INA, Ill. (WSIL) -- Blake Patton, Director of the Agronomy Innovation Center at Rend Lake College, introduced his invention, the Set-N-Seed, to a global audience at the 2025 Brazil AgriShow. The event, held in late April and early May, is one of the largest agricultural technology trade shows in the world.
Patton's goal at the AgriShow was to connect with international companies and promote his invention.Â
"My main goal headed down to Brazil was to get the Set-N-Seed in front of as many companies as I could and have conversations with them," Patton said. "I have always wanted to invent something impactful, so it’s amazing that I am able to help farmers around the world with one product."
During the show, Patton met with 25 companies, and nearly 20 expressed interest in the Set-N-Seed. This tool is a planter depth calibration device that ensures uniform seed planting depth across rows, addressing a long-standing issue for farmers.
"Ever since planters have been utilized, farmers will most likely pick a depth setting, they'll go out to the field and then spend a good amount of time digging for seeds to make sure it's on the right depth," said Patton. "What most farmers were unaware of is that even though each row unit was set to the same depth setting, that didn’t mean each row was planting at the same depth as the adjacent rows. The Set-N-Seed makes sure that everything is the exact same in depth, even after many acres have been planted by eliminating the impact on wear parts. It fixes an issue that has been around for a very long time for farmers."
Patton's participation in the AgriShow highlights the innovation happening at Rend Lake College and in Southern Illinois. His invention represents a significant advancement in agricultural technology, benefiting farmers worldwide.
