Cereal and pulse crops can improve nutrition

A group of Clemson researchers wants to show South Carolina farmers how organically growing cereal and pulse crops can improve nutrition while lowering production costs. The group received a $1 million grant from the U-S Department of Agriculture. By using organic farming practices, farmers don’t need to buy expensive chemicals and fertilizers. Instead, they use farming practices, such as different tillage methods and cover-cropping for weed control, and biological methods for insect pest control. The government has detected there’s growing consumer demand for organically-produced crops, and organic farming has become an important part of South Carolina agriculture. The project begins in January and will last three years at farms in Florence County.