A scan using a pulsed distance measuring light with two wavelengths of which reflectances are different with respect to a content of a nitrogen by a laser scanner, the two wavelengths are separated, lights are received, a distance measurement value and a light amount are detected for each pulsed distance measuring light and for each of the two wavelengths, a height of a crop is detected based on the distance measurement value, a received light amount ratio of the two wavelengths is detected, and a growth condition of the crop is detected based on the detected height and the received light amount ratio.

A bulk material tender is described. The bulk material tender includes a hopper. The hopper includes one or more side walls defining a top opening and a bottom opening. The bulk material may also include a frame connected to and supporting the hopper. The bulk material tender may also include a rotary airlock for receiving material from the hopper. The bulk material tender may also include a pneumatic conveyor coupled to the rotary airlock for conveying the material to a desired location. The bulk material tender may also include a slide gate valve between the rotary airlock and the hopper. The bulk material tender may also include support legs and jacks for self-loading and self-unloading from a vehicle.

A distribution and leveling system for a particulate material storage compartment includes an auger configured to be disposed within the particulate material storage compartment. The auger is configured to move particulate material across the particulate material storage compartment via rotation of the auger about a first rotational axis. The distribution and leveling system also includes an agitator positioned below the auger. The agitator is configured to agitate the particulate material via rotation of the agitator about a second rotational axis. In addition, the first rotational axis is substantially parallel to the second rotational axis, rotation of the auger and rotation of the agitator are independently controllable, and the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are substantially aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of the particulate material storage compartment.

A particulate material sensing and agitation control system of an agricultural system includes an agitator configured to induce movement of particulate material through the agricultural system, a drive system coupled to the agitator, and a sensing system configured to determine a current flowing through the drive system. The drive system is configured to move the agitator, and the drive system is powered via an electrical circuit. The sensing system includes a first input coupled to a first point on the electrical circuit, the sensing system includes a second input coupled to a second point on the electrical circuit, the sensing system is configured to determine a voltage differential between the first point and the second point, and the sensing system is configured to determine current flowing through the electrical circuit based on the voltage differential.

An example agricultural machine comprises a material distribution system that includes a material distribution line configured to convey particulate material to a component. The agricultural machine comprises a sensing system that includes a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a measure of a flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of a measure of the flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, and a correlation generation component configured to receive indications of the first and second sensor signals and to generate a correlation metric that represents a correlation between the first and second sensor signals. In one example, the correlation metric is applied to a sensor signal from a second material distribution line to determine a flow rate in the second material distribution line.

A metering device for granular material, such as seed or fertilizer, is arranged to deliver the granular material in adjustable quantities, where the metering device includes a metering housing, a drivable metering wheel arranged in the metering housing, and a movable shut-off valve, where the metering housing includes a metering cover that can be moved to different positions and a lock that is associated with the metering cover. The position of the shut-off valve can prevent the lock from being actuated so that the metering cover cannot be opened.

A method and system for stacking containers each container of a type having a front face having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a rear face having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a top base, a bottom base, a first vertical side adjacent to the top base, a second vertical side adjacent to the top base, a first sloped side between the first vertical side and the bottom base, a second sloped side between the second vertical side and the bottom base. A discharge valve projects from the bottom base where the first vertical side defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag. The containers are configured to be stackable in a manner to provide simultaneous reading of the multiple RFID tags on the platforms.

An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a tank carried by the chassis, and at least one meter module coupled to the tank. The at least one meter module has at least one gate. A gate control link is coupled with the at least one gate of the at least one meter module. A control rod is carried by the chassis. A connector couples the control rod to the gate control link at a connection interface such that movement of the control rod controls an open state of the at least one gate of the at least one meter module. The connector has a frangible portion adjacent the connection interface; the control rod and the gate control link uncouples from one another upon a breaking force causing the frangible portion to break.

A removably affixable universal planting drill that can be fastened to existing soil conditioning equipment, thereby simultaneously conditioning the soil and planting seeds, without the need for replacing existing cultivation devices.

A bearing end cap for a modular meter assembly for distributing particulate material from an applicator can include recesses that accommodate locking tabs or fingers of modular meter unit housings and protrusions that lock a meter tube against rotation. In one aspect, a bearing end cap can be provided with a particular construction that cooperates with modular meter unit housings. The bearing end cap can have vertical and horizontal symmetry and cutouts near its corners. These cutouts can provide clearances to accommodate the locking tabs or fingers of modular meter unit housing end walls. Back walls of the bearing end caps can have protrusions that extend into end cutouts of a tube which defines an interior perimeter of the meter assembly.