Monsanto Technology LLC

Andrew D Thielen

David J Baitinger

Brian J Forinash

Eric L Borrowman

Charles Wolfersberger

Roger A Weyhrich

Christopher A Hundley

Chad A Heathcote

Timothy J Forbes

Christopher Louis Corelli

Timothy Edward Reitz

Brian Forinash

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.).

Planters for planting seeds in fields, and related methods of planting

A seed meter comprising a seed handler comprising a cylinder comprising a plurality of seed chambers. The seed handler rotates the cylinder to sequentially position each seed chamber in a 'loading' position wherein each seed chamber receives a sets of seeds, a 'planting' position wherein seeds from each seed set are parsed, and an &#x2018;evacuation&#x2019; position wherein any seeds remaining in each chamber are evacuated from each chamber. The seed meter additionally comprises a seed separator comprising a seed disc. The seed disc rotates, parses seed from each seed chamber, and transports the seeds to the exit chute. Importantly, the seed meter is structured and operable to substantially simultaneously, receive the sets of seed in the respective chamber positioned in the &#x2018;loading&#x2019; position, parse the seeds from the respective chamber positioned in the &#x2018;planting&#x2019; position, and evacuate the remaining seed from the respective chamber positioned in the &#x2018;evacuation&#x2019; position.

Crop input variety selection systems, methods, and apparatus

The present disclosure provides a transformable agricultural planter that is structured and operable to transform to a Transport Configuration wherein a width of the planter is less than or equal to a Department Of Transportation maximum load width for which special 'Wide Load' permits are not required. The planter includes a support cart including a telescoping support axle having a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted thereto and a plurality of actuators connected to the telescoping support axle. The actuators are operable to extend and retract the telescoping support axle such that a spacing between the wheel assemblies can be set to any desired distance. The planter additionally includes a main toolbar assembly connected a toolbar lift and spin assembly rotatably mounted to the support cart and operable to rotate, raise and lower the main toolbar assembly between the Transport Configuration and a Planting Configuration.

Dynamic row spacing planter system

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Andrew D Thielen