Patent classifications
A01C21/00
APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATION OF LIQUID FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION
An agricultural implement includes the calibration of liquid fertilizer distribution for an agricultural implement. The calibration system measures the level of the liquid fertilizer or utilizes a known volume in a container and the pressure of the liquid fertilizer. The system uses the level and pressure to calculate the density of the liquid fertilizer, which helps achieve more consistent fertilizer application. Additionally, the density of the liquid fertilizer can be used to more accurately measure the tank level of a particular tank. The system can include a tilt sensor and valves so that when the agricultural implement is traversing a hill or otherwise rough terrain, the system can accurately measure tank level and selectively draw liquid fertilizer from a particular tank or tanks to mitigate spillage. The system also can measure and monitor the tank level of the tank or tanks and automatically fill the tank or tanks based on the measured tank level.
FERTIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Apparatus, system, and method are provided herein for causing and controlling the injection of fertilizer into an irrigation of an irrigation system. The fertigation system comprises a fertigation supply unit including at least one storage container containing at least one of a fertilizer component, a herbicide, and an insecticide coupled to a irrigation of the irrigation system. A fertigation control unit is coupled to the fertigation supply unit. The fertigation control unit is configured to cause the fertigation supply unit to inject at least some of the fertilizer component, herbicide, and/or insecticide into the irrigation. The fertigation control unit can cause the fertigation supply unit to inject the fertilizer component, herbicide, and/or insecticide in response to at least air temperature data and/or soil temperature data received from a sensor unit, or in response to user input at the fertigation control unit.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN ESTABLISHING OR RE-ESTABLISHING PLANT LIFE IN A LAND AREA
An apparatus for use in establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area. The apparatus includes a supply of a growing medium and an arrangement including at least one delivery outlet for delivering the growing medium at spaced intervals from a height onto a soil surface of the land area. The growing medium contains seeds or is delivered in tandem with and on top of seeds deposited on the soil surface or deposited onto or adjacent to seeds or seedlings already deposited on the soil surface.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN ESTABLISHING OR RE-ESTABLISHING PLANT LIFE IN A LAND AREA
An apparatus for use in establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area. The apparatus includes a supply of a growing medium and an arrangement including at least one delivery outlet for delivering the growing medium at spaced intervals from a height onto a soil surface of the land area. The growing medium contains seeds or is delivered in tandem with and on top of seeds deposited on the soil surface or deposited onto or adjacent to seeds or seedlings already deposited on the soil surface.
System and process for dispensing multiple and low rate agricultural products
A system for dispensing agricultural products includes: a master controller, sets of agricultural product containers, meter devices, and secondary controllers. The meter devices are operatively connected to the product containers and configured to dispense products from the containers to rows in a field wherein each of the sets of containers is associated with a respective row in the field. The secondary controllers actuate the meter devices. Each secondary controller receives command data from the master controller and controls the meter devices for dispensing in response to the command data. Agricultural product from each product container is dispensed in accordance with operator defined instructions to the master controller. The instructions are capable of being provided to the master controller during the planting allowing the dispensing of individual containers to be controlled. In one embodiment the invention is a process for dispensing agricultural products at low application rates utilizing precision placement equipment.
SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR SOIL AND SEED MONITORING
A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.
SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR SOIL AND SEED MONITORING
A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.
HYBRID SEED SELECTION AND SEED PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION BY FIELD
Systems and methods are provided for managing hybrid seeds for planting. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving a first dataset of hybrid seeds for planting on a target field, where the first dataset includes probability of success values and historical agricultural data for the hybrid seeds, and selecting a subset of hybrid seeds of the first dataset based on the probability of success values. The method also includes generating representative yield values for the subset of hybrid seeds based on the historical agricultural data, generating risk values for the subset of hybrid seeds based on the historical agricultural data, and generating a second dataset of hybrid seeds for planting based on the risk values, the representative yield values, and properties for the target field. The method further includes causing displaying the representative yield values and the risk values related to the second dataset of hybrid seeds for planting.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING PLANTS IN PLANT GROWING AREAS
Systems and methods for monitoring plants'conditions in one or more plant growing areas are presented. The system comprises a data collection system for providing characterization data about various parameters of plants in the one or more plant growing areas, the data collection system comprising data collection modules of at least first and second different types comprising respectively one or more first type imaging devices of predetermined first field of view and first resolution and one or more second type imaging devices of predetermined second field of view narrower than the first field of view and second resolution higher than the first resolution, the characterization data provided by the first type imaging device(s) comprising first type image data indicative of one or more plants in the plant growing area and of location of at least one device of the second type imaging devices with respect to said one or more plants in the plant growing area, the characterization data provided by the second type imaging device(s) comprising second type image data indicative of one or more portions of plants in the plant growing area; and a control system for activating at least one first type imaging device and at least one second type imaging device at least partially simultaneously, and to be responsive to operational data being based on analysis of the first type image data and comprising navigation data to navigate the at least one second type imaging device or at least one device of the first type imaging devices in the plant growing area.
AUTOMATED FARMING SYSTEMS
An automated farming system includes a frame. The frame includes a fixed base, a beam, and a support. A farming implement support extends from the beam and moves up and down in relation to the beam. The farming implement support moves along a length of the beam. The movable support includes a propulsion system and is configured to rotate around the fixed base. Movement of the farming implement support and the movable support allows for high density planting of crops in hexagonal patterns and/or a continuous spiral pattern.