Although the crop
production industry has experienced many changes, one fact remains—you have to know
what and how to plant to cultivate an abundant harvest. People have been producing crops
for thousands of years, from home gardens to commercial fields.
In the
Crop Science PAC, students explore the process of producing
a commercial field crop. During the process they learn how to choose potential land and
proper crops as well as planting, maintenance, and harvesting techniques. They also
discover how crops add to the food supply and economic development of a community . By
using interactive software, students research local production and determine its direct
effect on them.
A crop identification kit challenges students to
distinguish between different crops as well as different types of processed foods.
Production videos show students different types of machines that can be used in crop
production such as tilling machines, seed planters, and harvest machinery.
Although students do not directly use pesticides in the
PAC, they read about the different types and why they are an important part of crop
production. Because certain pesticides can be hazardous, the PAC contains
safety instructions for the handling, usage, storage, and disposal of pesticides.
