Seed delivery apparatus, systems, and methods

A method of delivering seed via a seed conveyor to a planting surface coincident with planting boundaries, the seed conveyor receiving seeds discharged from a seed meter of a planter row unit, the conveyor having a belt rotatably driven by a conveyor motor, the belt receiving the seeds discharged by the seed meter proximate an upper end of the seed conveyor, wherein as the belt is rotatably driven by the conveyor motor, the seeds are conveyed by the belt toward a lower end of the seed conveyor whereupon the conveyed seed is released to the planting surface through a conveyor exit in a direction opposite a forward direction of travel of the row unit, the method comprising:

• identifying planting boundaries of a field, wherein the planting boundaries define planting regions or no-planting regions;
• as the planter row unit approaches one of said planting boundaries, estimating when said seed conveyor will cross said one approaching planting boundary based on a ground speed of said seed conveyor;
• determining which of the conveyed seeds will be an earliest seed to be released through the conveyor exit coincident with the seed conveyor crossing said one approaching planting boundary;
• determining if said one approaching planting boundary defines a no-planting region or a planting region;
• if said one approaching planting boundary defines a no-planting region, stopping release of seed by the seed meter and stopping rotation of the belt so that said earliest seed does not pass through the conveyor exit when the seed conveyor crosses said no-planting region boundary;
• and
• if said one approaching planting boundary defines a planting region, advancing rotation of the belt so that said earliest seed passes through the conveyor exit when the seed conveyor crosses said planting region boundary and thereupon starting release of seed by the seed meter.