Improved crop yields are obtained by determining total dissolved solids (TDS) in a representative sample of transplants to determine strike rate as a logarithmic function of TDS before transplanting. Juvenile plants with high strike rate readings are transplanted. A refractometer having a logarithmic scale showing low medium and high strike rates as a direct readout from a juice sample is used. A bioregulator can be used to induce high TDS levels prior to transplanting. Particular application is...

Improved crop yields are obtained by determining total dissolved solids (TDS) in a representative sample of transplants to determine strike rate as a logarithmic function of TDS before transplanting. Juvenile plants with high strike rate readings are transplanted. A refractometer having a logarithmic scale showing low, medium, and high strike rates as a direct readout from a juice sample is used. A bioregulator can be used to induce high TDS levels prior to transplanting. Particular application ...

A crop divider for a harvesting assembly is provided with a foldable deflector. The deflector is mounted to the harvesting assembly by a pivot link having a pivot axis. The deflector can be folded about the pivot axis between an operating position and a transport position. The crop divider can be fixed in the operative position by an arresting element. In the operating position the arresting element surrounds the pivot link and locks the pivot link in place.

An improved riding crop that allows a horseback rider to retain the crop on her hand without needing to tightly grip the crop includes a rod having opposite ends, a clapper fixed at one or both ends of the rod, a grip fixed to the rod or slidably retained on the rod, and an elastic cord extending from opposite ends of the grip and through an adjustable cord lock. Other preferred embodiments include a clapper fixed at each of the opposite ends of the rod, and a grip slidably retained on the rod b...

The crop lifters include a pair of rotatable disks with rims that converge towards each other below and to the rear of their centers and that diverge from each other above and forward of their centers. As the disks are carried forward by a harvester, each pair of disks gather plant material, grasp the plant material, lift the plant material and then release the plant material above an elevating conveyor. The disks remain above the surface of the ground and are rotated by crop material as the har...

An aerator for crops such as hay which is pulled by a tractor or other vehicle. The aerator includes a first header conveyor to lift a first swath from the ground onto the first header conveyor. A first hitch extends between the tractor and the first header conveyor. A first rear conveyor transports the swath from the first header conveyor and thereafter returns it to the ground. A second header conveyor lifts a second, adjacent swath from the ground onto the second header conveyor. A second hit...

A crop lifter for harvesting machine reaping systems with reaping fingers (2). The crop lifter (2) has a support bar (6). An attachment element (10) is mounted on, and connected to the support bar (6). The attachment element (10) retains the crop lifter on the reaping finger (2) in different alignment positions. The attachment element (10) comprises a holding element (11) with two distanced legs (12). The tip of the reaping finger (2) can be inserted between the legs (12). A retaining lever (16)...

A crop transporter comprising a main frame, a bin support frame attached to the main frame and a bin connected to the bin support frame. An elevator has an entrance area located in the forward portion of the bin with the elevator extending forwardly and upwardly from the entrance area to a discharge area. A cross conveyor is located substantially normal to the elevator and below and adjacent to the discharge area of the elevator. The cross conveyor is connected to the bin support frame and is mo...

An auger cutter, windrower and conditioner for standing crops such as hay, a cutter and a feed mechanism for feeding forage harvesters crops such as corn and sorghum, including a cutter auger with cutting teeth attached to the auger flight and a conveyor auger to move the cut crop to a central area to be discharged as a window or as a mass of material to be fed to a second crop processing device such as a forage harvester.

A method of determining the weight of animals and the development of plants in a controlled environment. The method includes measuring the increase in CO.sub.2 production over a test period. CO.sub.2 production is a measure of the metabolic rate and this is related to weight of animals and development of crops which can often be determined by weight. There is illustrated a poultry rearing house having vents, lights and an air heater. CO.sub.2 sensors are connected to a CO.sub.2 controller and in...