An agricultural implement includes at least one row unit having a plurality of support members, each of which is pivotably coupled to an attachment frame or another of the support members to permit vertical pivoting vertical movement of the support members, and a plurality of soil-engaging tools, each of which is coupled to at least one of the support members. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the support members for urging the support members downwardly toward the soil. A plurality of controllable pressure control valves are coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinders. A plurality of sensors produce electrical signals corresponding to predetermined conditions, and a controller is coupled to the sensor and the controllable pressure control valves. The controller receives the electrical signals from the sensors and produces control signals for controlling the pressure control valves.

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.

A control system for controlling the down pressure applied to a soil-engaging component of an agricultural implement includes a down pressure actuator coupled to the soil-engaging component, and an energy storage device and a piston-containing cylinder are coupled to each other by a system containing pressurized fluid. A check valve is coupled between the energy storage device and the down pressure actuator to control the flow of the pressurized fluid from the energy storage device to the cylinder. A controllable relief valve and variable orifice are coupled between the down pressure actuator and the energy storage device to control the flow of the pressurized fluid from the cylinder to the energy storage device. A controller supplies control signals to the relief valve and variable orifice to control the flow of the pressurized fluid from the cylinder to the energy storage device based on the pressure of the pressurized fluid.

An apparatus and method for determining uniformity of a tilled surface of a seedbed prepared by a tillage tool of an agricultural tillage implement utilize a seedbed uniformity sensing arrangement including a sensing element having a sensor body adapted for vertically articulating attachment to the implement behind the tillage tool and defining a soil-contact surface configured to bear against the tilled surface. The sensing element includes a vertical position sensor including a strain gauge fixedly attached to the sensor body for generating a surface uniformity signal in response to bending loads imposed on the sensor body by vertical movement of the soil-contact surface as it rides along on the tilled surface. The surface uniformity signal is processed to provide an indication of the general uniformity of the tilled surface, and a surface control signal that is used for controlling operational parameters of the tillage implement.

A system measures the roughness of the ground surface over which an agricultural implement passes as measured in the direction of travel. The system includes at least one ground sensor attached to the agricultural implement that provides measurement of the distance to the ground. A controller is connected to the at least one ground sensor, and controls at least one adjustment of the agricultural implement. The at least one ground sensor provides instantaneous output based on the distance to the ground to the controller. The controller then calculates at least one statistical parameter from the instantaneous output. The at least one statistical parameter is calculated from variations in the distance to the ground in the direction of travel of the agricultural implement.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for application of a supplemental downward force to a ground working implement. A mechanical advantage from a lever arm can be utilized to apply supplemental downforce to a ground working implement. A biasing force can be applied to the lever arm by a spring assembly at various locations. Moving the spring assembly along the lever arm can vary the amount of downward force applied by the lever arm to ground working implement. In some implementations, moving the spring assembly to a different end of the lever arm applies an upward force to a coupled ground working implement.

An agricultural planting or seeding implement that includes a ground engaging tool that forms a trench in a field. The ground engaging tool includes a blade that forms the trench. A first conduit couples to the blade. The first conduit deposits agricultural product in the field. A sensor couples to the ground engaging tool. The sensor generates a signal indicative of a soil property of the field.

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.

An apparatus (1) and method are disclosed for seeding soil. The apparatus (1) comprises a soil-sensing arrangement. The apparatus (1) comprises a seed-delivery mechanism. The soil-sensing arrangement comprises one or more soil-sensing elements. Each of the one or more soil-sensing elements is configured to sense one or more conditions of the soil. The one or more soil-sensing elements can take the form of one or more soil-sensing tines 19. In the method, material is delivered to a locally-optimised soil depth LOD. In the method, there is at least periodic sensing of one or more conditions of the soil, and at two or more depths at mutually differing proximities to the locally-optimised depth.

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.