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HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR CROPS

HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR CROPS. Let’s look up some crops…. What do farmers grow? Let’s get an overview…. Big cash crops: http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops.aspx#. UpOOCI2zNxH Pick a crop as an example: Skim OVERVIEW and BACKGROUND Smaller, alternative crops

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HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR CROPS

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  1. HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR CROPS Let’s look up some crops…

  2. What do farmers grow? Let’s get an overview… • Big cash crops: • http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops.aspx#.UpOOCI2zNxH • Pick a crop as an example: Skim OVERVIEW and BACKGROUND • Smaller, alternative crops • http://plants.usda.gov/alt_crops.html • Check Iowa options

  3. Let’s pick one and compare to our farm conditions • WHY? • Soil and climate conditions vary, even within states • Why SOYBEANS as an example? • It’s huge – your farm can take on other crops

  4. Basics of SOYBEANs • Task 2 assignment: We need to learn if soybeans are a good match for our farm’s… • Climate • Soil • Ecological interests • Economic interests • Social interests • Let’s return to • http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops.aspx#.UpOVkI2zNxH

  5. What do the Overview & Background sections tell us? • Select “soybeans and oil crops” • Skim with your partner (10 min) • Be prepared to share out • Climate • Soil • Ecological pros/cons • Economic pros/cons • Social pros/cons

  6. We still need climate and soil information… • Let’s use a reference site to get this data. It’s an Illinois site, but has climate/soil information for many crops. • http://www.isws.illinois.edu/data/altcrops/croplist.asp?letter=a&nmeType=cmn • Find SOYBEAN with your partner and compare to our farm… can we grow it? • Use your Task 2 assignment

  7. Can we grow soybeans? • Local Climate • Wind Direction • Soil Type • Soil Depth • Soil pH • Soil Fertility • Acreage/Land Area • Topography • What do we still need to know?

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