System for providing a calibration for a testing device used to evaluate ethanol production yield, and associated method

A method of calibrating for a near infrared analytical testing device configured to screen for ethanol production yield of an ethanol-producing material, the method comprising:

• collecting a first signal associated with a sample material with a first analytical testing device, the first signal being associated with a characteristic parameter of the sample material, the characteristic parameter being capable of enabling evaluation of ethanol production yield for plant material corresponding substantially in composition to the sample material;
• drying the sample material to a substantially standard moisture level;
• collecting a second signal associated with a sample material with the first analytical testing device, the second signal being associated with the characteristic parameter;
• fermenting the sample material;
• collecting a reference measurement associated with the sample material with a second analytical testing device, the reference measurement being associated with the characteristic parameter of the sample material;
• and
• correlating the reference measurement to at least one of the first and second signals to build a calibration model used for evaluating ethanol production yield of plant material corresponding substantially in composition to the sample material.

A method of calibrating for a near infrared analytical testing device configured to screen for ethanol production yield of an ethanol-producing material, the method comprising:

• grinding an agricultural material to form a sample material;
• collecting a first near infrared signal associated with the sample material with a near infrared testing device, the first near infrared signal being associated with a characteristic parameter of the sample material, the characteristic parameter being capable of enabling evaluation of ethanol production yield for plant material corresponding substantially in composition to the sample material;
• drying the sample material to a substantially standard moisture level;
• collecting a second near infrared signal with the near infrared testing device, the second near infrared signal being associated with the characteristic parameter;
• fermenting the sample material;
• collecting a reference measurement associated with the sample material with a gas chromatography testing device, the reference measurement being associated with the characteristic parameter;
• and
• correlating the reference measurement to at least one of the first and second near infrared signals so as to build a calibration model used to evaluate ethanol production yield of plant material corresponding substantially in composition to the sample material.