NOVEL AUTOMATION FOR INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCED COSTS IN HOP PRODUCTION

HOP PRODUCTION IN LABOR-INTENSIVE, AND HOP PRODUCTIVITY IS SENSITIVE TO THE FLAWS INHERENT IN HAND-TIED LATTICEWORK. NON-OPTIMUM SPACING OF THE MILLIONS OF KNOTS TIED ANNUALLY REDUCES THE PLANT'S EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT, PEST CONTROL AGENTS, AND SPRAYED PLANT FOODS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT KNOT-S SPACING VARIATIONS REDUCE CROP YIELD BY AS MUCH AS 30%. PROPOSED IS A NEW GENERATION OF AUTOMATION--ONE THAT WILL TIE THE SPECIAL KNOTS QUICKLY, ACCURATELY, AND CONSISTENTLY.SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NOVEL TECHNOLOGY WILL SOLVE MAJOR PROBLEMS NOW BEING ENCOUNTERED BY THE NATION'S HOP GROWERS.