Program Information

Often when we think of grains… we think of soft red wheat and barley. The production of these grains is big business in Virginia as well. In 2002, 170,000 acres of soft red wheat were harvested in Virginia to produce a net worth of approximately 33 million dollars! That same year 40,000 acres of barley were harvested to produce a net worth of over 6 million dollars.

ABCs of Agriculture informs about Virginia's farming community and how it affects you. ABCs of Agriculture are produced by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) - an educational program which encourages and enhances agricultural literacy in Grades K-5 and 6-8.

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the ABC’s of Agriculture! We’re here in this beautiful field of soybeans at the Virginia Crop Improvement Association’s Foundation seed farm in Mount Holly, Virginia. We’ll be talking about the letter “G” which stands for Grains!

At this farm they grow barley and wheat, also referred to as small grains, as well as corn and soybeans.

Corn for grain… or field corn is grown for livestock and for processing…. Virginia ranks 20th in the U.S. for corn grown for grain.

The soybean has its roots in China. In fact, soybeans are thought to have evolved from a wild plant. Soybeans are a huge commodity for Virginia where more than 440 thousand acres were harvested in 2002 generating more than 65.2 million dollars in cash receipts.

Often when we think of grains… we think of soft red wheat and barley. The production of these grains is big business in Virginia as well. In 2002, 170,000 acres of soft red wheat were harvested in Virginia to produce a net worth of approximately 33 million dollars! That same year 40,000 acres of barley were harvested to produce a net worth of over 6 million dollars.

Research results have consistently shown that eating a diet high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and low in fats, reduces your risk of developing heart disease or cancer. So that’s why it’s important to enjoy a bowl of cereal any time of day.

For the ABC’s of agriculture… I’m Professor Brad… see you next time!

Virginia Standards