Precision Planting, Inc.

The Climate Corporation

Caterpillar Inc.

Derek A Sauder

Jason J Stoller

Justin L Koch

Jeremy J Hodel

Chad E Plattner

Gregg A Sauder

Ian Radtke

Timothy A Sauder

Troy L Plattner

Dale M Koch

Phil D Baurer

Don L Dunlap

Michael Strnad

Brian McMahon

Paul Wildermuth

Tracy Leman

Matthew P Morgan

Tim Sauder

Steven D Monday

Doug Sauder

Kent Levy

David Huber

Cory Muhlbauer

Tim Schaefer

Kenneth R Dill

Jeremy E Zobrist

Todd Swanson

Ryan Allgaier

Brad A Wiegand

Kenneth P Sauder

Alan Lewis Ferguson

Matthew Morgan

Matthew Justus Miller

Michael K Oudyn

Matthew C Full

Dale Koch

Ian R Radtke

Phil D Bauer

Tim A Sauder

A liquid application apparatus for applying liquid to soil during a planting operation, having: a ground-engaging component mounted to a planter row unit, the planter row unit opening a planting trench, the planter row unit depositing seeds in the planting trench, the ground-engaging component disposed at least partially within the planting trench as the planter row unit traverses the field; a first liquid injection conduit mounted to the ground-engaging component and disposed to inject liquid into a first sidewall of the planting trench, and wherein the ground-engaging component is mounted in a housing via at least one of a height adjustment arm that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for height adjustment of the ground-engaging component, and a spring that is pivotably mounted in the housing to allow for vertical deflection of the ground-engaging component.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for agricultural liquid application

Methods and systems provided for generating an irrigation map. In one computer-implemented method, a user is instructed, by a computing device, to draw an irrigation boundary in a map of an agricultural field. In response, the computing device receives a first input, from the user, at the map of the agricultural field displayed to the user, where the input includes a point of the irrigation boundary. A second input is solicited from the user and, in turn, the computing device receives the second input, which defines a dimension of the irrigation boundary. The computing device then appends a shape of the irrigation boundary to the map, based on the point and the dimension, wherein the irrigation boundary is positioned based on the point indicated by the user.

Methods for generating soil maps and application prescriptions

Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Systems, methods and apparatus for detecting stalks processed by a combine harvester, for measuring stalk diameters, and for displaying harvest metrics and yield data to a user based on stalk locations and stalk diameters.

Stalk sensor apparatus, systems, and methods

Methods are provided for generating a prescription map for the application of crop inputs. In one method, the user draws a boundary on a map within a user interface and the system identifies relevant soil data and generates a soil map overlay and legend for changing the application prescription for various soils and soil conditions. In another method, the user instead drives a field boundary which is recorded on a planter monitor using a global positioning receiver, and the system generates a soil map and legend for changing the application prescription.

A dynamic supplemental downforce control system for a planter row unit. The system includes closed-loop feedback circuit that cooperates with a downforce actuator to dynamically control fluid flow to the downforce actuator to maintain balance between the actual gauge wheel downforce and a desired gauge wheel downforce during planting operations.

Dynamic supplemental downforce control system for planter row units

An agricultural row unit includes a soil-engaging tool supported from a pivot arm. A sensor generates an output signal relating to an orientation of the pivot arm relative to a frame member. An actuator is configured to applying a down pressure on the soil-engaging tool. A control system in signal communication with the sensor is responsive to the generated output signal to effect a change in applied down pressure on the soil-engaging tool by the actuator. The soil-engaging tool may be a closing wheel or a flap. One or more additional sensors may be provided on gauge wheel arms of the row unit with the control system being responsive to output signals of the additional sensors to effect the change in applied down pressure on the soil-engaging tool by the actuator.

Down-pressure control for agricultural trench closing systems

Systems, methods, and apparatus for soil and seed monitoring

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for determining the depth of a trench opened by an agricultural planter. Sensors are provided for detecting the position of a ground-engaging element of the planter such as a gauge wheel or seed firmer of a row unit of the planter. Apparatus and methods are provided for installing such sensors onto a row unit of the planter. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling downpressure on a row unit based on the trench depth. Methods are provided for mapping trench depth measured by the depth sensors.

Agricultural trench depth sensing systems, methods, and apparatus

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture and soil temperature during an agricultural input application. Embodiments include a soil moisture sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor mounted to a seed firmer for measuring moisture and temperature in a planting trench. Additionally, systems, methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting depth based on the monitored soil properties.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for agricultural implement trench depth control and soil monitoring

A pneumatic on-demand seed delivery system wherein seed from the auxiliary hopper enters the seed meter through an opening beginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter. And a retrofit kit for existing on-demand seed delivery systems, and method of retrofitting such existing pneumatic on-demand seed delivery systems, so as to provide an auxiliary hopper that communicates seed to the seed meter through an opening beginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter.

Method of retrofitting a pneumatic on-demand seed delivery system and an improved pneumatic on-demand seed delivery system

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for determining corrected population based on a meter drive signal. Systems, methods, and apparatus are additionally provided for determining a stability metric based on a meter drive signal. A method for monitoring a seed application rate of a seed planter includes measuring a rotation of a seed disc of a seed meter, measuring a performance value corresponding to the seed meter, and calculating the population value based on the rotation and the meter performance value.

Application control and monitoring apparatus, systems and methods

A seed meter for an agricultural planter in which the seed disc is rotatably mounted within a seed meter housing. As the seed disc rotates, the apertures in the disc rotate along a seed aperture path through a horizontally adjacent seed pool area. The seed disc includes cavities disposed along the seed aperture path to agitate the seeds in the seed pool area. A singulator having multiple co-planar singulator surfaces is biased against the seed side surface of the seed disc.

Seed meter with floating singulator

Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling the downforce applied to a row unit of an agricultural implement having multiple row units. A downpressure control device in fluid communication with a down chamber of the least one actuator maintains as a selected downpressure, any one of a continuous range of pressures in the downpressure chamber. Pressure in the down chamber tending to oppose pressure in the lift chamber of the at least one actuator.

Apparatus, systems and methods for row unit downforce control

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Tremont, IL, United States of America

Derek A Sauder