing fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. The fertilizer tube system generally includes a fertilizer tube having an input opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube, an upper connector attached to an upper portion of the fertilizer tube, a central connector attached to a central portion of the fertilizer tube and a lower connector attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube.

Abstract: A fertilizer tube system for efficiently dispensing and placing fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. The fertilizer tube system generally includes a fertilizer tube having an input opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube, a tab attached to the fertilizer tube between the input opening and the output opening and a guard scraper attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube. The guard scraper includes a mounting portion having a receiver channel adapted to be removably attachable to a mounting member of a planter shank of a planter implement, wherein the mounting member is comprised of an inverted T-shaped structure.

Abstract: A horticulture apparatus for preparing and seeding a strip of farmland with a tractor includes a front frame fixed with the tractor and including a horizontal tine support bar for holding a plurality of downwardly-projecting tines. The front frame includes a middle frame pivot mount and pivot angle adjustment mechanism. A middle frame is fixed with the middle frame pivot mount and is adapted to be raised or lowered. A longitudinal support bar is fixed with a drill planter roller assembly that includes two drill planter roller frames each supporting at least one adjustable drill planter roller. A U-shaped back frame has two forward arms each pivotally fixed with the middle frame and including a rear drill planter roller. A seed distributing mechanism for fixing with the tractor includes a hopper having an open top end and a bottom end that includes a seed distribution opening and a seed spreader.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).

Abstract: A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.

Abstract: An opener for mounting on a shank of an agricultural implement features a central body to be mounted on the shank, furrowing portions carried on the central body to form a seed bed as the central body is pulled through ground on the shank in a forward working direction, a seed delivery passage operable to deliver seed onto the seed bed from a seed outlet on a first side of the central body, and a fertilizer delivery passage operable to deliver fertilizer onto the seed bed from a second side of the central body. In use, the opener delivers the seed and the fertilizer onto the same seed bed on opposite sides of the central body. A rubber cover seals closed an upper end of the central body to prevent moisture from anhydrous ammonia tubes from dripping into the body, and is adaptable to accommodate seed tubes of different diameters.

Abstract: A seeding device for the patching of a lawn comprising a staff-like body having a proximal end, a distal end, walls defining an elongated cavity, such that the staff-like body can act as a tube for the holding and storing of grass seed and a lever. The proximal end terminates into a funnel-like open end covered with a cap by which the elongated cavity is filled with grass seed and capped to prevent the stored grass seed from pouring out of the staff-like body. The distal end is provided with a housing fixedly connected to the staff-like body.

Abstract: A method of distributing first and second products on a ground surface, including selecting a desired distribution pattern between a separate pattern; providing a drill having two sets of seeding units connected to a distribution system; configuring first and second sections of the distribution system according to the selected distribution pattern, each of the first and second sections being in communication with a single respective one of the sets of seeding units when the separate pattern is selected, each of the first and second sections being in communication with the two sets of seeding units when the mixed pattern is selected; receiving the first product in the first section and the second product in the second section; and distributing the first and second products through the seeding units according to the selected distribution pattern.

Abstract: A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a swing link, a ground engaging tool, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by compensating for changes in draft force caused by changes in terrain elevation. The swing link allows the cylinder to compensate for the forces applied to the ground engaging tool, thereby providing a substantially constant packing force to the soil beneath the packing wheel.

Abstract: A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a lost motion linkage, a hoe opener, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by adjusting assembly components to and compensating for changes in terrain elevation.

Abstract: A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly features a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a ground engaging tool, and an adjustable packer wheel assembly. The design provides improved seeding accuracy by providing a variable distance between the ground engaging tool and the packer wheel. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention allow for adjustment of the distance between the ground engaging tool and wheel elements.

Abstract: A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a lost motion linkage, a biasing member, a ground engaging tool, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by compensating for changes in draft force caused by changes in terrain elevation.

Abstract: Surface mined lands are reseeded by dispensing grass, forb and shrub seed from a seed drill with seed-dispensing boxes connected to plural dispensing tubes which drop seed on the earth's surface and wherein at least one seed box is operable to dispense cool season grass seed through conventional opener assemblies into furrows formed thereby. An English tine harrow drag is pulled behind the seed drill to cover and distribute seed to provide improved species diversity and desired shrub density on the seeded area. Fine seed shrubs are broadcast by the drill during traversal of the seeded area in a direction generally perpendicular to the first seeding operation. Companion crops of annual grain are seeded with native grass, forb and shrub seed and mowed prior to seedhead maturity to prevent reseeding and to provide cover and protection for native seedlings. Improved species diversity, shrub density and overall revegetation success is provided for semi-arid lands, in particular.

Abstract: A special cultivating machine, lawn care apparatus and process are provided to properly prepare, efficiently condition, and gently cultivate the soil, turf and lawn in a uniform manner without uprooting, ruining, or damaging existing healthy plants and grass and without substantial thatching. The special cultivating machine, lawn care apparatus and process attain excellent seed and soil contact for virtually all soil compositions, textures, and conditions, and accurately follow the contour of the ground soil, turf, or lawn, regardless of mounds, hills, valleys, irregularities, clumps, and other soil conditions. The cultivating machine and lawn care apparatus has spring biased, rearwardly facing, scratching arms (cultivation fingers) which are reciprocatingly driven by a crankshaft. The crankshaft is smoothly rotated by a chain and sprocket arrangement. Desirably, the crankshaft and scratching arms can be raised or lowered by a height adjustment assembly to vary the depth and angle of soil penetration.

Abstract: A machine for slicing and seeding a lawn includes a number of seed distributing discs which are arranged as a bank that is freely pivotable on a vertical axis, to automatically follow in grooves made by slicing blades mounted forwardly in the machine. Weight distribution, and the relationship between the axis of the bank of blades and the front wheels, contribute to the maneuverability and efficiency of operation of the machine.

Abstract: A foldable drill implement has a supply hopper mounted on a center frame section and a rearwardly mounted broadcast hopper extending onto wing frame sections. Various augers connect the supply hopper to the broadcast hopper and maintain a level of fill in the broadcast hopper. Recycling augers return accumulated excess material from outer ends of the broadcast hopper for redistribution to planter drills. Folding of the wing section relative to the center frame section utilizes swing plates and spacer plates to dampen oscillation of the wing sections. Controls regulate flow of material by sensing accumulated excess material and deactuating the augers.

Abstract: A mobile grass seed planter having mounted thereon a frontal line of spaced water nozzles, and behind each nozzle, in a second or back row, is a row of outlets through which seed is directed under air pressure. In operation, as the planter is moved over the earth, a plurality of parallel narrow grooves are cut into the earth by the pressurized water, and the seed is then blown into the grooves. The liquid and airblown seeds are supplied to the planter via hoses from pressurized sources, typically mounted on a truck, tractor, or trailer.

Abstract: A high ground clearance tractor during one pass through rows of a standing crop, such as corn, opens a small furrow for a second crop, such as beans, plants the second crop, sprays suitable chemicals on the new crop, and trims the tops of the existing or standing crop. A large energy savings is realized compared to using separate machines for the required operations. The machine is particularly useful in regions having a long growing season. Two rows of a second crop can be planted between each adjacent pair of rows of the existing crop.

Abstract: A cultivating machine includes a forward row of subsoil tools and a plurality of elongated cultivating rollers having support plates to which soil penetrating T-section bars or knife edged bars are attached. To the rear of the cultivating rollers, a trailing roller is mounted on the frame and adjusting arms to the roller can be interconnected with the frame to raise or lower same and thereby set the soil working levels of the subsoil. Each cultivating roller can have its soil penetrating depth controlled through pivot arm connections that move the roller through an arc centered on the pivot axes which extend transverse to the direction of machine travel. The machine frame has a coupling that is connectable to the lifting hitch of a tractor and tanks of liquid soil treating material are mounted on the tractor adjacent the coupling.

Abstract: A mobile spreader of the type drawn by a tractor includes a hopper mounted on a roller. The roller is provided with a jarring strip which imparts a jolt to the hopper on each revolution of the roller. This jolting action prevents bridging of the material in the hopper, knocking the hung-up material down into the lower portion of the hopper where an agitator and an impellor further stir up the material. The cooperative effect of the jarring strip, the agitator and the impellor is to provide a steady supply of material, even when moist material is being distributed. The rate of application of the material is controlled by a slidable apertured plate disposed across an opening in the bottom of the hopper. The spreader may be selectively provided with a rake, a floater plate, and a spiker. The spiker may be attached in front of the roller to open the turf to receive the material, or behind the roller to work the applied material into the turf. In addition, the spiker aerates the turf.

Abstract: A cultivator-material dispensing combination includes a soil-working member that rotates about a horizontal axis forwardly, relative to the direction of travel, to displace soil over the top of that member to a screening at the rear thereof. A seed dispensing hopper has conduits that are supported on a hood that overlies the member and extends to the rear thereof. Material is metered from the hopper through outlets at the conduits' lower rear sides. Drive to the hopper is via a one-way transmission that is driven by a rear roller only when the combination moves forwardly. A further roller can be positioned to the rear of the first mentioned roller and a fertilizer hopper feed also driven to dispense material to the worked soil.

Abstract: A trailer for towing behind a wide multi-row earth working farm implement coupled behind a farm tractor is provided and includes a wheeled frame, a large capacity liquid herbicide tank supported from the frame and centered in a front-to-rear extending direction relative to the supporting wheels of the frame, and a tongue portion projecting forwardly from the frame and including a low forward end portion removably coupled to a central frame portion of the associated multi-row earth working implement.

Abstract: A device in which a single elongate shaft serves to support a tined structure for the cultivation of ground, a hopper for holding a quantity of a particled material such as fertilizer or the like that will have a beneficial result when applied to the soil, and manually operated means that are longitudinally movable relative to the handle for intermittently causing a metered quantity of the particled material to be discharged from the hopper onto the ground, either concurrently with the cultivation of the ground, or prior to or after the cultivation.