### transaction | commerce | production:

Crop production
* is based on managing a diverse set of inputs in varying environmental conditions
  - critically important to the economy of the Northern Great Plains
  - one thing, but livestock production is stuck with what ever nature does
  - the basis of the economy
* varies widely because of weather conditions.

### transaction | commerce | production | crop:

Agricultural crop
* Most agricultural crops occur in fields.
* Most agricultural crops provide basic food
* are distinct in terms of the amount of nutrients they take from the soil.
* become more important during winter.
* consist mainly of hay, alfalfa seed, barley, wheat, and potatoes.
* depend very largely on the supply of manure.
* drying is usually a good use for solar radiation.
* have use.
* produce potatoes, barley, oats, alfalfa and mint.

Annual crop
* Some annual crops require years.
* tend to be lower yielding per unit of height compared to perennial grass crops.

Cash crop
* are crops
  - important in every country but vary in their distribution and profitability
* grown for export are copra, bananas, and cocoa.
* ranked by value are coffee, oil, cocoa, copra, tea, rubber, and sugar.

Cereal crop
* All cereal crops are members of the grass family.
* are mostly in the filling stages with early barley beginning to turn colour
  - much more forgiving than non-cereals
* can withstand a certain amount of seedling blight.
* show characteristics 'V' shaped yellowing at the tip of lower leaves.

### transaction | commerce | production | crop:

Cover crop
* affect insect and spider populations in apple orchards
  - seedling growth
* are common in the central coast where production practices allow partial crop rotation
  - key in improving soil tilth
  - legumes, cereals or an appropriate mixture
  - plants grown to cover the soil during idle periods
  - short rotation winter crops such as rye grasses
  - soil and climate sensitive
* benefit the soil in many ways.
* break the nematode and disease cycles.
* can also help control soil erosion
  - improve soil structure as roots and root exudates promote soil aggregation
  - provide shelter for insects
  - suppress weeds chemically
  - be annual or perennial
* can be annual, biennial, or perennial plant species that serve a variety of purposes
  - winter annual, biennial, or perennial plant species
  - become weeds
  - enhance nitrogen production and can also reduce nutrient losses
  - provide an increment of weed control by competing for light, water and nutrients
  - reduce erosion from rain or wind, especially in the winter or early spring
* compete with forages for light, moisture, and nutrients
  - weeds for light, water and nutrients
* have an important role in successful sustainable farming systems
  - the potential to fix nitrogen
* help control weeds and conserve soil moisture.
* improve soil fertility and structure
  - tilth, and supply organic matter to the field
* planted in late summer are an inexpensive way to build better soil for gardening.
* play crucial roles
* protect the soil surface and reduce sealing.
* provide benefits
  - many benefits
  - nutrients to the soil organisms while competing with and smothering weeds
  - organic matter to the soil system
  - plant nutrients
* reduce soil compaction while increasing water percolation and retention
  - wind erosion and nutrient loss, and increase soil carbon
* reflect more solar radiation, allowing less to reach the soil surface.
* replace the bare dirt rows between orchard trees and grape vines.
* serve purposes.
* shelter the seeds from sunlight and physically interfere with seedling emergence.
* use soil water while they are growing.