The soil and crop science project offers activities and experiences in the area of soils and the science of raising productive and healthy crops. This project also includes some opportunities in the entomology and water projects as well.
Resources
- Project Information Sheet – COMING SOON
Contests and Activities
Farmers or ranchers, rangeland specialists, and other professionals may have more opportunities in your county. These are just a few state level opportunities.
Natural Resources Photography Contest
The Texas 4-H Natural Resources Photography Contest encourages observation within specific Natural Resources project areas and allows youth to demonstrate skills learned in the area of photography, including the use of photographic equipment and processing of photographs. This contest provides another opportunity to showcase the photographic work of 4-H members in all age divisions.
Range Evaluation Contest
The next step after you have learned the grass and plant types! The 4-H judging program concentrates on making decisions about the rangeland resource including ecological site health determination, stocking rate, and the use of management tools to benefit the forage, soil, water, and livestock/wildlife resources. You will learn about grazing distribution, season of forage use, kinds and classes of livestock and stocking rate. And then actually calculate a current stocking rate for the given situation. The key to success in this contest relies on your ability to identify plants and have knowledge of their ecological and economic value. The 4-H Range Evaluation Contest is conducted totally outdoors. Visit the State Roundup webpage to learn more.
- Range Evaluation Contest Manual
- Range Evaluation Part I – Plant Identification
- Range Evaluation Part II – Ecological Assessement
- Range Evaluation Part III – Rangeland Health
- Ecological Site Description & Plant Production Worksheet
- Similarity Index and Recommended Stocking Rate Calculation Partial Credit
Soil Judging
Contestants will judge four soil profiles with 20-minutes allowed for each and determine the soil characteristics of the profiles and make interpretations based on observation. Visit the State Roundup webpage to learn more.