Abstract: The invention provides a guidance system for guiding a towed agricultural implement such as seeders, planters, sprayers and the like, along a preferred path between rows of growing crop or standing stubble by sensing the rows of growing crop or standing stubble with a uniquely designed paddle-like sensor means which does not engage the ground.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing plugging of a no-till seeder with crop residue by guiding the furrow openers of the seeder between the standing stubble rows of the previous crop. A guidance system is provided comprising sensing means to sense the standing stubble rows from the previous crop and to send a steering signal in response to changes in the relative position of the seeder to the standing stubble rows; and adjusting means to adjust the travel path of the seeder in response to the steering signals. The sensing means can sense the location of the standing stubble rows by contact therewith or by sensing the furrow from which the standing stubble rows extend. The position of the seeder relative to the towing vehicle is adjusted in response to steering signals sent by the sensing means.

Abstract: An all wheel steer variable load carrying tractor vehicle which is particularly suited for towing crop input implements, the front section of which comprises a cab and engine the back section of which comprises several storage containers for carrying bulk crop inputs. The storage containers are releasably attached to the vehicle and can be changed based on the type of crop inputs applied and any implements towed by the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with low impact ground engaging means, such as tracks to increase maneuverability. The vehicle may also be equipped with a combination of high flotation tires or tracks to minimize soil compaction. A delivery system in combination with a control system coordinates the movement of the crop inputs from the vehicle to places located off the vehicle.

Abstract: A disc opener for no till or minimum till seeding and/or fertilizing operations, the opener having a frame adapted to move in a forward direction of travel, an opening disc for forming a furrow in soil when moved in the forward direction, the disc being rotatably mounted to the frame and inclined in the direction of travel to provide a leading and a trailing surface, means for dispensing seed and/or fertilizer into the furrow, a soil retaining wheel mounted to the frame and set to run along an undisturbed soil surface behind the trailing edge of the leading surface of the opening disc in substantially the same direction as the direction of travel, such that in use the soil retaining wheel replaces soil from the furrow formed by the opening disc and also controls the depth of the furrow.

Abstract: A shallow-toothed clearing disk pivotally supported from the upper end of the opener drawbar assembly. A four bar linkage is connected to the forward end of the drawbar by a bracket which includes at least one link and corresponding pivot structure located above the drawbar to increase trash clearance and reduce trash build-up. The shallow rounded gullets between pointed teeth provide good disk depth control and trash penetration while reducing soil penetration and soil disturbance. The gullets also hold and prevent sliding of trash away from the clearing influence of the angled disk. The disk effectively clears trash to the side of the opener opposite the gauge wheel to assure optimum depth gauging for the opener. The gear-type structure is capable of operating over a wide range of down pressures and loads while breaking any existing crust in the cleared path with little soil disturbance.

Abstract: A shank-mounted opener assembly connected to a seed distribution system is provided for both till and no-till operations. The opener assembly includes a spike member that is supported on the shank, a firming point, a seed sensor connected to the seed supply, a seed boot, a seed locking mechanism, and a multi media delivery tube assembly. The seed boot encloses the seed sensor and includes a pair of lateral side walls. The seed boot protects the seed sensor from moving soil and debris. The seed locking mechanism pushes the seed into the soil and forms a shallow layer of soil over the seed dispensed through the seed sensor. If desired, assistive media can be dispensed into the furrow at the same time as seeding. The assistive media are dispensed through the multi-media delivery tube assembly. The assistive media are not dispensed to the furrow until after the seed locking mechanism covers the seed with a shallow layer of soil.

Abstract: A combination seed and fertilizer opener having separate placement includes a first angled flat disk with a gauge wheel arrangement providing an initial furrow for a first material such as fertilizer. A second opener disk, smaller than the first and concave rather than flat, includes an edge that projects forwardly along the trailing side of the first disk to a forwardmost edge location adjacent the hub of the first disk. The hub of the concave disk is very closely adjacent the trailing edge of the large disk. A tube and boot assembly terminates within the concavity of the second disk near the rear periphery of the first disk. The concave disk forms a seed furrow to receive seed or second material from the tube and boot assembly. The front of the concave disk runs in undisturbed soil but is sufficiently close to the fertilizer furrow to press and cover the fertilizer. The second disk concavity also prevents excessive soil throw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a harrow is provided, and more particularly to a harrow implement with a terrain following frame, able to be pulled by a tractor. The improved harrow includes a main frame that supports at least a floating frame on which harrowing blades are attached. The harrow blades follow the contours of a field or bed of soil, resulting in greatly improved tilling when compared to conventional apparatus used for this purpose. The harrow specifically suits the needs of a reduced tillage farming operation. The harrow is wide, yet the floating frames follow irregular surface contours, significantly improving the potential range of topography that can be farmed efficiently. The harrow can include a clod diverter to move or deflect clods to the irrigation furrows, away from the planting rows. It can also be customized in the field to handle the individual field's requirements, including tilling depth and seed row separation distances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved agricultural seeding; especially useful in no-till direct seeding. In the illustrated embodiment an inclined furrow is cut with a rotating disk that is inclined with respect to the vertical and the horizontal; the furrow has a raised lip, and straw and the like stalks are cleaved during the cutting. Seed is inserted by known means, and then a packer wheel, preferentially inclined in vertical and horizontal directions opposite to those the disk is inclined, runs across the lip and closes the furrow. Advantages include substantially reduced energy required for the furrow cutting, less weight required on the furrowing disk, more even seeding depth, less hairpinning, less soil disturbance, and less weed seed burial.

Abstract: A seeding device principally for no-tillage seeding conditions comprises a drag arm carrying two disk blades and transmitting the necessary forces thereto to cut through crop residues at the ground surface and to open a furrow for seed placement in the soil. The smaller disk is oriented vertically, whereas the larger disk extends at a compound angle from a lower front contact point between the two disks which thus define a V-shaped opener. The larger disk is angled relative to both the direction of travel and to a vertical axis to cut through residues and the soil and to displace a volume of soil for forming a trench. The smaller disk retains soil on a side of the furrow to allow a tube to deliver seeds therein. The smaller blade can also cut residues at the point of contact between the two disks to avoid trash buildup thereat.

Abstract: An improved row cleaning apparatus to selectively clean away residue from conservation tilled fields without cultivation of the soil. When mounted on tractor-drawn implements, including planters, the cleaning action of the present invention improves depth control and planting speed of the planter unit while retaining the residue between crop rows for erosion control and yield enhancement. The row cleaner comprises a pair of toothed wheels rotatably operating in lateral opposition to one another and journalled for rotation each on an axis disposed obliquely to the path of travel of the apparatus. The wheels are mounted asymmetrically relative to each other, the teeth being curved downwardly and forwardly toward the path of movement to drive the wheels in rotation, thereby untangling and selectively clearing residue and other mulch from the path of the trailing planter unit.

Abstract: A no-till farming apparatus is provided for use with a planter unit which plants seeds as the planter unit is pulled along a predetermined path. The apparatus includes a hiller device coupled to the planter unit. The hiller device is configured to form an elevated ridge including a mixture of soil and a residue remaining from a previous crop in front of the planter unit so that the planter unit plants seeds a predetermined distance below a top surface of the elevated ridge formed by the hiller device. The apparatus also includes a residue cleaning implement located in front of the hiller device to clear at least a portion of the residue in front of the hiller device. In the illustrated embodiment, the residue cleaning implement is pivotably coupled to a support extending in front of the hiller device.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for manipulating and clearing crop residue or other debris from a zone of soil before tilling the zone of soil to form a seedbed. The apparatus may be attached to the tool bar of a farm implement and includes a pair of fingered wheels which are rotated by the ground and manipulate the crop residue as the apparatus moves along the ground. A rotating coulter blade is disposed behind and between the wheels, and the wheels pull the residue rearward and press it against the soil surface where it is cut by the rotating coulter blade. The coulter blade cuts the residue into several portions at least some of which are thrown outward away from the zone of soil to be tilled. A zone tillage apparatus then tills, mixes, aerates and fertilizes the soil in the zone to form a fertilized seedbed, and a planter places seed in the seedbed, all of these procedures being carried out in one pass along the soil.

Abstract: A disc-type opener and seeder useful in direct seeding during zero-till operations includes index/presser wheels to prevent hairpinning of trash etc. A soil retainer wheel cooperates with the disc to close the furrow cut by the disc and to cover the seeds placed therein. All of the above wheels are adjustably mounted to a main frame together with a spring-biased furrow finishing wheel. Improved seed supply means designed to reduce seed bounce are provided. Multiple units are mounted to a tool bar. Minor modifications permit the opener/seeder to be installed on the shank of a chisel plow air seeder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved agricultural seeding; especially useful in no-till direct seeding. In the illustrated embodiment an inclined furrow is cut with a rotating disk that is inclined with respect to the vertical and the horizontal; the furrow has a raised lip, and straw and the like stalks are cleaved during the cutting. Seed is inserted by known means, and then a packer wheel, preferentially inclined in vertical and horizontal directions opposite to those the disk is inclined, runs across the lip and closes the furrow. Advantages include substantially reduced energy required for the furrow cutting, less weight required on the furrowing disk, more even seeding depth, less hairpinning, less soil disturbance, and less weed seed burial.

Abstract: A mechanism for planting agricultural seed. The mechanism has a frame to be drawn by a towing vehicle in a forward direction, a seed supply hopper on the frame, structure on the frame for directing seed from the hopper to a delivery point adjacent to a surface on underlying soil into which seed is to be planted, structure on the frame for pressing seed from the seed directing structure into underlying soil adjacent to the delivery point as the frame moves in the forward direction, and cooperating first and second soil parting structures on the frame for defining a receptacle for seed at the delivery point.

Abstract: A no-till planting apparatus and method is disclosed for use with a planter unit which plants seeds as the planter unit is pulled along a predetermined path. The planter unit includes a double disk opener for cutting a furrow at a predetermined depth and a mechanism for depositing seeds in the furrow. The apparatus includes a disk hiller for forming an elevated ridge including a mixture of soil and residue remaining from a previous crop without cutting the soil at a depth greater the predetermined depth. The disk hiller is coupled directly to the planter unit so that the disk hiller forms the elevated ridge ahead of and aligned with the planter unit so that the planter unit rides on the elevated ridge and plants seeds at substantially the predetermined depth below a top surface of the elevated ridge.

Abstract: A seed drill for planting seed in untilled ground. The drill is pulled by a prime mover and includes an array of double disk furrow opening assemblies in conjunction with a seed dispensing mechanism. The seed drill is equipped with an array of forwardly located trash disks in order to clear trash in the immediate vicinity ahead of each double disk furrow opening assembly. The trash disks clear the ground to facilitate the work of the furrow opening disks. Each trash disk assembly includes a circular trash disk rotatably mounted on a torque arm that is resiliently movable with respect to the frame of the machine. Each trash disk is mounted at an angle canted downward and forward between 15 and 25 degrees. The trash disk has a concave dish shape with a scalloped outer peripheral edge.