Described herein are systems, implements, and methods for seed orientation during planting operations of agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a system for seed orientation includes a seed disk capable of rotation in operation and having at least one singulator to adjust an orientation of seed to a desired seed orientation for placement within a furrow during planting. A vision system in proximity to the seed disk determines seed orientation data for seed on the seed disk.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties. An example control and monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units includes a reflectivity sensor, a camera, a processor, and a monitoring device. The reflectivity sensor generates a reflectivity signal related to reflectivity of soil worked by the row units. The camera captures images of a seed trench opened by an opening assembly of the row units. The camera is disposed on a shank extension forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row units. The processor is configured to calculate a statistical variation in the reflectivity signal and the monitoring device is configured to display one or more of the images captured by the camera and a representation of the statistical variation.

A row unit for a work vehicle includes a row unit frame with a closer frame. The closer frame defines a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The closer frame is supported for rotational movement about a substantially vertical steering axis to vary a turning angle between the longitudinal axis the vehicle longitudinal axis. The row unit includes a closer implement assembly with first and second closer implements and a walking beam construction. The first and second closer implements are attached to opposite areas of the walking beam construction. The walking beam construction is rotationally attached to the closer frame to support rotation of the closer implement assembly about the transverse axis. The first and second closer implements are configured to move ground material into a ground opening from opposites sides as the work vehicle moves across the field.

A mounting assembly for an agricultural product meter includes an upper mount configured to support at least a portion of a weight of the agricultural product meter. The upper mount is configured to couple to a support structure. The mounting assembly also includes a pin configured to engage the agricultural product meter via movement of the pin along a longitudinal axis of the pin. In addition, the mounting assembly includes a lower mount configured to selectively receive the pin via movement of the pin along the longitudinal axis of the pin. The lower mount is configured to couple to the support structure, and the pin is configured to block movement of the agricultural product meter away from the support structure while the pin is engaged with the agricultural product meter and the lower mount.

A closing wheel assembly for a seed row planter unit resides behind the gauge wheel assembly and furrow disks of the planter unit. The closing wheel assembly includes a coupler with a pair of closing wheels mounted thereon. A single pin removably extends through the coupler and through the gauge wheel assembly to detachably mount the closing wheel assembly to the gauge wheel assembly. Different closing wheel assemblies can be quickly mounted on the row unit, depending upon the type of seed being planted. The closing wheels are laterally adjustable via a rotatable threaded bushing so as to be centered behind the furrow disks.

A planter for planting seeds in the ground including a seed meter configured to provide a regulated flow of seeds, and a seed conduit defining a first portion of a flow path configured to transport the seeds from the seed meter towards the ground. The planter also includes a seed guide having an aperture in fluid communication with the seed conduit, the seed guide defining a second portion of the flow path configured to transport the seeds from the seed conduit towards the ground, and a shaft configured to reciprocate with respect to the seed guide through a stroke path towards and away from the ground. The shaft is configured to create a discrete hole in the ground for one of the seeds. A side of the shaft is configured to inhibit the one of the seeds from entering the second portion of the flow path until the shaft retracts past the aperture.

A first biasing element is positioned between an opening unit and a first frame for urging the opening unit downward. A lateral pivot combines the first biasing element to the first frame to allow for lateral movement in a horizontal plane of the opening unit. A first resilient device is positioned between the closing unit and the first frame to allow for lateral movement about a vertical axis of the closing unit and to urge the closing unit back to a neutral position. A second resilient device is positioned between the closing unit and the first frame to allow for vertical movement about a horizontal axis and to urge the closing unit back to a neutral position.

Arrangement for positioning mechanisms of seed drill machines for transport, preferably of the “auto trailer” type, including at least one toolholder bar, with their respective sowing units, divided into a central piece coupled to the structure of the chassis, and two side pieces, one at each side of the central piece, which pivot in a horizontal plane for being folded, with the corresponding sowing units, from the working position of the seed drill to the transport position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. The toolholder bar is mounted on a cart attached by guide plates to a lift tower and moves both up and down along said tower by triggering hydraulic cylinders. The lift tower is coupled to mobility device, with the toolholder bars and sowing units, from the working position to the transport position of the seed drill, and vice versa. The transport position is defined in a section of the drawbar next to the attachment end of a transportation tractor of the machine.

A seed meter for metering a plurality of seeds includes a seed meter housing defining a seed inlet, a seed outlet, and a chamber therebetween, a hub rotatably mounted to the seed meter housing about a rotational axis and extending from a first end positioned within the chamber of the seed meter housing to a second end positioned outside of the seed meter housing, a metering element mounted to the hub within the chamber, a plurality of drain apertures located in the seed meter housing adjacent to the hub, and a handle mounted to the second end of the hub, the handle extends over the plurality of drain apertures in an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis of the hub.