An agricultural planter has a chassis with a tool bar and at least one row unit. Each row unit is carried by the tool bar and has a fluid actuator and a linkage assembly connecting it to the tool bar. The linkage assembly and fluid actuator allows the row unit to be raised and lowered. A control module is operable to individually raise and lower each row unit on the agricultural planter using the fluid actuator in response to either a manual input, an automatically determined requirement or condition of the at least one row unit, or an automatically determined operating condition of the agricultural planter. The control module is further operable to prevent the raising or lowering of an individual row unit on the agricultural planter based on either a configuration of the agricultural planter or the potential occurrence of an undesirable weight or drag distribution.

The various embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for enabling an automatic seeder apparatus. The embodiments also provide a system and method for providing a portable seeder apparatus that does not entail any specific additional external mechanism for its operation. The system comprises a gravity-based seed dispensing system that enables a completely automatic seeder apparatus without any manual operations such as seed-feeding or alignment. The system comprises a conveyor, a seeder machine stand, a hopper, a seed dispensing tray with a hole seat, a bottom tray with holes, a seeding tray sensing sensor, a solenoid plunger, and a control box. The system enables a portable tabletop seeder apparatus that does not require any additional external mechanisms such as vacuum arrangements, air compressors, or any other mechanical push-pull mechanisms for its functioning.

An alternative drive dosing system for agricultural machines, e.g., pneumatically driven seeders and fertilizer spreaders with sectional cutting, comprising: a) a hopper having internal divisions; b) an air stream distribution system; and c) regulators for metering a product that are operated by two different systems, allowing various agricultural input distribution methods to be used; the dosing system alternatively comprising: (i) a main drive shaft linked to a plurality of feeders comprising roller sections with secondary shafts aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main shaft for metering the product from the hopper to the ground, wherein the main shaft and the secondary shafts are linked by means of a wrap clutch system consisting of a clutch in each roller section, capable of allowing or stopping the flow of inputs by activating or deactivating them by means of a solenoid, and wherein one end of the main drive shaft is linked to a gearbox or electrohydraulic motor, or electric motor or other type of main drive; or ii) an electric motor in replacement of the wrap clutch system on each roller section, wherein said motor is capable of enabling or stopping the flow of inputs by activating or deactivating it.

An agricultural machine includes a product bin configured to store particulate material; a conveyor configured to draw the particulate material from the product bin; a distribution plate including a plurality of apertures; and a sectional control funnel box mounted on the distribution plate. The sectional control funnel box is configured to receive particulate material from the conveyor, and has a plurality of chutes extending therethrough and connecting the sectional control funnel box to the distribution plate. Distribution lines are configured to receive particulate material from a single aperture of the distribution plate and provide the particulate material to a distribution point of the distribution line. A system controller is configured to individually control a flow of the particulate material to each distribution line based on a location of the agricultural machine. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.