An agricultural implement system includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.

An agricultural planter includes systems, methods, and apparatuses for maintaining down force pressure at row units of the planter. The row units may include an electric linear actuator connected to linkages of the row units to maintain a down force pressure for the row unit. The linkage may also be removed and replaced with a strut or like mechanism to apply a direct down force pressure to components of the row unit. One or more sensors can be included to obtain information related to the ground to automatically adjust the amount of down force provided based upon a ground characteristic in order to maintain a substantially uniform furrow depth.

An agricultural implement includes at least one row unit having a plurality of support members, each of which is pivotably coupled to an attachment frame or another of the support members to permit vertical pivoting vertical movement of the support members, and a plurality of soil-engaging tools, each of which is coupled to at least one of the support members. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the support members for urging the support members downwardly toward the soil. A plurality of controllable pressure control valves are coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinders. A plurality of sensors produce electrical signals corresponding to predetermined conditions, and a controller is coupled to the sensor and the controllable pressure control valves. The controller receives the electrical signals from the sensors and produces control signals for controlling the pressure control valves.

In one aspect, a system for monitoring soil conditions within a field may include an implement configured to be traversed across a field. The implement may further include a plurality of ground engaging tools pivotally coupled to the frame and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor may be configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of one of the plurality of ground engaging tools. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor a displacement of each ground engaging tool and determine a current global ground engaging tool displacement parameter for the implement based on the monitored displacements of the plurality of ground engaging tools. Additionally, the controller may be configured to identify a soil condition for a swath of the field being traversed by the implement based on a comparison between the current global ground engaging tool displacement parameter and a predetermined global displacement threshold.

A row unit for a seeding machine. The row unit includes a frame, a first gauge wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a first gauge wheel coupled to the first gauge wheel arm, a second gauge wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a second gauge wheel coupled to the second gauge wheel arm, and a depth sensor having a potentiometer coupled to the first gauge wheel arm.

A blade trip system which allows a blade to adjust upwardly to safely pass over an obstruction and then revert downwardly after passing over the obstruction without damaging the blade or frame. The blade trip system generally includes a coupler connected to an implement; with the implement being adapted to traverse a ground surface. An arm may be rotatably connected at its first end to the coupler. The second end of the arm may be connected to a blade; with the blade being adapted to cut the ground surface. A biasing device connected between the arm and coupler is adapted to bias the arm away from the coupler. The arm is adapted to rotate upwardly toward the coupler to a raised position when the blade contacts an obstruction in the ground surface and rotate downwardly away from the coupler to a lowered position after the blade has passed over the obstruction.

A seed firmer includes an attachment bracket having a portion provided for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. A non-compliant arm is provided with a ground-facing surface for engagement with the soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount through which the non-compliant arm is connected to the attachment bracket. The mount is a compliant mount operable to deflect and exert an elastic bias force during operation, without deflection of the non-compliant arm.

A plow bottom is configured to be easily reset when striking a rock while plowing. The plow operator may set the force required for the plow bottom to disengage using the adjustment switch. Once the shank strikes an object, the plow bottom will disengage. The plow operator then lifts the plow assembly using the tractor to raise the plow bottoms out of the ground. A spring then forces the disengaged plow bottom to reengage. Once the plow bottom is reengaged, the plow operator lowers the plow assembly and continues plowing the land.

An agricultural system comprising a plough. The plough comprising: a plough body; a stone-trip-mechanism that is configured to be tripped when the plough body encounters a stone or other obstruction; and a trip-sensor configured to provide trip-data in response to the stone-trip-mechanism being tripped. The agricultural system also includes a location-determining-system associated with the plough, wherein the location-determining-system is configured to provide location-data that is representative of a location of the plough; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive the trip-data; and store location-data provided by the location-determining-system as a trip-location based on the trip-data, wherein the trip-location is a location of the plough at the time that the stone-trip-mechanism is tripped.

An agricultural implement system includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.