A row crop planter including a frame, a seed bin supported by the frame, the seed bin configured to hold seeds, and a plurality of agricultural row units coupled to one or more seed bins. Each of the plurality of row units includes a seed deposit assembly, including a disk to cut a furrow in the soil, gage wheel, and a seed deposit chute to direct seeds into the furrow. A bar linkage is operatively connected to the seed deposit assembly. A downforce actuator is operatively connected to the bar linkage and applies a force to the disk and to the gage wheel, to cut the furrow in the soil. A primary actuator is operatively connected to the bar linkage, wherein the primary actuator raises and lowers the seed deposit assemblies, and moves the disk into the soil to cut the furrow at a depth determined by the primary actuator and the gage wheel.

A seed coulter arranged to place one or more inputs in a groove behind a tine of a direct seed drill for field crops. The seed coulter is arranged for displaceable connection to the tine and is freely displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the tine between a lower position and an upper position. A seeding unit comprising the seed coulter, and a direct seed drill comprising a plurality of seeding units are described as well.

In one aspect, a method for monitoring seed placement within the ground during the performance of a planting operation includes receiving, with a computing device, a timing signal associated with a detection of a seed to be deposited within soil by a row unit as the row unit is actively depositing seeds within the soil, and identifying, with the computing device, a time associated with when the seed will pass through a detection zone of a seed placement sensor supported relative to the row unit based on the timing signal, the seed placement sensor configured to detect the seed as planted underneath a surface of the soil. In addition, the method includes evaluating, with the computing device, data collected by the seed placement sensor during the identified time to determine a seed placement parameter associated with seed.

An intelligent seeding and fertilizing machine for intercropping comprises: a fixed frame, a plurality of seeding devices arranged in parallel in the fixed frame and a plurality of guide columns fixedly connected in the fixed frame, where one end of fixed frame close to a cutting mechanism is provided with a lifting plate, a side of the fixed frame is in sliding contact with an inner wall of a lifting groove, the lifting groove is provided with a lifting screw, a lifting motor is fixedly connected to a top surface of the lifting plate; each seeding device includes a frame, and a bottom surface of the frame is respectively provided with a cutting mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, a furrowing mechanism, a fertilizing mechanism, a seeding mechanism and a soil covering mechanism, and the above mechanisms and the lifting motor are all electrically connected with a control system.

An intelligent seeding and fertilizing machine for intercropping comprises: a fixed frame, a plurality of seeding devices arranged in parallel in the fixed frame and a plurality of guide columns fixedly connected in the fixed frame, where one end of fixed frame close to a cutting mechanism is provided with a lifting plate, a side of the fixed frame is in sliding contact with an inner wall of a lifting groove, the lifting groove is provided with a lifting screw, a lifting motor is fixedly connected to a top surface of the lifting plate; each seeding device includes a frame, and a bottom surface of the frame is respectively provided with a cutting mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, a furrowing mechanism, a fertilizing mechanism, a seeding mechanism and a soil covering mechanism, and the above mechanisms and the lifting motor are all electrically connected with a control system.

A row unit, including a frame with an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a parallel linkage, the lower portion having a gauge wheel depth control linkage, the gauge wheel depth control linkage coupled to plural gauge wheels; a first device coupled to the upper portion and configured to provide an adjustable down force; and an electric actuator coupled to the gauge wheel depth control linkage, the electric actuator configured to provide adjustable positioning of the gauge wheels.

A down-pressure system for an agricultural implement has a linear actuator connected between a frame assembly and an opener assembly. A mounting structure for connecting the linear actuator to the opener assembly includes a bushing and an alignment member attached to the linear actuator. The bushing has protrusions extending transversely from opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator. Each protrusion has a curved engagement surface for engaging a flat surface on the opener assembly to prevent bending stresses on the linear actuator when the opener assembly is raised and lowered. The alignment member is arranged to lock the bushing into a predetermined rotational position about a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator relative to the opener assembly. The alignment member comprises a first structure that mates with a corresponding structure on the bushing, and a second structure that engages opposite sides of the opener assembly.

A penetration depth control and gauge wheel contact force monitoring system for a row unit includes a penetration depth actuator configured to drive a gauge wheel arm assembly to move a gauge wheel relative to a row unit frame to control a penetration depth of an opener of the row unit. The penetration depth actuator includes a contact force sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a contact force between the gauge wheel and a soil surface, the penetration depth actuator includes a body configured to be coupled to one of the frame or the gauge wheel arm assembly, the penetration depth actuator includes an actuating device configured to be coupled to the other of the frame or the gauge wheel arm assembly, and the actuating device is configured to move relative to the body to drive the gauge wheel arm assembly to move the gauge wheel.

A closing wheel assembly is provided for a row unit agricultural planter. The planter is configured to open a trench in the soil and the closing wheel assembly is configured to close the trench. A resilient flap is provided for firming and leveling the soil returned to the trench by the closing wheel assembly. Pivotally mounted offset closing wheels are also provided.

A conveyor apparatus includes a conveyor sloping upward from a lower conveyor intake to an upper conveyor discharge and with a downspout extending down from the conveyor discharge. Wheels support the conveyor for movement along the ground, and a downspout control is operative to remotely move a bottom end of the downspout radially with respect to the conveyor discharge. A method is provided as well for using the conveyor to conveniently transfer a first agricultural product from a first transport vehicle to a first tank on the air seeder cart, and for transferring a second agricultural product from a second transport vehicle to a second tank.