Oil Crops Oil crops, such as canola and corn, are harvested for consumption or industrial uses. (The drug is legally grown and sold for medical or recrecational use in some places.) Opponents of hemp argue that increased harvesting of hemp crops will lead to increased production and use of marijuana. Marijuana is illegal to grow and use in many parts of the United States. But some varieties of the hemp plant are used to make marijuana, a psychoactive drug. Hemp advocates see the plant as a versatile and ecological source of fiber. The fibers of the hemp plant are strong and durable, perfect for products such as paper, textiles, ropes, nets, and sailcloth for ships. The hemp plant is an interesting and controversial example of a fiber crop. Fiber pulp may be used instead of wood pulp to manufacture paper products. Pulp from other fiber crops can be used in a variety of products. Textiles made from bamboo are manufactured from the pulp of bamboo plants. Cotton, the most popular fiber crop in the world, is harvested from the light, fluffy “ boll” of fiber that surrounds the plant’s seeds. Other parts of a plant can be harvested for fiber. Most fibers used to make textiles are taken from the stem or roots of plants such as flax. Textiles, or cloth, are made from the dried and processed fibers of certain plants. Fiber Crops Fiber crops, such as cotton and hemp, are harvested for textile and paper products. Almost 70 percent of land cleared from the Amazon rainforest, for instance, has been turned over to grazing. Forests have been cleared to create pastures where livestock can graze. This limits the production of crops for human consumption, especially for the world’s poorest people. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says 33 percent of arable land on Earth is used to produce food for livestock. Increased production of feed crops has changed the agricultural landscape. The production of feed crops has risen dramatically with increased demand for meat worldwide. Hull-less barley, which is easier to digest, is fed to swine and poultry. Barley, which is harder to digest, is most often fed to beef and dairy cattle because they have a tough, four-chambered stomach. Each of these crops has different properties that are better suited for some animals’ diets over others. Principle feed crops include corn, barley, wheat, and oats. The wet, acidic silage is fed to livestock such as cattle. Silage crops are harvested, then stored under conditions that allow the forage to break down ( ferment) into acids. Some forages are cut, allowed to dry in the field, and stored. Alfalfa is a popular crop fed to livestock as green chop. Forages that are cut and fed to livestock while they are still fresh are called green chop. Animals feed directly on forages, such as grasses. Forage crops are important for livestock farming. They are grown in agricultural fields but can also be found in natural meadows and pastures. These crops contain nutrients that animals need to develop. Feed Crops Feed crops, such as oats and alfalfa, are harvested for livestock consumption. Agricultural development and the growth of civilizations led to the diversity of other types of crops. Food crops were the first crops to be harvested through agriculture. Grains, such as corn, wheat, and rice, are the world’s most popular food crops. Food crops, such as fruit and vegetables, are harvested for human consumption. By use, crops fall into six categories: food crops, feed crops, fiber crops, oil crops, ornamental crops, and industrial crops. A crop is a plant or plant product that can be grown and harvested for profit or subsistence.
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