Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture and soil temperature during an agricultural input application. Embodiments include a soil moisture sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor mounted to a seed firmer for measuring moisture and temperature in a planting trench. Additionally, systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting depth based on the monitored soil properties.

A seed conduit defining a first end and a second end. The first end couples to a storage container and the second end to a planter shoe. The seed conduit includes a first flange coupled to and extending away from the second end of the seed conduit. The first flange extends into a gap defined by the planter shoe to deliver product from the storage container to a trench. The seed conduit includes a first support rib coupled to the first flange.

A liquid dispensing apparatus for applying liquid products to row crops. The liquid dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of drop assemblies supported by and laterally spaced along a boom structure. Each of the drop assemblies includes dribble hoses for dribbling a liquid product onto the soil in a rhizosphere of adjacent crop rows. The drop assemblies may include a spray assembly for spraying the row crops. The dribble hoses may be supported by a base unit with positionable support brackets.

A seeding implement has an implement frame with a lateral frame member. Spoked wheels rotate about a wheel axis that is fixed with respect to the implement frame. Shanks are mounted to the lateral frame member such that each shank is movable with respect to the frame. Each spoked wheel rotates about the wheel axis in a plane that is vertical, aligned with, and forward of, a front face of a corresponding shank, and ends of spokes pass adjacent to a front face of the shank. A spoke clearance distance between the ends of the spokes and the front face of the corresponding shank remains within a trash clearing range as the shank moves with respect to the implement frame from a first operating position to a second operating position that is below the first operating position.

An agricultural metering system includes independently controllable sets of meter rollers. Each set of meter rollers includes at least one meter roller and is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis, and the rotational axes are generally parallel to one another and not aligned with one another. The agricultural metering system also includes meter boxes configured to receive agricultural product from a compartment of a storage tank. Each set of meter rollers is disposed within a respective meter box, and each set of meter rollers is configured to meter the agricultural product from the compartment of the storage tank. The agricultural metering system also includes distribution lines. Each distribution line is disposed downstream from a respective set of meter rollers and is configured to receive the agricultural product output from the respective set of meter rollers.

A system for measuring soil properties on-the-go using a narrow profile sensor unit is provided on an implement for traversing a field. The sensor unit includes a front disk/coulter arranged to open a slot in the soil, a runner assembly arranged to follow behind the front disk/coulter for sliding contact with the soil in the slot, and a rotating disk/spoked wheel arranged to follow behind the runner assembly to close the slot. The front disk or coulter serves as a first electrode of an electrode array, the runner assembly has second and third electrodes attached thereto, and the rotating disk/spoked wheel serves as a fourth electrode. The electrode array can be used to measure soil electrical conductivity at multiple depths and to measure soil moisture. An optical window and pH sensor can also be incorporated into the runner assembly to measure soil reflectance and soil pH.

An agricultural implement includes a chassis and a shank carried by the chassis. The shank includes: a shank body configured to penetrate a soil top surface; a sensor attached to an outer surface of the shank body and defining a probing area; and a sensor shield carried by the shank body in front of the sensor, the sensor shield being configured to deflect oncoming soil flow away from the sensor without substantially disrupting soil flow into the probing area.

A multiple use toolbar attachment for an agricultural implement to tiller to enhance seed planting and row making. The toolbar converts the agricultural implement between a tilling implement and a planting implement in “one-step” by rotation of the toolbar about a longitudinal axis. A plurality of implement mounting brackets are disposed in a spaced apart relation along the longitudinal length of the tool bar. A forward mounting bracket is adapted to receive a first implement and an aft mounting bracket is adapted to receive a second implement. Rotation of the toolbar selectively positions one of the first implement or the second implement to treat the ground surface. The multiple use toolbar may be coupled to another implement, such as a tiller, for tandem operation with the another implement.

A seeding unit comprising: a support; a soil opening member mounted to the support; and a seed delivery outlet, defining an exit aperture for releasing seed; wherein the soil opening member comprises: an upper blade portion operative to form a seed collection slot in the ground; and a lower blade portion laterally offset from the upper blade portion and operative to form a deep rooting slot in the ground that is offset laterally from the seed collection slot.

A knife for creating berms in agricultural fields for strip -till farming includes wings on opposing sides of the knife edge that are configured to fracture and raise soil in a wider path for building a berm behind the knife. The wings can be swept back, angled downward from front to back, and angled downward from inside to outside, for better loosening compacted soil below the surface and creating improved berms rearward of the knife. The knife edge can be replaceable by removal of a single pin. If a difficult object is encountered, such as large rocks or tree roots, the knife can swing reward with respect to a supporting shank to minimize damage to the knife. Upon swinging reward, an agricultural product delivery tube rearward of the knife for depositing agricultural product into the berm can swing forward to minimize crimping of the delivery tube.