An agricultural row-clearing unit for use with an agricultural row unit attached to a towing frame hitched to a tractor comprises an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to the attachment frame for vertical pivoting movement relative to the attachment frame, at least one agricultural tool mounted on the trailing end of the support element, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the attachment frame and the support element for pivoting the support element around the pivotal connection to the attachment frame. The hydraulic cylinder includes a movable rod coupling the cylinder to the support element, a cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the rod in a direction that pivots the support element downwardly toward the soil, and an energy storage device coupled to the rod and the cylinder to apply a retracting force to the rod to bias the support element in a direction that urges the agricultural tool(s) upwardly away from the soil.
