A paddy discriminator includes a downflow gutter in which mixed grains including paddy and brown rice are aligned and flow down, a light emission source that irradiates the mixed grains discharged from the downflow gutter with light, and light receiving means capable of receiving reflected light and transmitted light from the mixed grains irradiated with light by the light emission source, wherein the light emission source includes first illumination means that is provided on a light receiving means side of the mixed grains and is capable of irradiating the mixed grains with light of a red component, and second illumination means that is provided on a side away from the light receiving means of the mixed grains and is capable of irradiating the mixed grains with light of a green component.

An agricultural product distribution apparatus includes a primary product container mounted on a product cart and a secondary product container. A metering device and a primary inductor assembly are mounted to the primary product container and a control system controls dispensing of products from the primary product container either through the metering device directly to furrow openers, or through the inductor assembly to the secondary product container and then through a secondary inductor assembly to downstream singulating meters. The secondary product container can be mounted on the implement frame or the product cart. A plurality of primary product containers can be mounted on the product cart each with a metering device and primary inductor assembly such that each tank can dispense through either of the corresponding metering devices or primary inductor assemblies.

A seeding apparatus includes an implement frame mounted on wheels and a plurality of furrow openers mounted on the implement frame. A primary air seeder cart is pivotally connected about a vertical implement pivot axis to an implement hitch on the implement frame, and an implement pivot limiting system is operative to limit a degree of pivoting of the primary air seeder cart about the implement pivot axis with respect to the implement frame to a selected degree chosen to reduce bending of conduits. A secondary air seeder cart can be pivotally connected to a cart hitch on the primary air seeder cart about a vertical cart pivot axis and an cart pivot limiting system is operative to limit the degree of pivoting of the secondary air seeder cart about the cart pivot axis.

A sensor generates an output signal indicative of an attribute of a limited amount of material above the sensor. A controller receives the output signal and incorporates a corresponding variable into a programmatic calculation of an indication of a volume of material in a tank.

A photovoltaic horizontal beehive system provides a horizontal beehive. The brooder box has sidewalls and a floor wall that form an interior cavity. The cavity is segregated into independent compartments through a central fixed divider, and multiple removable dividers that segregate the brooder box into a queen bee colony and a honey bee colony. The removable dividers are manipulated in the cavity to adjust the size of each compartment to accommodate population changes in the bee colonies. A lid regulates access to the interior cavity. A solar panel operates on outer surface of lid. The solar panel harnesses sunlight to generate electricity used internally and externally of the brooder box. An electrical compartment in brooder box retains electrical components, like a battery, an inverter, and a charge controller. The solar-generated electricity is used internally for operation of an internal beehive apparatus, and carried distally to operate an external electrical apparatus.

An agricultural air seeder planting unit incorporates control valves that split air flow and change air direction from an air supply to air distribution hoses. The air flow of the control valves is automatically adjusted pneumatically by movement of a piston in response to a total pressure for a uniform velocity air flow from each of the control valves.

Disclosed herein are processes for direct seeding of coated guayule seeds into a field and fields produced by the processes.

An agricultural train assembly having a tractor and at least one implement coupled to the tractor through a tongue. The assembly has a tractor braking system that selectively applies tractor brakes, an implement braking system that selectively applies implement brakes, a controller that selectively applies the implement braking system, a sensor that communicates with the controller to identify a push force applied to the tongue, the push force being the amount of force applied by the at least one implement towards the tractor. Wherein, the controller communicates with the sensor to identify the push force and compares the push force to a push threshold and when the push force is greater than the push threshold, the controller instructs the implement braking system to apply a burst braking procedure.

A sowing element for precision pneumatic seed drills. The sowing element includes a selector disc for isolating the seed, the selector disc being rotatable about an axis (X), and a conduit for transporting the seed with an initial portion which is proximal to a position for removing the seed from the selector disc and an intermediate portion which extends in continuation of the initial portion. The conduit, at least in the initial portion and in the intermediate portion, is substantially rectilinear and substantially coaxial and has an axis (Y) which is located inside a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the sowing ground and parallel with the sowing advance direction.

An air seeding system and method includes a manifold mounted across a plurality of row planter units. Electric motors are mounted on the manifold and are operatively connected to the seed meters. A microprocessor or controller adjusts the speed of the motors in response to field data input so as to adjust the rate of seed dispensement to achieve desired plant population. The motor speeds can be adjusted on the fly, without stopping the air seeder. The system senses ground speed, senses the raised and lowered positioned of the row planter units, and senses any blockage of the row planter units. The motors eliminate the need for a ground drive wheel.