Apparatus and methods for detecting and remediating clogged gauge wheels, closing wheels, and seed tubes of an agricultural planter.

An agricultural implement having a rolling basket which includes a plurality of elongated members arranged in a substantially cylindrical shape. A stationary internal scraper is disposed in the inner chamber of the rolling basket and is adapted for breaking up a material from the inner chamber as the rolling basket is rotated around the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The internal scraper extends in an upward direction with respect to the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket with the upper edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket and with the lower edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The upper edge of the internal scraper is positioned above the lower edge.

An agricultural implement having a rolling basket which includes a plurality of elongated members arranged in a substantially cylindrical shape. A stationary internal scraper is disposed in the inner chamber of the rolling basket and is adapted for breaking up a material from the inner chamber as the rolling basket is rotated around the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The internal scraper extends in an upward direction with respect to the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket with the upper edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket and with the lower edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The upper edge of the internal scraper is positioned above the lower edge.

A system for identifying plugging within an agricultural implement is provided. The system includes a ground engaging tool configured to be supported by the agricultural implement. A weight sensor is operable to measure a weight of one or both of the ground engaging tool and the agricultural implement. A controller is communicatively coupled to the weight sensor. The controller is configured to receive, from the weight sensor, a signal that corresponds to the weight of one or both of the ground engaging tool and the agricultural implement. The controller is further configured to determine when the ground engaging tool is plugged based at least in part on the signal from the weight sensor.

An implement has an implement frame, a wheel for supporting the implement frame on soil in a direction of travel, a first basket coupled to the implement frame, and a second basket coupled to the implement frame. The first basket works the soil such that any convolutions in the soil are reoriented to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the implement. The second basket is positioned rearward of the first basket, and works the soil such that the convolutions in the soil that are substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the implement are flattened.

A system for monitoring field surface conditions includes a support arm and a housing coupled to the support arm such that the housing is supported adjacent to a surface of a field, with the housing extending over a portion of the surface such that a shielded surface area is defined underneath the housing. The system also includes a light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the shielded surface area defined underneath the housing such that a shadow is created adjacent a surface feature positioned within the shielded surface area and an imaging device configured to capture an image of the surface feature and the adjacent shadow created by the surface feature. Moreover, the system includes a controller configured to estimate a parameter associated with the surface feature based at least in part on an analysis of the adjacent shadow depicted within the image.

A system for monitoring field surface conditions includes a support arm and a housing coupled to the support arm such that the housing is supported adjacent to a surface of a field, with the housing extending over a portion of the surface such that a shielded surface area is defined underneath the housing. The system also includes a light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the shielded surface area defined underneath the housing such that a shadow is created adjacent a surface feature positioned within the shielded surface area and an imaging device configured to capture an image of the surface feature and the adjacent shadow created by the surface feature. Moreover, the system includes a controller configured to estimate a parameter associated with the surface feature based at least in part on an analysis of the adjacent shadow depicted within the image.

An agricultural implement having a rolling basket which includes a plurality of elongated members arranged in a substantially cylindrical shape. A stationary internal scraper is disposed in the inner chamber of the rolling basket and is adapted for breaking up a material from the inner chamber as the rolling basket is rotated around the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The internal scraper extends in an upward direction with respect to the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket with the upper edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket and with the lower edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The upper edge of the internal scraper is positioned above the lower edge.

An agricultural implement having a rolling basket which includes a plurality of elongated members arranged in a substantially cylindrical shape. A stationary internal scraper is disposed in the inner chamber of the rolling basket and is adapted for breaking up a material from the inner chamber as the rolling basket is rotated around the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The internal scraper extends in an upward direction with respect to the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket with the upper edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket and with the lower edge of the internal scraper distally spaced away from and above the major axis of rotation of the rolling basket. The upper edge of the internal scraper is positioned above the lower edge.

In one aspect, a system for controlling the operation of a seed-planting implement may include a ground-engaging tool and an actuator configured to adjust an operating parameter of the ground-engaging tool. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to control the operation of the seed-planting implement such that a primary crop is planted in a field as the seed-planting implement is being moved across the field. Additionally, the controller may be configured to determine a density of a cover crop present within the field. Moreover, the controller may be configured to determine an adjustment to be made to the operating parameter of the ground-engaging tool based on the determined density. In addition, the controller may be configured to control the operation of the actuator to execute the adjustment of the operating parameter.