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 collection device has a chute supported below the calibration opening on pneumatic delivery lines through which seed can be dispensed during calibration of a seed meter below a seed tank of an agricultural air seeder implement. The chute has a top opening at a top side in alignment with the calibration opening thereabove so as to receive seed discharged through the calibration opening into the chute through the top opening and a bottom that slopes downwardly to one end locating a discharge opening through which collected seed is dispensed. The chute is supported on bag mounts of the implement from which a flexible calibration bag is otherwise suspended. A gate is operably associated with the discharge opening.

A planting device may include a platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an aperture. Either a projection that extends from the bottom surface or a planting tube that extends from the top surface may be configured couple to the aperture. The projection and the planting tube may be interchangeable. The planting device may further include a handle extending from the top surface.

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter assembly having a metering member with a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side. The metering member is operable to selectively move seeds from the seed reservoir. A pump provides a pressure differential between the seed side and the non-seed side for adhering the seeds to the metering member. A conveyor has an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine. The conveyor includes a belt movable from the inlet to the outlet. A pneumatic seed displacer includes a nozzle disposed adjacent the metering member for concentrating air. The nozzle is configured to eject the air towards the metering member for directing the seeds from the metering member to the conveyor.

A seed orientation system for an agricultural planter includes a seed orientation coil assembly defining a helical pathway. As seed from a seed source enters the seed orientation coil assembly air flow from an air source is directed toward the seed causing the seed to orient as the seed moves along the helical pathway toward a seed exit. Upon exiting the seed orientation coil assembly, the seed is deposited into the seed furrow with the seed tip-down and with germ of the seed facing an adjacent seed row. The seed orientation system may be retrofitted onto existing planter row units.

A seeding device for depositing seeds in a soil material, comprising: (i) a frame detachably mounted to a support structure of a moveable gantry, (ii) a plurality of discs rotatably mounted about a shaft of the frame and configured to be vertically lowered into the soil at a predefined depth relative to the ground plane, and, (iii) a seed deposition system mounted to the frame configured to dispense seeds into a plurality of seeding tubes. Each seeding tube is aligned with, and disposed downstream from, a respective one of the plurality of discs such that as the frame traverses over the soil by displacement of flue moveable gantry, grooves are produced in the soil by the plurality of discs, and seeds are deposited into each groove by the seeding tubes of the seed deposition system.

A collection device has a chute supported below the calibration opening on pneumatic delivery lines through which seed can be dispensed during calibration of a seed meter below a seed tank of an agricultural air seeder implement. The chute has a top opening at a top side in alignment with the calibration opening thereabove so as to receive seed discharged through the calibration opening into the chute through the top opening and a bottom that slopes downwardly to one end locating a discharge opening through which collected seed is dispensed. The chute is supported on bag mounts of the implement from which a flexible calibration bag is otherwise suspended. A gate is operably associated with the discharge opening.

A seed spreading device for use with a combine harvester that has a residue distribution system which has a hopper enclosure, metering device, motor, and a guide tube with an end in communication with a residue distribution system. A metering device has a first opening and second opening with a delivery feeder disposed between the openings. Seeds in the hopper enclosure enter the first opening of the metering device through an aperture in the hopper enclosure. A motor is operatively connected to the delivery feeder which moves seeds from the first opening to the second opening of the metering device into a guide tube disposed proximate thereto. The guide tube delivers seed from the metering device into the residue distribution system of the combine harvester to be deposited during a harvesting process.

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter assembly having a metering member with a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side. The metering member is operable to selectively move seeds from the seed reservoir. A pump provides a pressure differential between the seed side and the non-seed side for adhering the seeds to the metering member. A conveyor has an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine. The conveyor includes a belt movable from the inlet to the outlet. A pneumatic seed displacer includes a nozzle disposed adjacent the metering member for concentrating air. The nozzle is configured to eject the air towards the metering member for directing the seeds from the metering member to the conveyor.

The present invention relates to a precision seed drill (1) for dust free discharge of plant propagation materials onto an underlying agricultural surface for seed, the drill comprising: a. a reservoir container (10) for the plant propagation material, b. a separating device (20) which is configured to separate plant propagation material (K) fed from the reservoir container (10), and to output them individually, and c. an application assembly (30) configured to selectively apply an aliquot of a dressing composition to the separated plant propagation materials (K) directly before it is injected into the soil.