An agricultural seeder implement includes a seed boot connected to an opener. The seed boot includes a channel extending from an inlet to an outlet behind a leading extremity of the opener, a deflecting surface facing downwardly into the channel toward the outlet, and a ramp facing inwardly into the channel between the inlet and the outlet. The opener is for cutting a furrow in the ground by the leading extremity ahead of the outlet, and the channel is for guiding a stream of air-driven seed forwardly therethrough from the inlet and downwardly into the furrow through the outlet, wherein the ramp is in-turned toward the deflecting surface for deflecting the stream of air-driven seed through the channel inwardly to the deflecting surface, and the deflecting surface is for deflecting the stream of air-driven seed received from the ramp downwardly to and through the outlet into the furrow.

In one aspect, a crop input applicator is provided. In one aspect, the applicator comprises a valve (e.g., voice coil valve) disposed to deposit liquid on or near a seed furrow and/or on or near a seed. In one aspect, the applicator includes one or more seed sensors disposed to detect passage of seeds.

An agricultural product control system for an agricultural implement includes an actuator configured to control a penetration depth of an agricultural product application system within soil, a sensor positioned above a surface of the soil and configured to output a sensor signal indicative of agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and a controller including a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and output a control signal to the actuator indicative of instructions to adjust the penetration depth of the agricultural product application system based on the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil.

A metering device and a distributing machine for metering free-flowing bulk material, in particular seeds and/or fertilizer, from a container, using a metering device. The metering device includes a delivery channel with an inlet and a metering outlet, and a pressure compensation section disposed in the delivery channel between the inlet and the metering outlet. The pressure compensation section is actuated by a pressure difference between the delivery channel and the surroundings.

A metering device and a distributing machine for metering free-flowing bulk material, in particular seeds and/or fertilizer, from a container, using a metering device. The metering device includes a delivery channel with an inlet and a metering outlet, and a pressure compensation section disposed in the delivery channel between the inlet and the metering outlet. The pressure compensation section is actuated by a pressure difference between the delivery channel and the surroundings.

An agricultural planter which provides an improved method for extending and retracting the wing boom and which has improved maneuverability is disclosed. A drive member is provided that drives one or more of the carrier wheels on the agricultural planter. The drive member may be, for example, a hydraulic motor or an electric motor. When a wing boom is extended or retracted between the transport position and the working position, a controller generates a command signal to the drive member to drive one or more of the carrier wheels forward or reverse, thereby assisting the draft links in retracting or extending the telescoping portion of the hitch assembly and in extending or retracting the booms. During operation, the controller may similarly generate a command to the drive member to drive one or more of the carrier wheels either in forward or reverse according to the operation of the towing vehicle.

Agricultural seed planting systems include a processing unit, a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame for opening a furrow in soil, and a sensor in communication with the processing unit and adapted to sense a characteristic associated with seed planting. The sensor may generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic and the processing unit may receive the signal. In some aspects, the sensed characteristic may be either a soil characteristic or a seed characteristic. Information associated with the sensed characteristic can be saved in memory for future use and to assist with more effective planting in the future.

A seed depth device for an agricultural planter includes an electric motor, an actuator, a stop, a controller, and a seed depth auto-learn system. The actuator is driven by the electric motor, and is constructed and arranged to move between a home position and a full extension position. The stop is proximate to the actuator when in the home position. The controller includes a computing processor and a computer readable storage medium configured to control the electric motor. The seed depth auto-learn system is, at least in-part, stored and executed by the controller. The seed depth auto-learn system is configured to learn the home position based, at least in-part, on the actuator stalling upon the stop.

A sectional control apparatus and method prompts the operator of an implement when the implement, or portion thereof, is traversing over land that has already been seeded and/or disturbed. The apparatus includes a GPS or GNSS receiver that communicates with a GPS or GNSS system and a controller that maps movement of the implement so that real-time positional data for the implement can be compared to the movement map. When the position of the implement, or portion thereof, is detected as moving over previously seeded and/or disturbed land, the controller activates an alert mechanism in the operator cab of the implement to notify the operator that sectional control, i.e., shutting down metering of product or raising the tool bar, needs to be implemented.

Various planting machines and planting methods are described. A planting method may include filling a seed pool with first-type seed, metering the first-type seed from the seed pool with a metering member, and then evacuating the first-type seed from the seed pool. The method may further include filling the seed pool with second-type seed, metering the second-type seed with the metering member, evacuating the second-type seed from the seed pool, and then refilling the seed pool with the first-type seed. First-type and second-type seed may be evacuated to separate temporary storage chambers, and the seed pool may be filled from the temporary storage chambers, as well as from bulk storage containers. A seed valve of a planting machine may include temporary seed storage chambers for different seed types. The seed valve may fill and evacuate a seed pool through rotation of various valve members and selective application of a vacuum.