In-ground seed spacing monitoring system for use in an agricultural seeder

An agricultural seeder for planting seeds in soil, said seeder comprising:

• a tool bar;
• and
• at least one row crop unit coupled with said tool bar, each said row crop unit including:
• a furrow opener for opening a furrow in the soil;
• a seed metering system for metering seed to be placed in the furrow;
• a seed placement system for placing seeds in the furrow, said seed placement system and said seed metering system being in communication with each other and at least in part defining a seed travel path associated with the furrow;
• a furrow closer to cover the seed in the furrow with soil;
• a seed temperature conditioner associated with said seed travel path for varying a temperature of seed traveling through said seed travel path;
• and
• a temperature sensitive sensor positioned to sense seed which has been deposited in the furrow between the furrow opener and the furrow closer.

A seed spacing detection method for detecting seed spacing of seeds placed in a furrow by a seeder, said method comprising the steps of:

• opening a furrow in the soil;
• metering seed to be deposited in the furrow;
• varying a temperature of the seed prior to being deposited in the furrow;
• placing the metered seed in the furrow;
• and
• detecting seed in the furrow before the seed is covered with soil using a temperature sensitive sensor.