A seed planter comprises a frame including a main frame section and a furrowing disk frame section. A plurality of planter assemblies may be connected to the main frame section, and a plurality of furrowing disks may be connected to the furrowing disk frame section. At least one linkage may connect the main frame section and the furrowing disk frame section, and at least one motor may be configured to move the furrowing disk frame section with respect to the main frame section, wherein the at least one linkage permits the furrowing disk frame section to move to a low position for no-till planting and move to a high position for prepared seed beds or conventional planting.

A covering soil mulching apparatus according to an embodiment includes a soil scattering part at the rear end of the agricultural machine and including a scattering part frame and a scattering unit provided on a lower end side of the scattering part frame and scattering soil on a floor, a mulching film laying part including a laying part frame connected to a rear end side of the soil scattering part and a mulching film holding part having a mulching film wound around the mulching film holding part and spreading the mulching film on the floor, an oscillating plate above the mulching film holding part and guiding the scattered soil to be transported to a rear side and laid on an upper surface of the mulching film, and a soil oscillating part including oscillator for oscillating the oscillating plate to prevent formation of a soil wall on the oscillating plate.

In one embodiment, an air seeder tower includes a valve with an actuator, and a closed loop feedback control with a sensor to control actuation of the valve to control air flow out of the air seeder vent tower.

A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system aids in the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor.

A collection device has a chute supported below the calibration opening on pneumatic delivery lines through which seed can be dispensed during calibration of a seed meter below a seed tank of an agricultural air seeder implement. The chute has a top opening at a top side in alignment with the calibration opening thereabove so as to receive seed discharged through the calibration opening into the chute through the top opening and a bottom that slopes downwardly to one end locating a discharge opening through which collected seed is dispensed. The chute is supported on bag mounts of the implement from which a flexible calibration bag is otherwise suspended. A gate is operably associated with the discharge opening.

An agricultural product application system such as an air seeder or a sprayer includes a controller, a product source, and a plurality of product dispensing sections. Each of the dispensing sections include a metering module and a product sensor arranged to detect product passing through one or more product dispensing devices. The controller determines a dispense activation delay (d.sub.on) for each product dispensing section by measuring a delay between activation of the metering module and the product sensor detecting product arriving. The delay is optionally used for automatic control of the product dispensing sections and/or for logging georeferenced application data.

A planter comprises an automated planting unit for planting plots of seeds in a field. The planting unit includes a first seed storage unit configured to provide seeds to the planting unit and a second seed storage unit configured to provide seeds to the planting unit. The planting unit also includes a seed meter configured to plant seeds from the first seed storage unit and the second seed storage unit in a field, and a diverter unit coupled to the first and second seed storage units and to the seed meter. The diverter, then, is configured to selectively direct seeds from either the first seed storage unit or the second seed storage unit to the seed meter, whereby the seeds from the first and second seed storage units may be planted separately or together (e.g., for mixed planting, etc.).

Air seeders that have force actuators acting on the firming implement and/or the closing wheel to adjust the downforce. In one example, the seeding implement includes a support arm having first and second portions. A finning implement support arm is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first pivot at a first end of the finning implement support arm. A firming implement force actuator is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first end of the firming implement force actuator and connected to the firming implement support arm at the second end of the firming implement force actuator.

Described herein are air seeders that have force actuators acting on at least one of the firming implement and closing wheel to adjust for a specified downforce on at least one of the firming implement and the closing wheel. In one example, a seeding implement includes a support arm having a support arm first portion and a support arm second portion. A firming implement support arm is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first pivot at a first end of the firming implement support arm. A firming implement force actuator is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first end of the firming implement force actuator and connected to the firming implement support arm at the second end of the firming implement force actuator.

A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.