Seed characteristic sensor

An agricultural planter comprising:

• a seed meter including a housing defining a chamber, a seed disc rotatably coupled to the housing and at least partially positioned within the chamber, wherein the seed disc is adapted to be engaged by a seed;
• a seed chute extending from the housing and configured to direct seed that has been released from the seed disc towards the ground;
• a sensor positioned within at least a portion of the seed chute for detecting a characteristic of the seed after the seed disengages the seed disc and before the seed exits the seed meter;
• and
• a seed tube formed separately from the seed chute and at least partially aligned with the seed chute to receive the seed after the seed exits the seed chute, wherein the seed tube communicates the seed to a furrow.

A method of planting seed with an agricultural planter, the method comprising:

• providing a seed meter for singulating seed therefrom, the seed meter including a seed disc engageable by seed;
• providing a sensor;
• dispensing a first seed from the seed disc and towards a seed chute and a separate seed tube;
• determining a characteristic of the first seed with the sensor after the first seed is dispensed from the seed disc as it passes through the seed chute and before the first seed enters the seed tube;
• communicating information associated with the characteristic of the first seed to an electronic control unit;
• and
• adjusting dispensing of a second seed from the seed meter based on the communicated information associated with the characteristic of the first seed.