A method is provided for use in optimizing ethanol yield from agricultural products. The method includes imaging agricultural products to determine predicted ethanol yields for the agricultural products and assigning characterizations to the imaged agricultural products based on their predicted ethanol yields. An apparatus is provided for collecting, retaining, and/or transporting bulk quantities of agricultural products. The apparatus includes an analyzer configured to image the agricultural products for use in determining the predicted ethanol yields. And, a system is provided for tracking and/or monitoring agricultural products. The system includes an analyzer configured to image the agricultural products for use in determining the predicted ethanol yields, a central processor configured to communicate with the analyzer to thereby link the imaged agricultural products with their predicted ethanol yields, and a telecommunications link coupling the analyzer to the central processor for allowing the communication between the analyzer and the central processor.
