Production Agriculture

person holding clump of soil in harvested corn field
By Susan V. Fisk

Baking a cake from scratch has more variables than baking one from a boxed mix. Though one can debate why – and when – cake mixes were developed, they are popular, and produce a uniform product. (They were really patented in the 1930s!)

hemp leaf and pile of hemp seeds
By Kaine Korzekwa

After decades of being relegated and regulated, research on industrial hemp as a valuable crop is far behind. That’s because the United States banned the use of hemp in the 1930s. The result was all research about this crop stopped, too. Now that the Farm Bill allows for the growing and use of industrial hemp, researchers have a decades-long gap in knowledge.

cassava plants growing in field
By Adityarup "Rup" Chakravorty

Cassava is a vital source of calories for close to a billion people across the world. The plant is a woody, perennial shrub with edible roots. Cassava roots are rich in carbohydrates, potassium, calcium, vitamins B and C, and essential minerals. Cassava plants can grow in relatively poor soils and in challenging environments.

Scientist in lab preparing sweet potato treatment sample plants in a growth chamber.
By Eric Hamilton

As you start to plan for your Thanksgiving dinner, sweet potatoes are likely on the menu. Whether roasted and savory or topped with marshmallows, they’re a fall staple.

bowl of mashed sweet potatoes on table

row of small citrus trees infected with bacterial disease
By Susan V. Fisk

Drinking orange juice with breakfast has been a staple in kitchens for years. But a disease has been infecting citrus trees and reducing yields, threatening the supply. Called “citrus greening,” it causes trees to decline and die within three years. The disease destroys the production, appearance, and economic value of citrus trees and their fruit. There is no cure.

tractor in field with rows of soil
By Susan V. Fisk

You may have heard the term “carbon sequestration.” In its basic terms, it refers to keeping and returning carbon to the soil. Since carbon is an element, how and why should this be done?

Green plant with brown bean-like pods hanging down
By Emily Matzke and CSSA staff

Both chemical fertilizers and cover crops can help build the nitrogen content in soil. But cover crops come with many other benefits, like improving soil structure and boosting beneficial microbes.

Rich pink flowers in a grassy area

blossoming sunflowers in field
By Rachel Schutte

Sunflowers have many uses. They are used for floral arrangements, animal feed, biofuels, and even food for us.

blossoming sunflowers in field

When grown commercially by farmers, the quality of sunflowers is based on the oil and protein concentrations in the seeds.

Lima bean plants in a field
By Adityarup "Rup" Chakravorty

Lima beans are packed with nutrients. They are an excellent source of protein and fiber. They are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Lima bean plants in a field

Lima beans are also good for the environment and farmers. They are effective as cover crops and as green manure.

Little millet maturing in the field.
By Eric Hamilton

Since humans began cultivating the land, we’ve prioritized one type of crop above all others: grain. With high amounts of minerals, protein, and vitamins, cereal grains form the foundation of diets worldwide.

Little millet plants up close in the field.