Planter downforce and uplift monitoring and control feedback devices, systems and associated methods

An agricultural row unit comprising:

• (a) a row unit body;
• (b) a target object in communication with the row unit body via a support arm and in direct contact with the bottom of a seed trench;
• (c) a first sensor fixedly mounted to the row unit body, configured to measure the distance between the first sensor and ground surface;
• and
• (d) a second sensor rigidly mounted to the row unit body, configured to measure the distance between the second sensor and the target object,
• wherein actual seed trench depth is determined from a difference in the distances measured by the first sensor and the second sensor.

A seed trench monitoring system comprising:

• (a) a first sensor disposed on a row unit body configured to measure a distance between the first sensor and a ground surface;
• (b) a second sensor disposed on the row unit body configured to measure a distance between the second sensor and a target object in direct communication with a bottom of the seed trench;
• and
• (c) a controller configured to calculate actual furrow depth from the distances measured by the first sensor and the second sensor,
• wherein the actual furrow depth is compared to set furrow depth, and wherein any difference in actual furrow depth and set furrow depth is utilized by the seed trench monitoring system to generate actuator command signals to modify applied downforce.