A device for killing weeds by application of a high temperature fluid to the weeds includes an elongated applicator chamber having a plurality of fluid discharge openings and an elongated distributing member arranged in the applicator chamber. The distributing member includes at least one fluid inlet and a plurality of distribution openings in fluid communication with the applicator chamber. A method for killing weeds by application of a high temperature fluid to the weeds includes: supplying the high temperature fluid to at least one inlet of an elongated distributing member; distributing the high temperature fluid in a longitudinal direction of the distributing member; transferring the high temperature fluid to an elongated applicator chamber through a plurality of distribution openings; and applying the high temperature fluid to the weeds through a plurality of fluid discharge openings.

In one aspect, a suspension control system is provided for dynamically adjusting pistons located proximal to wheels of an agricultural machine to account for tire deflection or squat with varying loads. Articulation, pitch, roll and/or machine height can be determined from pressure measurements on the machine to apply such tire height corrections. For sprayers, this allows controlling clearance and suspension height to maintain the boom parallel to the ground to prevent damage.

An irrigation system broadly comprising a number of irrigation spans and a control system configured to operate single speed drive motors of the irrigation spans in a start-up mode, full speed mode, and wind-down mode. In the start-up mode, the motor controller gradually increases the drive motor speed from 0 rpms to a full speed by ramping a voltage applied to the drive motor from a starting voltage to a full speed voltage according to a start-up voltage profile over a start-up time interval. In the full speed mode, the motor controller operates the drive motor at a full speed voltage. In the wind-down mode, the motor controller gradually decreases the drive motor speed from full speed to 0 rpms by ramping the voltage applied to the drive motor from the full speed voltage to an ending voltage according to a wind-down voltage profile over a wind-down time interval.

A farming machine is configured to identify and treat plants in a field. The farming machine includes one or more light sensors for measuring a characteristic of light. The one or more light sensors are coupled to the farming machine and are directed a substantially upwards orientation away from the plants. A control system adjusts settings of an image acquisition system based on a characteristic of light measured by the one or more light sensors. The image acquisition system captures an image of a plant using one or more image sensors coupled to the farming machine, the one or more image sensors directed in a substantially downwards orientation towards the plants. The control system identifies a plant in the image and actuates a treatment mechanism to treat the identified plant.

An agricultural machine system for performing agricultural tasks in a field on which plants are planted or will be planted in a pattern, the system comprising: a prime mover; a tool bar connected to the prime mover; a plurality of units attached to the tool bar, the units configured to perform at least one agricultural tasks and wherein at least two of the units are disposed in an offset relationship from each other with respect to a forward direction of travel of the agricultural machine about the tool bar; and a control unit in communication with the prime mover and the plurality of units, the control unit configured to determine a selective location corresponding to the pattern in which plants are planted or will be planted and activate the units at the selective location to perform the at least one agricultural task as the agricultural machine system travels along a plurality of rows.

A spray boom includes a body having a length defined a first end and a second end thereof. The body is formed by a plurality of layers of composite material adapted to be molded together to form an inner surface and an outer surface. A hollow cavity is defined in the body internally of the inner surface, and a channel is formed in the body between the inner surface and the outer surface. The channel extends along the length and is defined between the first end and the second end.

A method for performing spraying operations includes monitoring a field condition of a first swath based on data received from a sensor as an agricultural sprayer makes a first pass across a field, the sensor being associated with a first boom section assembly extending over the first swath during the first pass. The method further includes controlling a nozzle assembly as the sprayer makes a second pass across the field to perform a spraying operation along the first swath based on the monitored field condition of the first swath, the nozzle assembly being associated with a second boom section assembly extending over the first swath during the second pass. Additionally, the method includes monitoring a field condition of a second swath based on data received from the sensor as the sprayer makes the second pass across the field.

The present invention is directed to apparatuses, methods, and systems that provide a tracking assembly adapted to be used with a vegetation control system, the assembly comprising: an articulating frame; a pivoting frame coupled to the articulating frame along a pivot axis; a vegetation control application system coupled to the pivoting frame; a first ground tracking device coupled to the articulating frame configured to contact a surface underneath the articulating frame and position the articulating frame relative to the surface underneath the articulating frame; and a second ground tracking device coupled to the pivoting frame configured to contact a surface underneath the pivoting frame and position the pivoting frame and vegetation control application system relative to the surface underneath the pivoting frame, wherein the second ground tracking device pivots the pivoting frame about the pivot axis when an elevation of the surface underneath the second tracking device is different to an elevation of the surface underneath the first tracking device.

A localized product injection system includes a composite boom tube having a carrier fluid passage within a tube body, and at least one injection product passage within the tube body isolated from the carrier fluid passage. A plurality of port stations are provided at locations along the tube body. Each of the port stations includes a carrier fluid outlet port and at least one injection product outlet port. A localized injection interface is coupled at a port station. The injection interface includes a carrier fluid input coupled with the carrier fluid outlet port, and at least one injection product input coupled with the at least one injection product outlet port. The injection interface includes at least one throttling element in communication with the at least one injection product input, a mixing chamber, and an injection port configured for localized coupling and injection to a product dispenser.

A method of operating a fluid sprayer includes supplying a first fluid selected from a group consisting of larvicide, adulticide, and a barrier repellant to a nozzle assembly at a first regulated pressure. The method further includes changing the first regulated pressure to a second regulated pressure different than the first regulated pressure. The method further includes supplying a second fluid selected from the group to the nozzle assembly at the second regulated pressure.