A sensor system for determining soil characteristics is disclosed herein. The sensor system includes a ground engaging device for coupling to an agricultural implement. The ground engaging device includes at least one disc member having an aperture and an elongate shaft extending through the aperture. A first sensor unit is arranged on a sensing surface of the disc member and is configured to measure forces acting on the disc member. A second sensor unit is arranged on the elongate shaft and is configured to measure forces acting on the shaft. A processor is communicatively coupled to each of the first and second sensor units. The processor is configured to generate an output signal indicative of a soil characteristic based on the forces measured.

A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.

A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.

An agricultural implement includes a transversely extending frame forming a first, a second, and a third frame section. A first actuator is coupled to the first frame section, a second actuator coupled to the second frame section, and a third actuator coupled to the third frame section. Sensors are coupled to each frame section to detect a height of the respective frame section relative to an underlying surface. A control unit is disposed in electrical communication with the sensors and operably controls the actuators to adjust the height of each frame section.

An agricultural implement includes a transversely extending frame forming a first, a second, and a third frame section. A first actuator is coupled to the first frame section, a second actuator coupled to the second frame section, and a third actuator coupled to the third frame section. Sensors are coupled to each frame section to detect a height of the respective frame section relative to an underlying surface. A control unit is disposed in electrical communication with the sensors and operably controls the actuators to adjust the height of each frame section.

A compact tillage implement has a frame supported by front and rear frame wheels. A front rank is mounted to the frame between the wheels with respect to a direction of travel to move a front plurality of tools with respect to the frame from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation. A rear rank is mounted to the frame between the wheels with respect to the direction travel to move a rear plurality of tools with respect to the frame from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation. The rear rank is spaced behind the front rank along a reference line. The front and rear plurality of tools are movable with respect to the frame independently of the other of the front and rear plurality of tools while the frame is in working orientation in which the frame is at a substantially fixed pitch with respect to the ground.

A compact tillage implement has a frame supported by front and rear frame wheels. A front rank is mounted to the frame between the wheels with respect to a direction of travel to move a front plurality of tools with respect to the frame from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation. A rear rank is mounted to the frame between the wheels with respect to the direction travel to move a rear plurality of tools with respect to the frame from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation. The rear rank is spaced behind the front rank along a reference line. The front and rear plurality of tools are movable with respect to the frame independently of the other of the front and rear plurality of tools while the frame is in working orientation in which the frame is at a substantially fixed pitch with respect to the ground.

An implement for preparing a seed bed has a front row of vertical discs, followed by three rows of shanks, followed by harrows and then rolling baskets. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between each shank and the implement frame and exerts a constant selected trip bias force on the shanks that is adjustable up to 1300 pounds. The implement frame is configured such that a total weight on the wheels when the ground engaging tools are in the raised transport position is greater than about 850 pounds per foot of width of the implement frame. The implement is towed at speeds of at least seven miles per hour with the shanks penetrating the soil to a depth of three inches or more. Residue is cut and buried and the field surface left firm and smooth.

An implement for preparing a seed bed has a front row of vertical discs, followed by three rows of shanks, followed by harrows and then rolling baskets. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between each shank and the implement frame and exerts a constant selected trip bias force on the shanks that is adjustable up to 1300 pounds. The implement frame is configured such that a total weight on the wheels when the ground engaging tools are in the raised transport position is greater than about 850 pounds per foot of width of the implement frame. The implement is towed at speeds of at least seven miles per hour with the shanks penetrating the soil to a depth of three inches or more. Residue is cut and buried and the field surface left firm and smooth.

A strip soil loosening and crushing mechanism of a no-tillage planting machine has a connecting bracket, a cutter head assembly, and a soil crushing wheel assembly. The cutter head assembly has two star-shaped cutter heads of the same structure, which are symmetrically arranged at outer sides of the two supporting plates. The soil crushing wheel assembly has a spring combined structure, a soil crushing wheel combined structure and two crank brackets rotatably connected at the outer sides of the two supporting plates of the connecting bracket by a connecting shaft.