About the Crop and Soil Science Department

History of the Crops Department
History of the Soils Department
Timeline of Department Changes / Events
Departmental Snapshot

Materials developed for the Centennial Celebration

Milestones in the Legislative History of U.S. Land-Grant Universities

Crop and Soil Science is the largest academic unit in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Learn about the History of the Crop and Soil sides of the Department. Faculty include over 40 professors at the main campus, 10 teaching and research professors distributed among 6 off campus locations, and 20 Extension educators serving 16 counties. The Department's mission is to promote, through teaching, research, and extension, efficient and wise use of soil, water, and crop resources, stewardship of natural resources, and enhancement of environmental quality.

Over 60 undergraduate majors in the Department choose from among several options in either crop science or soil science. Many undergraduates participate in extracurricular crop judging, soil judging and other club activities. Over 60 graduate students are enrolled in either M.S. or Ph.D programs in Environmental Soil Science, Crop Science and Soil Science.

Our research programs focus on breeding, genetics and physiology of field crops; soil and crop management for sustainable agriculture; wetland soils and water quality; weed management; and soil microbiology. Extension programs emphasize environmental quality associated with nutrient, pesticide, and waste management; soil and crop information systems; and agronomic production practices for field crops.