A seed trench depth sensor is adapted to mount to an agricultural implement. The trench depth sensor determining the difference between a distance measured to a bottom of the seed trench by a first sensor and a distance measured to a surface of the soil by a second sensor disposed rearward of the first sensor.

In one aspect, a planter row unit is provided an includes a frame, a first opener disc configured to open a seed trench, and a second opener disc configured to open a second trench different than the seed trench. The second opener disc is rotatable relative to the frame and is vertically moveable relative to the frame. In one aspect, an opener assembly is provided and includes a bracket, an opener disc coupled to the bracket and rotatable relative to the bracket and vertically moveable relative to the bracket, and a biasing member coupled to and between the bracket and the opener disc. The biasing member biases the opener disc vertically downward. In one aspect, a planter row unit is provided and includes an applicator support member made of a resilient material to allow movement of the applicator support member and inhibit deformation of the applicator support member.

An agricultural implement system having: a row unit coupled to a tool bar of an agricultural implement; an opener system coupled to a chassis of the row unit and configured to engage soil to form a trench; a downforce system configured to apply a downforce to the row unit to adjust a contact force between the row unit and the soil; a soil condition sensor configured to detect a condition of the soil and/or an operational sensor configured to detect operation of the agricultural implement system; a closing system, configured to close the trench created by the opener system; and a controller coupled to the soil condition sensor and/or the operational sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control the downforce system and the closing system in response to feedback from the soil condition sensor and/or the operational sensor.

A tilling apparatus and a method of tilling soils which includes the use of a rotational shaft having a number of cutter assemblies located at spaced apart locations on the shaft in which each cutter assembly has a multitude of blades which rotate as the rotary shaft rotates to form a plurality of spaced apart trenches having the same spacing as the spacing of the cutters, and a width caused by the width of the blades. As the blades dig the trench, the soil contacted by the blades is granulated and is tossed about by the spinning blades so that some soil falls back into the trench and some falls along the periphery of the trench to form rows of aerated granules which promote enhanced growth of plants or seeds in the trench and along the edge of the trench to improve the yield of pasture having the trenches. Various attachments can be provided on the tilling apparatus, either in front of or towards the rear of the spinning blades for different purposes, such as rippers, seeders, levellers, or similar. The advantage of the tilling apparatus is that the soil is formed into granules which are used to form an aerated array of soil granules having enhanced growing properties for plants.

A depth gauge wheel for a row planter. The depth gauge wheel sets the planting depth for the seeds planted by the row planter. The depth gauge wheel sets planting depth by setting the cutting depth of the disk opener of the row planter. The depth gauge wheel also scrapes mud from the disk blade of the disk opener. The depth gauge wheel includes a rim, a tire attached to the rim and a ring attached to the rim. The tire contacts the surface of the ground to set the cutting depth of the disk opener and the ring scrapes mud from the disk blade of the disk opener.

A seed-planting implement includes a fluid-driven actuator coupled between a row unit frame and a row cleaner arm such that the actuator is configured to adjust a force being applied to the arm. The actuator, in turn, includes a cylinder and a piston moveable relative to the cylinder, with the cylinder and the piston collectively defining a lift chamber and a down chamber within the actuator. A first valve or pressure regulator is configured to control the flow of fluid into the lift chamber such that the fluid within the lift chamber is maintained at a first non-zero pressure value during a seed-planting operation. A computing system is configured to determine a second pressure value to which the down chamber is to be pressurized and control the operation of a second valve such that the fluid within the down chamber is pressurized to the second value during the seed-planting operation.

A row unit for a seed-planting implement includes a frame, a gauge wheel arm pivotably coupled to the frame and a gauge wheel rotatably coupled to the gauge wheel arm. Additionally, the row unit includes a wobble bracket configured to engage the gauge wheel arm and a linkage arm coupled to the wobble bracket. Moreover, the row unit includes an actuator, a gearbox coupled to the actuator, a threaded shaft coupled to the gearbox, and a handle coupled to the threaded shaft. In addition, the row unit includes an actuation assembly such that the actuation assembly transmits rotation of the threaded shaft into linear motion of the linkage arm. The actuation assembly includes a hook arm having a first end forming a hook that directly couples to the linkage arm. Furthermore, the actuation assembly includes a collar threadingly coupled to the threaded shaft.

A row unit for a seed-planting implement includes a frame and a disk opener supported relative to the frame and configured to form a furrow within a field. The row unit further includes a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame, and a gauge wheel coupled to the gauge wheel arm. Additionally, the row unit includes a sensor assembly having a rotational sensor, a first sensor arm, and a second sensor arm. A proximal end of the first sensor arm is coupled to the rotational sensor, a proximal end of the second sensor arm is coupled to a distal end of the first sensor arm, and a distal end of the second sensor arm is coupled to the gauge wheel arm. The rotational sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a position of the gauge wheel arm based on movement of the first sensor arm.

A system for a row unit of a planting implement can include a frame and a disk opener rotatably coupled to the frame. The disk opener can be configured to form a furrow within a field across which the planting implement is traveling. An actuator can be operably coupled with the disk opener and can be configured to alter a position of the disk opener relative to the frame. A depth sensor can be configured to capture data indicative of a detected furrow depth of the furrow. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the actuator. The computing system can be configured to receive the data indicative of the detected furrow depth of the furrow and activate the actuator to alter the position of the disk opener relative to the frame based on a deviation of the detected furrow depth of the furrow from a defined furrow depth range.

A seed-planting implement includes a row cleaner assembly having a row cleaner arm pivotably coupled to a row unit frame of the seed-planting implement. The row cleaner assembly also includes a row cleaner wheel rotatably coupled to the row cleaner arm such that the row cleaner wheel is configured to roll relative to a field. Additionally, the implement includes a computing system configured to receive an input indicative of a depth of the furrow being formed within the field and determine a position of the row cleaner wheel relative to a soil surface of the field based on the received input. In addition, the computing system is configured to control an operation of an actuator configured to adjust a position of the row cleaner arm relative to the frame based on the determined position of the row cleaner wheel relative to the soil surface.