Planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a downwardly facing metering member and a seed delivery system

A planting unit for a seeding machine comprising:

• a seed meter having a metering member with a sidewall having inner and outer surfaces and apertures extending through the sidewall, the metering member adapted to adhere seed to the apertures to sequentially move individual seeds to a release position at which the inner surface of the sidewall is facing downward such that the seed is hanging beneath the sidewall;
• and
• a mechanical seed delivery system taking seed from the metering member at the release position and moving seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine;
• wherein the delivery system comprises a brush belt having bristles that sweep over the metering member sidewall at the release position to take seed from the metering member and move the seed to the discharge location;
• and
• wherein the metering member includes a projection behind apertures in a direction of rotation of the metering member, the projections adapted to push seed into the bristles of the brush belt.