Summary

Intermediate plant science outcomes expand crop and soil knowledge for Tennessee agriculture. Youth study how soils form, how pH and soil biology affect nutrients, and how cover crops and management differ between gardens and field crops, using tools like Web Soil Survey. Topics include crop rotation, pollination, and comparing Tennessee crops with other regions, plus environmental factors that drive growth, stress, and farm costs. Learners explore pest and disease resistance, organic vs. conventional controls, pesticide restrictions and resistance, and practice field scouting and making management recommendations while examining past and future changes in crop farming.