Research plot seeder with planting units controlled to trip at different times to create aligned alleyways

A method of planting seed, comprising:

• providing a seed planter comprising a front gang of planting units, a rear gang of planting units spaced a distance behind said front gang of planting units, a first metering system for metering seed for at least one of the planting units in said front gang of planting units, and a second metering system for metering seed for at least one of the planting units in said rear gang of planting units;
• determining a position of the planter in a field;
• and
• tripping the first and second metering systems based on the determined position of the planter to start a sequence of planter functions to change from one plot to another;
• wherein said tripping comprises tripping said first and second metering systems at different times to compensate for the distance between said front and rear gangs of planting units and to cause starting and stopping locations for seed metering for the front gang of planting units to be laterally aligned with starting and stopping locations for seed metering for the rear gang of planting units to create an aligned alleyway between plots in the field.

An agricultural seeder, comprising:

• a front gang of planting units having at least one first metering system for metering seeds;
• a rear gang of planting units spaced a distance behind said front gang of planting units, said rear gang of planting units having at least one second metering system for metering seeds;
• and
• a controller for controlling said first and second metering systems to start and stop at different times to compensate for the distance between said front and rear gangs of planting units.