Planting – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-04
2004-03-02
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Planting
Miscellaneous
C111S904000, C111S900000, C111S130000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06698368
ABSTRACT:
This invention is in the field of agricultural seeders and in particular such seeders wherein application rates of various crop inputs, such as seed, fertilizer, and herbicides, can be varied during operation.
BACKGROUND
Farmers are continually seeking to increase production while minimizing costs, in order to reduce the cost per unit of production, and thus increase production efficiency. A recent trend has been that of looking towards Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for location specific application of crop inputs such as seed, fertilizer and herbicide as a means of increasing, or at least maintaining production levels and crop quality while simultaneously reducing the amount of crop inputs and thus reducing input costs.
The site specific farming concept includes identifying the level of nutrients required in a specific area of a field and subsequently appropriately applying crop inputs in that area in order to optimize production. Air seeders have been developed that provide the ability to vary the application rate of two, three or more crop inputs while the seeder is moving through a field. This ability can be combined with GPS technology to automatically apply the optimum level of each input on the field as the seeder moves through field areas wherein that optimum level changes.
GPS based crop input application systems require considerable up front analysis work to provide the nutrient and seed recommendations for a crop, in a selected field, in relation to position in the field. The recommendations are determined using multiple sources of data and are provided to a farmer by a trained person, typically an agronomist. The agronomist generally uses specialized computer software along with multiple sources of data, some of which include combine yield and moisture data, soil sampling data, infrared satellite imagery and topographical maps.
The agronomist determines and provides to a farmer a computer disk with a crop input prescription that sets out the levels of crop inputs for the different similar areas or “zones” in each of the fields. The information on the disk is then loaded into a computer that also receives location information from a GPS receiver and in turn communicates with systems for varying the application or metering rates for the various inputs carried by the air seeder cart.
The early stages of variable rate technology included bump (up or down) switches for controlling a metering device so the operator can increase or decrease the application rates of the crop input products on-the-go. These typically allow an operator to set the “normal” application rate at, for example 50 pounds per acre (lb/ac), and while moving along the field, to increase the rate to 60 pounds per acre, or decrease the rate to 40 pounds per acre. Operation of such a bump switch for a single metering device and crop input can be accomplished manually, however where two or three bump switches are employed for a like number of inputs, manually keeping track of each input is not practical.
Essentially the same principle has been refined in presently available variable rate monitor/control systems for air seeders, which typically carry at least two, and often three or more crop inputs, each in a separate tank with its own metering device. These systems allow the operator to predetermine different combinations of crop inputs and access these through a layered menu system. Rates can be selected to provide a plurality of rate “combinations”, for example as follows for three tanks and their associated inputs A, B, and C:
Input A
Input B
Input C
Combination I
70 lb/ac
60 lb/ac
80
lb/ac
Combination II
60 lb/ac
50 lb/ac
100
lb/ac
Combination III
80 lb/ac
70 lb/ac
120
lb/ac
Typically to change from one combination to another in present systems, the operator is required to make three menu selections by pressing three different places on a controller screen. This renders them cumbersome and impractical for making frequent rate changes on the go manually without the GPS mapping and control. Present systems are essentially a step in between conventional application and GPS controlled systems, and are designed primarily so that farmers can build a GPS system by purchasing the required building blocks separately.
GPS based systems are costly and complex. Considerable care must be taken to ensure the data is correct, and many farmers do not have a satisfactory understanding of the technology, and so are reluctant to accept it. Often it is desirable to make last minute changes in cropping plans due to markets, weather, or the like. Farmers who are not comfortable with the technology will require technical assistance from an agronomist. In the narrow window of time preferred for planting most crops, such technical assistance may be difficult to find on a timely basis, and the farmer may not be able to make the desired changes.
GPS application systems have not been widely accepted, perhaps due in part to the aging farm population. Older farmers are less familiar with computers and what they can do, and with only a limited number of years left in their careers are often willing to forego the benefits of varying crop input application rates primarily because of the complexity of the systems. The cost of the system would also be a major consideration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of applying different selected combinations of application rates of crop inputs on different zones in a field.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method that is less expensive than presently available methods, and is simple and intuitive to practice for an experienced farmer.
The present invention provides a method of applying a selected first combination of application rates of each of a plurality of crop inputs on a first zone in a field with a seeding implement, and applying a selected second combination of application rates of each of the crop inputs on a second zone in the field with the seeding implement, the seeding implement carrying a plurality of crop inputs and including a metering device for each crop input that is adjustable to vary the application rate of the respective crop input. The method comprises towing the seeding implement through the first zone in the field with the metering devices adjusted to apply the first combination of application rates; visually judging when the seeding implement crosses a first boundary from the first zone to the second zone; and, by performing a single action, adjusting the metering devices to apply the second combination of application rates on the second zone.
In a second aspect the invention provides a method of applying a selected first combination of application rates of each of a plurality of crop inputs on a first zone in a field with a seeding implement, and applying a selected second combination of application rates of each of the crop inputs on a second zone in the field with the seeding implement, and applying a selected third combination of application rates of each of the crop inputs on a third zone in the field with the seeding implement, the seeding implement carrying a plurality of crop inputs and including a metering device for each crop input that is adjustable to vary the application rate of the respective crop input. The method comprises towing the seeding implement through the first zone in the field with the metering devices adjusted to apply the first combination of application rates on the first zone; visually judging when the seeding implement crosses a first boundary from the first zone to the second zone; moving a selector switch from a first switch position to an adjacent second switch position to adjust the metering devices to apply the second combination of application rates on the second zone; visually judging when the seeding implement crosses a second boundary from the second zone to the third zone; and moving the selector switch from the second switch position to an adjacent third switch position to adjust the metering devices to apply the third combinati
Batson Victor
Bourgault Industries Ltd.
Frost Brown Todd LLC
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