Potato processing in ND produces protein-rich waste. Potato waste has been used as a model feedstock to isolate patatin, the major storage protein in potato tubers. Purified patatin has potential to be used as a novel biological agent against microbial infection and insect attack of plant tissue. This new technology will assist researchers and farmers in developing more effective disease control and chemical application techniques. Current work includes development of a small and portable imaging system and associated image processing technology for accurate spray coverage determination on sprayed wheat and barley heads.
Image segmentation is critical to accurate coverage determination.
Site-specific yield monitoring of corn and small grains as a precision farming management tool has become quite wide spread. However, little yield monitoring work has been done for crops such as sugarbeets. A sugarbeet yield monitoring system with GPS has been developed and tested. Yields can be monitored to 95 percent accuracy. Irrigation management and cultural practices for high value crops Irrigation development in ND is being driven by expanded potato production and processing.