Multi-variable rate dispensing system for agricultural machine

A planter comprising:

• a plurality of seed dispensing points;
• a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to selected seed dispensing points;
• a positioning system for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data in real time as the planter traverses a field;
• and
• a dispensing control system that knows a position of each seed dispensing point such that the control system controls the actuators as a function of the anticipated field reference point data and position of the respective seed dispensing points on the planter in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the planter so that dispensing of seeds at each seed dispensing point can vary from dispensing of seeds at another dispensing point.

A method of dispensing seeds to a predetermined geographic land area, the method comprising:

• causing a planter having a plurality of seed dispensing points to travel over a desired surface area of the geographic land area;
• inputting a position of each seed dispensing point on the planter:
• determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;
• individually controlling dispensing of seeds at each dispensing point as a function of digital map data, the anticipated field reference point, and the position of each dispensing point on the planter, such that dispensing of seeds is controlled in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the planter so that dispensing of seeds at each seed dispensing point can vary from dispensing of seeds at another dispensing point.

A method of dispensing seeds to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

• causing a planter having a plurality of seed dispensing points to travel over a desired surface area of the geographic land area;
• inputting a location of each seed dispensing point on the planter:
• determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;
• providing a map of seed dispensing information as a function of location of each dispensing point within said plurality of crop input dispensing points;
• and
• utilizing the seed dispensing information and the anticipated field reference point to individually control selected dispensing points so that dispensing of seed may vary in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of planter travel.

A method of dispensing seeds to a predetermined geographic land area, the method comprising:

• causing a planter having a plurality of seed dispensing points to travel over a desired surface area of the geographic land area;
• inputting a position of each seed dispensing point on the planter:
• determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;
• individually controlling dispensing of seeds at each dispensing point as a function of digital map data, the anticipated field reference point, and the position of each dispensing point on the planter, such that seed variety and seed dispensing rate are individually controlled at each dispensing point.