Growing Emphasis on Science in Agriculture Leads to Name Change for Bumpers College Major

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Robert Bacon

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The increased emphasis on science in agriculture over the past 20 years has prompted the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas to change the name of its crop management major to crop science. Crop science is the primary major in the department of crop, soil and environmental sciences.

“We have scientists and teachers who are among the best in the country and highly respected within their disciplines,” said David Longer, professor of crop and plant sciences. “We assure our undergraduates that science is essential, understandable, fun and is the ‘language’ of the plant-based ecosystem that provides food and fiber for all organisms on earth. Understanding that language allows us to optimize the plant growth environment, respect the soil and water resource base, and develop a science-based platform to produce more food and fiber while adhering to sustainable production practices.”

The crop science major focuses on issues dealing with all facets of crop production, providing a strong science background as well as practical education. The major crops of Arkansas are studied in detail, including soybeans, rice, cotton and wheat, as well as pasture grasses.

“Our undergraduate crop science program has shown a great deal of growth the last five years,” said department head Robert Bacon. “I think a big part of this resurgence is due to increasing recognition in the public of the importance of maintaining a safe food supply in a sustainable manner. This can only be accomplished by science-based production. I think another reason behind the growth is the abundance of jobs. As long as students are a little flexible on location, pretty much all our graduates can find jobs in their area of study.”

Graduates of the crop science degree program are placed in positions as crop consultants, farm managers, agricultural extension agents and plant breeders. They also work in sales, service and management positions for major agricultural companies such as Bayer, Monsanto, Pioneer and Syngenta.

The undergraduate crop science program requires more than 20 hours of biology, chemistry, mathematics and genetics. Additional sciences include entomology, plant pathology, pest management and soil science.

 “We now do more work at the molecular, genetic and physiological levels than ever before,” said Longer. “The new name provides a better alignment with our ever-evolving mission. We also like to tie soil and environmental sciences in with our program because of the focus we have on sustainable cropping practices, which gives us more of a science focus.”

To create the change, a proposal had to be approved by the crop and weed science faculty; the crop, soil and environmental sciences faculty; Bumpers College faculty; the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The process took about a year, according to Longer.