An automated system for monitoring and treating pests in a crop field, comprising at least one trap for monitoring and identifying pests, at least one UA V containing at least one chemical or biological products; a home base for parking or storing said at least one UA V when they are not operating; at least one database server; and equipment for communicating with said at least one trap, said at least one home base, said at least one UA V and said at least one database server.

Systems and methods for extermination of ants may provide for the introduction of powder insecticide directly into an ant colony to deliver maximum saturation throughout the colony chambers or tunnels. Ants within the colony may track through the insecticide, and the insecticide may contaminate the ants' food source within the colony, thereby exterminating the ants with minimal disturbance to people or animals.

A system for dispensing liquid agricultural products with seed includes a control system; a seed transport mechanism; an agricultural product supply system; and, a seed brush assembly. The seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense agricultural products in response to an output signal from the control system. A brush housing structure of the seed brush assembly receives seed from the seed transport mechanism. A brush of the seed brush assembly has bristles positioned within the brush housing structure. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense the liquid agricultural products onto the bristles. The bristles are configured to minimize the resistance associated with the passage of seed past the wetted bristles. The liquid agricultural product is transferred from the brushes onto the seed as the seed is dispensed prior to the seed hitting the ground.

A controlled-release fertilizer composition includes coated fertilizer particles having granules substantially encapsulated with a polyurethane coating layer formed from a polyol composition and an isocyanate curing agent. The polyurethane coating layers include inorganic particles. Methods of making and using the controlled-release fertilizer compositions are also disclosed.

A system and method that automatically monitors product use, such as the type and amount of agricultural and/or horticultural product stored in and dispensed from a cartridge over time and/or by geographic location. Monitored data are stored in memory such as a tag on the cartridge and may be transmitted to a server for storage, aggregation, and analysis. The cartridge may be authenticated before being authorized for use for the benefit of a current user in dispensing the product. The cartridge may be refilled after confirmation of authorization codes on the cartridge and refilling equipment tags. The cartridge may be calibrated automatically based on the bulk density or other parameter of the product in the cartridge. Data may be aggregated from a plurality of cartridges automatically. As-applied data from individual cartridges may be used to verify, independent of operator input, treated area coverage and product application rate.

In a drone system in which a drone and a movable body operate in coordination with each other, the drone performing a predetermined operation in an agricultural field, the movable body being capable of moving with the drone aboard and allowing the drone to make a takeoff and a landing, the plan determining section determines a flight plan for the drone and a movement plan for the movable body in accordance with the flight plan, and the instructing section instructs the drone to execute an operation in accordance with the flight plan and instructs the movable body to move or to be on standby in accordance with the movement plan.

A control system is disclosed for a material application system. A sensor may be disposed and configured to monitor one or more of a material level and a material flow for the material application system. A signal may be received from the sensor corresponding to the material level or flow. A reference quantity of material contained by the material application system, an expected application rate for the material, and an indicator of current application duration may be determined. An estimated application rate may be determined based upon one or more of the indicator of current application duration, the reference quantity of material, and the signal. The estimated and expected application rates may be compared and the expected application rate updated based upon the comparison. A remaining interval for application without a replenishment of the container may be determined and indicated to an operator.

A spreader for spreading particulate material has a plurality of outlets transversely spaced-apart in a direction perpendicular to a direction of travel of the spreader. The outlets are configured to receive the material from a metering device and to dispense an amount of the material to mid-rows between crop rows on a field such that the plurality of outlets dispenses half the amount of material to an outermost mid-row compared to the amount of material dispensed to the other mid-rows. Also, the metering device may have two metering elements, which may be controlled to meter the material to only one side of the spreader. A centrally located outlet situated on a driving line of the spreader may receive material from both metering elements so that the centrally located nozzle can dispense the material whenever one or the other side of the spreader is not dispensing material.

A system for dispensing agricultural products includes an agricultural product container having a memory circuit associated therewith for storing data, the stored data including data unique to the container and the quantity of material dispensed including specific rates of application. An application rate meter device is operatively connected to the agricultural product container and is configured to dispense the agricultural product from the agricultural product container. Precision placement equipment includes a placement tube assembly operatively connected to the application rate meter device to place the agricultural products in the desired locations for efficient activity of the agricultural product. Each placement tube assembly is mounted between depth wheels of a depth control wheel assembly of a planter for placement of product in-furrow between the depth wheels.

A generator unit to be attached to a traveling vehicle that has a prime mover and a PTO shaft to transmit power from the prime mover, includes: a generator; an input shaft having: a first connector portion configured to be connected to the PTO shaft; and a second connector portion configured to be connected to a working device to be connected to the traveling vehicle; a transmitter mechanism to transmit, to the generator, power supplied from the PTO shaft, the power being inputted from the first connector portion to the input shaft; and an attachment frame having: an attachment portion to which the generator, the input shaft, and the transmitter mechanism are attached; and a mounting portion configured to be mounted to the traveling vehicle.