A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for on-the-go monitoring and controlled feedback in a supplemental downforce application. Certain implementations provide real-time monitoring of furrow depth via contact and non-contact approaches, some of which are combined with gauge wheel feedback to calibrate and otherwise control the application of supplemental downforce to the row unit. A combination of sensor types are employed in collecting furrow depth measurements, which can be used to adjust the supplemental downforce through a control system module. A gauge wheel load sensor may be used to modify the application of supplemental downforce.

Provided is a seeder assembly for an aerial vehicle as shown and described. The distribution assembly includes a frame selectively attachable to an aerial vehicle and at least one distribution device attached to the frame. The distribution device having a body defining a cavity to receive a plurality of products and a barrel to discharge the plurality of products. A control device configured to communicate with the aerial vehicle and the distribution device to coordinate the timing that products are discharged and a spacing of a subsequent discharged product relative to the speed of the aerial vehicle. A system, method, and cartridge device associated with the distribution assembly are also contemplated by this disclosure.

An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. An accumulator positioned adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder has a fluid chamber containing a diaphragm, with the portion of the chamber on one side of the diaphragm being connected to the hydraulic-fluid cavity in the hydraulic cylinder, and the portion of the chamber on the other side of the diaphragm containing a pressurized gas.

A system for calibrating load sensors installed on an agricultural implement. The system includes a load sensor provided in operative association with a ground engaging tool and configured to capture load data indicative of a load applied to the ground-engaging tool. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the load sensor configured to determine first and second load values based on the load data received from the load sensor when the down force actuator is disposed at first and second actuator positions so as to apply first and second down forces, respectively, against the ground engaging tool. The controller is also configured to determine a relationship between the first and second load values and corresponding force values associated with the first down force and the second down force.

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a frame supporting a gauge wheel and a seed meter. A depth stop assembly includes a stop setting an upward travel limit of the gauge wheel with respect to the frame, and a handle that is lockable and releasable to move the stop to select among seeding depths. A downforce actuator is operable to generate downforce to be applied through a gauge wheel arm and the gauge wheel to the soil. A downforce sensor is incorporated into the depth stop assembly and movable therewith. The depth stop assembly includes a multi-piece body having a first piece receiving the handle, and a second piece defining a pivot. The first piece of the multipiece body includes a handle-receiving receptacle portion, a fastening portion for fastening to the second body piece adjacent the pivot, and a portion therebetween forming a housing of the downforce sensor.

An apparatus and system for positioning a trailing wheel behind a row planting unit in a row planting system and for transferring weight between a row closing unit with row closing wheels and a trailing wheel while providing for independent movement of the trailing wheel and row closing wheels is provided. A trailing or firming wheel assembly is positioned behind a row closing unit with a set of row closing wheels. A cam-based depth limiting system provides for a depth stop and depth limiting adjustments while providing for independent movement of the trailing wheel and set of row closing wheels.

In one embodiment, a row unit, comprising an upright frame portion comprising front and rear-facing sides, the front facing side configured to be coupled to a tool bar; a fore and aft extending frame coupled on one end to the rear-facing side, the fore and aft extending frame operably coupled to one or more disc openers and plural gauge wheels; a pair of arms pivotably and independently coupled to the fore and aft extending frame; a pair of closing wheels, each operably coupled to one of the pair of arms; and a pair of down force components, each coupled between the upright frame and the one of the pair of arms.

A load sensing bracket for a disk opener assembly of an agricultural implement. The load sensing bracket includes a body having a cantilevered arm, the body is configured to engage with and secure to a portion of a depth setting arm of a disc opening assembly. The cantilevered arm has an upper end with an extending projection that is receivable in any one of plurality of notches of a fan shaped member thereby setting a position of the depth setting arm relative to the fan shaped member which sets a position of the gauge wheel relative to the disk. A sensor is disposed on the cantilevered arm generating a signal relating to strain in the cantilevered arm which corresponds to a down pressure on the gauge wheel.

A system for detecting plugging of an agricultural implement includes a frame member and a ground-engaging tool rotatably coupled to the frame member. The ground-engaging tool is configured to engage soil within a field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system also includes a tool scraper positioned relative to the ground-engaging tool such that the tool scraper is configured to remove field materials from the tool as the tool engages the soil. Moreover, the system includes a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a load on the tool scraper and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to monitory the load on the tool scraper based on data received from the sensor and determine when the tool is experiencing a plugged condition based at least in part on the monitored load.