Ten things that didn’t make you think “farm” until now

Nov/1/2018

You may think about cows or veggies when you hear the word "farm." Let's explore 10 things that you may be surprised to learn started on a farm!

1. Jeans

Jeans might be the most popular pants product, but did you know they came from a plant? Cotton is used to make jeans.

Watch how it’s done or read about it with the Cotton Ag Mag!

2. Maple Syrup

Maple syrup comes from trees on a maple tree farm. Yes, farm! The process is called "sugaring." Learn more about the sugaring process in this interview with Eugenie Doyle, author of Sleep Tight Farm.

Watch how it's done or read about it with students.

3. Beer

Wait, beer comes from a farm too!?

Without farms there would be no hops and without hops, no beer. This farm product is for adults only!

Watch how it's done!

4. Bioplastics

Most plastics are made from petroleum, but bioplastics are made from things like sugarcane, wheat and corn!

This video explores how corn is made into plastic and this free downloadable Corn Ag Mag explores some other great things corn can be used for.

5. Lumber

From paper to wood tables to hardwood floors – think tree farm.

Read about it with students!

6. Fish

Credit: Photo by Lynn Gardner/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Fish aren’t all caught from the ocean or lakes. Some fish are farmed, like tilapia.

Watch how it's done or read about it with students.

7. Footballs

Although it is often referred to as the “pigskin” footballs are usually made from cowhide.
Read more here and here.

8. Crayons

Soybeans can be made in to many products including colorful crayons! Soybeans are grown all over the U.S!
Get some here! Or Read more about soybeans here.

9. Toothpaste

This one might seem super strange, but there is corn in your toothpaste!

10. Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are grown on farms. You can go cut one down yourself during the season (and usually get some apple cider donuts too! Yum.)

Check out our interview with a real Christmas tree farmer!

BONUS: Sugar

Yes you know about sugarcane, but did you know that since the mid-1990s, sugarcane has accounted for about 45 percent of the total sugar produced domestically, and sugar beets for about 55 percent of production*USDA

That's right - sugar beets! Learn all about sugar beet harvest in this video.