Section 1: Fields, Greenhouses, and Gardens

Glossary

Lesson 3: Field Crop Production


 
Basically, a field crop is a crop (other than fruits or vegetables) that is grown for agricultural purposes.
Hay, grain, and sugar beets are well-defined examples of field crops, since they are never grown in greenhouses or gardens.
Staple foods are generally derived from field crops.
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  • Field crops are generally very hardy, meaning they can withstand unfavourable climatic conditions better than most plants.

  • Although all plants are subject to plant diseases, field crops are generally more resistant to disease than plants produced by other means.


  • The production of field crops requires large tracts of lands, which constitutes a major expense.

  • The large machinery that is needed to grow, harvest, and market these crops raise production costs significantly.

  • High consumer demand is required to make growing these crops a profitable enterprise (this being the reason that they are the source of our food staples).




    Sugar beets (shown in a heap on the left) and canola are field crops.

    Both require large investments of land and machinery; help with these costs is available for young entrepreneurs.