Req 8a — Agronomy Roadmap

Agronomy is the science of growing field crops and managing the land they depend on. This branch takes you from the basics of getting seeds started to the larger questions of pests, climate, harvest, and where major crops are grown.

What You’ll Complete

• Req 8a1 — Preparing a Seedbed: Learn how to turn soil into a place where seeds can sprout evenly and grow well.
• Req 8a2 — Seed Germination Testing: Build a simple germination tester, test four kinds of seeds, and calculate the percentage that are alive.
• Req 8a3 — Crop Pests and Weeds: Study major insect pests, crop diseases, and weed control that protects people and useful species.
• Req 8a4 — Major Crop Regions: Map where important U.S. crops are grown and explain why those regions lead production.
• Req 8a5 — Choose a Crop Study: Pick one crop area—corn, cotton, forage crops, small grains, or oil crops—and complete the full set of project requirements.

How to Approach the Branch

Do the first four requirements in order. They build a strong base for your crop study. Then choose the 8a5 track that best matches what you can actually observe or grow where you live.