A planting system having a plurality of row units, each row unit having: (a) at least one opening disc configured to open a seed trench; (b) a soil engaging member configured to engage a sidewall of the trench during planting; and (c) at least one strain gauge in operative communication with the soil engaging member, wherein the at least one strain gauge measures force on the soil engaging member during planting operations.

A row planting unit closing system including a first stage closing unit adapted to be attached to a row planting unit and including: a first stage frame; and a set of at least one row closing wheel having a closing angle orientation non-perpendicular relative to the ground; and wherein the first stage frame is attached at a first end to the row planting unit, the first stage frame comprising a linkage mechanism for setting a toe in angle orientation of the set of at least one row closing wheel relative to the first stage frame.

Application units provide placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, an application unit includes a frame to be positioned in operation between two rows of plants and a plurality of flexible members coupled to the frame in operation such that the plurality of flexible members guide a lateral position of the frame to be approximately equidistant from the two rows of plants based upon whether at least one flexible member of the plurality of flexible members contacts one or more plants of the two rows of plants. The plurality of flexible members include a plurality of fluid outlets for spraying crop input in close proximity to the rows of plants.

Described herein are air seeders that have force actuators acting on at least one of the firming implement and closing wheel to adjust for a specified downforce on at least one of the firming implement and the closing wheel. In one example, a seeding implement includes a support arm having a support arm first portion and a support arm second portion. A firming implement support arm is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first pivot at a first end of the firming implement support arm. A firming implement force actuator is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first end of the firming implement force actuator and connected to the firming implement support arm at the second end of the firming implement force actuator.

The present invention provides a ground engaging film roller 30.2 having a generally horizontal axis of rotation and an outer circumference for engaging ground, the roller having opposed outer ends 30.21 of a larger circumference than the circumference of portions 30.22 located between the opposed ends. The present invention also provides a film deployment system having a ground engaging film roller as described above, which is rotationally mounted to a frame 30.1, the ground engaging film roller 30.2 receiving film from above and to a front location of the roller, and passing between a film locating roller 30.3 and the ground engaging roller 30.2, the ground engaging roller 30.2 shaping the ground it engages by forming a channel in ground at the opposed ends 30.21 of the roller 30.2 for the film to be located as it leaves engagement with the ground engaging roller 30.2. The present invention also provides an agricultural or horticultural implement 10, 30 for performing an agricultural or horticultural process, the implement 10,30 including whipper arrangement 50 at a location forward of where the process will be performed. The agricultural or horticultural implement 10, 30 can be such that to the rear of where the process is performed there can located film deployment system 30 as described above.

A system for measuring real-time seed placement of seeds, such as corn seeds, during planting is provided. In certain embodiments, the sensing and measurement (SAM) system comprises various elements selected from the group consisting of a high-speed camera, light-section sensor, potentiometer, GPS unit, data acquisition system, and a control computer. The SAM system measures seeding depth, seed spacing, and geo-location of the seed. It is mounted on a planter row unit located in between the closing wheels and the gauge wheels with the camera and light section sensor directly facing the furrow.

A planting unit includes a seed meter for singulating and dispensing seed. Opening wheels or discs are included to create an opening in the field, such as a furrow. The unit includes one or more continuous tracks for supporting the row unit as it moves through the field. The tracks can be positioned on opposite sides. The tracks reduce compaction around the created furrow and provide better control of seed depth placement. One or more motors are included to operate the tracks to move the planting unit through a field for planting independent of a tow vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a radio-controlled seed planter. The radio-controlled seed planter comprises a radio-controlled (RC) truck including a remote control module to cause the RC truck to be controlled remotely by a radio control unit; and a seeding unit coupled and installed in the RC truck to perform seeding work. The RC truck comprises a main frame; a subframe formed to be spaced apart from the main frame; an engine installed on the main frame; a battery installed on the subframe; driving units disposed on front and rear sides on both sides of the subframe, respectively, to drive wheels; and damper units installed between the main frame and the subframe to dampen impact. The radio-controlled seed planter makes it possible to carry out sowing work remotely, thereby improving the convenience and efficiency of sowing work and at the same time reducing labor.

In one aspect, a system for monitoring the performance of ground engaging components of an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging component configured to rotate relative to soil within a field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a rotational speed of the ground engaging component. Furthermore, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller may be configured to monitor the rotational speed of the ground engaging component based on measurement signals received from the sensor and compare the monitored rotational speed to a baseline rotational speed value. Additionally, the controller may be configured to initiate a control action when it is determined that the monitored rotational speed has crossed the baseline rotational speed value a threshold number of times during a given time interval.

A row planting unit closing system, the system comprising: a first stage closing unit adapted to be attached to a row planting unit and comprising: a first stage frame; and a set of at least one row closing wheel having a closing angle orientation non-perpendicular relative to the ground; and wherein the first stage frame is attached at a first end to the row planting unit, the first stage frame comprising a linkage mechanism for setting a toe in angle orientation of the set of at least one row closing wheel relative to the first stage frame.