An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.

This document discloses a row unit (2) for feeding granular material to the ground. The row unit has a seed furrow-opener, which has a seed furrow-opening arm (21) carrying a seed disc (22). The seed furrow-opening arm has a proximal portion, in which the seed furrow-opening arm is pivotable about a first geometrical axis (Rb) and a distal portion, to which the seed disc is rotatably attached. The row unit has a depth regulator, which has a depth-regulating arm (31) carrying a gauge wheel (32). The depth-regulating arm (31) is pivotable about a second geometrical axis (Ra) which is concentric with a centre of rotation for the seed disc. The row unit comprises a first adjusting device for setting the height of the gauge wheel (32) in relation to the seed disc (22). The first adjusting device comprises a lever (34), which is fixedly connected to the depth-regulating arm, a depth-regulating driver arm (36) pivotable at the first geometrical axis, and a control link (35), which connects distal portions of the lever (34) and the depth-regulating driver arm (36), so that the pivotal position of the lever is controllable by pivoting the depth-regulating driver arm. The document also discloses agricultural implements comprising such row units and methods for operating agricultural implements.

In one aspect, a system for providing downforce control includes a seeder including a plurality of row units. One or more actuators are operably coupled with the plurality of row units and configured to adjust a downforce of the plurality of row units. A sensor is configured to detect one or more seeding parameters. A computing system is configured to control the operation of the plurality of row units. The computing system is further configured to receive an input associated with a target depth range of the row unit into an underlying field, receive data related to one or more seeding parameters, receive data related to an actual seeding depth; generate a command signal based on a differential between the actual seeding depth and the target depth range; and generate a force command for the one or more actuators to adjust a downforce of the plurality of row units.

A ground working apparatus is supported on the toolbar of an agricultural implement for injecting liquid fertilizer into the ground. A disc arm is pivotally coupled to a mounting bracket on the toolbar to extend downwardly and rearwardly to a coulter disc rotatably supported on the lower end of the disc arm to cut the ground. An upright pivot assembly pivotally couples the upper end of the disc arm relative to the mounting bracket to pivot about an upright axis while preventing upward movement of the disc. A shank is pivotal on the disc arm to support a shovel trailing the disc to form an undercut trough connected to the ground cut formed by the coulter disc. A pressure mechanism prevents upward pivotal movement of the shovel relative to the disc arm until an upward pressure applied to the shovel exceeds a prescribed holding force of the pressure mechanism.

A ground-opening apparatus for an agricultural implement. The ground-opening apparatus comprises an opening disc for excavating a furrow in the ground, and a support assembly securing the opening disc to the agricultural implement. The support assembly comprises an upper bar, a lower bar, a forward bar, and a rearward bar. The upper bar and the lower bar extend generally in parallel relationship. The lower bar and the rearward bar are joined at a lower, rearward joint. A rotational axis of the opening disc extends through the lower, rearward joint of the support assembly.

This document shows a seed furrow opener, comprising a seed furrow opener arm (22), and a pair of seed discs (25) rotatably connected to the seed furrow opener arm (22) via at least one shaft unit (24). Each of the seed discs (25) has a respective geometric rotational axis. The rotational axes are non-parallel to each other, so that a mutual distance between the peripheries of the seed discs (25) is non-constant. The seed furrow opener has a continuous cut-out (221) formed in the seed furrow opener arm (22) for mounting the shaft unit (24), a slot (2221, 2222) extending from the cut-out (221) to a periphery (220) of the seed furrow opener arm (22), and a clamping device (224a, 224b; 225a, 225b), arranged to compress the slot (2221, 2222), so that the shaft unit (24) is clamped in the cut-out (221). The document also shows a row unit (2, 2a-2f) comprising such a seed furrow opener, an agricultural implement (1) comprising a plurality of such row units, a method for manufacturing a seed furrow opener arm (22) and a method for mounting a seed furrow opener.

An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.

A method to prevent drift in an agricultural implement. Drift is when one side of an agricultural implement is further behind or further ahead of the other side of the agricultural implement in a direction of travel. Drift can be controlled by increasing a downforce on the side that is further ahead, decreasing force on the side that is further behind, or a combination of both. The force can be a moment of force.

System for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit (10) of an agricultural planter. The row unit (10) includes a trench depth adjustment assembly (90R) configured to modify the trench depth. The trench depth adjustment assembly (90R) includes a depth adjustment body (3044) pivotally connected via a pivot (92) to a frame member (14) of the row unit (10). An electric motor (3030) is operable to cause rotation of a shaft (3034) operably coupled with the depth adjustment body (3044), whereby rotation of the shaft (3034) causes the depth adjustment body (3044) to pivotally move about the pivot (92) thereby changing a position of contact of the depth adjustment body (3044) with a gauge wheel arm (54), thus changing the amount of upward travel of the gauge wheel (50) with respect to a trench opening disc (62) and thus the depth of the trench.

Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.