A seed metering apparatus includes a seed container with a feed opening in a bottom thereof. A feed shaft is rotatably mounted across the feed opening. A feed disc is mounted to the shaft and disc recesses are spaced along a periphery thereof An upright shield plate extends across the feed opening adjacent to the shaft and defines a disc slot having a width corresponding to a thickness of the disc. An output portion of the feed disc extends through the disc slot forward of a front face of the shield plate. The feed shaft, feed disc, and shield plate are configured such that the shield plate seals the feed opening, and such that an intake portion of the feed disc is in the feed opening exposed to seeds. Rotation of the feed shaft carries seeds out of the seed container in the disc recesses and into a seed receiver.
