A planter comprises an automated planting unit for planting plots of seeds in a field. The planting unit includes a first seed storage unit configured to provide seeds to the planting unit and a second seed storage unit configured to provide seeds to the planting unit. The planting unit also includes a seed meter configured to plant seeds from the first seed storage unit and the second seed storage unit in a field, and a diverter unit coupled to the first and second seed storage units and to the seed meter. The diverter, then, is configured to selectively direct seeds from either the first seed storage unit or the second seed storage unit to the seed meter, whereby the seeds from the first and second seed storage units may be planted separately or together (e.g., for mixed planting, etc.).

A method of calibrating a meter module wherein the meter module comprises: an opening; a bottom opening; a metering mechanism disposed in the meter module; a bottom plate to selectively open and close the bottom opening; and a load cell for measuring a mass of material in the meter module, the method comprising: starting the metering mechanism to flow material through the meter module; at any time before counting, closing the bottom opening with the bottom plate; during a counting time, counting a number of metering units of the metering mechanism and measuring an amount of material with the load cell; and calculating an amount of mass per metering unit.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for selecting an agricultural input include and second seed meters that selectively meter seed from first and second sources, respectively, into a common planting trench. In some embodiments, the seed meters are selectively operated by electric motors controlled with reference to a seed type prescription. In some embodiments, the first and second seed meters deposit seeds along a common plane.

A sectional control device controls the flow of particulate material from a meter assembly to a primary manifold of an air seeding system. The sectional control device includes a plate assembly having particulate openings extending between the meter assembly and the primary manifold and a shut-off mechanism configured to control the flow of the particulate material through the particulate openings. The shut-off mechanism includes a gate configured to slide between an open position, where particulate material can flow through the particulate opening, and a closed position, where particulate material is prevented from flowing through the particulate opening. The shut-off mechanism also includes an actuator configured to drive the gate between the open position and the closed position.

In one aspect, a system for spraying a fluid onto or near seeds may include a planter having a seed meter configured to dispense seeds from a hopper, a seed tube extending from the seed meter toward a furrow, and a rotationally-driven belt positioned within the seed tube. The belt may be configured for conveying the seeds from the seed meter through the seed tube to the furrow. The planter also includes a sprayer assembly having a nozzle configured to spray a fluid on or near the seeds dispensed from the seed meter. The system may further include a controller configured to determine a current speed of the belt relative to the seed tube and control the sprayer assembly based on the current speed of the belt such that the nozzle sprays the fluid at least one of onto or near each of the seeds.

A dual-disk seed meter for a planter may include a housing defining a first seed chamber configured to receive first seeds of a first seed type and a second seed chamber configured to receive second seeds of a second seed type. The seed meter may also include a first seed disk rotatable within the housing to convey the first seeds from the first seed chamber, a second seed disk rotatable within the housing to convey the second seeds from the second seed chamber, and a drive assembly configured to simultaneously rotate the first and second seed disks. In addition, the seed meter may include a seed deflector movable relative to the first seed disk and/or the second seed disk to control which of the seed types is discharged from the housing based on a selected seed type to be delivered by the seed meter.

A dual-disk seed meter for a planter may include a housing defining a first seed chamber configured to receive first seeds of a first seed type and a second seed chamber configured to receive second seeds of a second seed type. The seed meter may also include a first seed disk rotatable within the housing to convey the first seeds from the first seed chamber, a second seed disk rotatable within the housing to convey the second seeds from the second seed chamber, and a drive assembly configured to simultaneously rotate the first and second seed disks. In addition, the seed meter may include a seed deflector movable relative to the first seed disk and/or the second seed disk to control which of the seed types is discharged from the housing based on a selected seed type to be delivered by the seed meter.

Agricultural implement assembly, for the rapid transformation of a seed drill with a drilling or dragging dosing device, volumetric supplier to an on-demand supplier and vice versa, including at least one hopper containing a granular input, such as grains, seeds or granules of agrochemicals, and a delivery device arranged under the hopper. This device has a structure consisting of two physically delimited areas. A seed box is formed by side walls that delimit its width, a bottom wall, a rear wall with the air inlet from the fan, and a front partition that has at least the passage of the seed to the area where the dragging rotor is eventually located for the case of drilling work, or to the area where the containment slope is located for the case of on-demand supply.

A portioning device for chemical granular material, in particular fertilizer, having an inlet opening for granules, an outlet opening for discharging granule portions produced from the granules and at least one rotationally drivable conveying element which is designed to combine granules fed to the portioning device to give granule portions during a rotational movement.

The invention relates to an agricultural tool unit for the rapid conversion of a seed drill having a trailed or fine-grain seed dispenser with volumetric supply to an on-demand supply system and vice versa, which includes at least one hopper containing a granular feed material, such as grains, seeds or agrochemical granules, and a delivery device arranged under the hopper. This device has a structure that consists of two physically defined areas. One of the areas, hereinafter referred to as the “seed box”, has a direct connection to the hopper, receiving the granular material from same, generally gravity-fed, and another area, hereinafter referred to as the “air box”, which has a connection to an air source such as a fan or similar. The seed box is formed by side walls that define its width, a lower bottom wall, a rear wall with the air inlet from the fan, and a front wall that comprises at least the passage for the seed leading to the area where the trailing rotor is located for fine-grain work, or to the area where the retaining slope is located for on-demand supply.