This subject guide covers agriculture resources available at the Johnston Memorial Library, including full-text journals, magazine, and newspaper articles,  agriculture websites, and printed materials in the Reference Collection. This is not a comprehensive subject guide, but rather a selective list of materials that are most useful for locating information in this field. Library location and call  number are provided for print publications. 
 
 

• ABI/Inform.  Indexes business magazines and journals covering the subjects of business and management, finance, trade, products, trends, companies and more.   Excellent database to research the agriculture business and farm management topics. 

• Cambridge Journals Online.  CJO indexes includes over 125 specialized journals from renowned research societies and associations in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.  Several agricultural journals are included.  Each journal in CJO has its own home page with links to the current and back volumes, as well as brief description of the journal's purpose, format, and content.

• Highwire Press. Full-text journal articles in in the areas of biological science, medical science, physical science, and social science. Indexes a number of agriculture journals.

• InfoTrac OneFile. A one-stop source for news and periodical articles on a wide range of topics: agriculture, business, computers, current events, economics, education, environmental issues, health care, hobbies, humanities, law, literature and art, politics, science, social science, sports, technology, and many general interest topics. Millions of full-text articles many with images. Updated daily. 

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• AGRICOLA.  AGRICOLA is a bibliographic database consisting of literature citations for journal articles, monographs, proceedings, theses, patents, and technical reports pertaining to all aspects of agriculture.  Covers 1979 to present and is updated monthly.

• AGRIS.  This database was created by FAO in 1974 to facilitate information exchange and to identify world literature dealing with all aspects of agriculture.  Particularly strong in literature of developing countries.  Covers 1974 to the present.

• ASFA: Aquatic Sciences & Fisheries Abstracts.  ASFA is the premier reference in the field of aquatic resources.  Input to ASFA is provided by a growing international network of information centers monitoring over 5,000 serial publications, books, reports, and conference proceedings.  Covers 1978 to current and is updated monthly.

• Biological Sciences. Abstracts and citations to a wide range of research in biomedicine, biotechnology, zoology and ecology, and some aspects of agriculture and veterinary science.

• CRIS, Current research Information System. The Current Research Information System (CRIS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's documentation and reporting system for ongoing agricultural, food, and nutrition, and forestry research.  CRIS contains over 30,000 descriptions of current, publicly-supported research projects of the USDA agencies, the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, the State land-grant colleges and universities, State schools of forestry, cooperating schools of veterinary medicine, and USDA grant recipients.

• Plants Database. The PLANTS Database is a single source of standardized information about plants.  It includes names, checklists, automated tools, identification information, species abstracts, crop information, plant materials information, plant links, references and other plant information.

• Plant Science.  Citations and abstracts of scientific literature on plant science, focusing on all plant scientific aspects, especially on pathology, symbiosis, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, techniques, and environmental biology. 

• Statistical Universe. Full-text database to U.S. Statistical data and some international statistics.  Features include searching the Power Tables for finding fast answers, searching summaries of statistical publications for comprehensive overview of documents or selecting links to other websites with useful information about statistics.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

• Black's Agricultural Dictionary: From Abaca to Zoonosis. by D. B. Daial-Clayton.  A. & C.  Black, 1981.  This book is intended as a reference source for farmers, students of agriculture and all those involved in or associated with the agricultural industry.   REF S411.D245.  Located in Reference Dept., 1st floor of the library. 

• Dictionary of Agriculture.  by Kathryn L. Lipton. Lynne Riener Publishers, 1995. From abaca to zoomosis, this dictionary provides an invaluable source of information for everyone from undergraduates to seasoned policymakers.  REF S411.L55.  Located in Reference Dept., 1st floor of the library. 

• Encyclopedia of Agricultural Science.  by Ellen M. Ritter.  Academic Press, 1994. This reference work is meant to stand at this watershed period in time as a compendium of current knowledge about specific topics within agriculture.  It is designed to serve as a single, easy-to-use, four-volume reference work including entries from a full range of subject areas associated with agriculture.  REF S411.E713.  Located in Reference Dept., first floor of the library. 
   
• Glossary for Horticultural Crops.  by James Soule.  Wiley, 1995. This glossary provides readers with ready access to technical terms over a broad spectrum of the plant and plant-related sciences. REF SB317.58.S68.  Located in Reference Dept., first floor of the library. 
   
• New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture. by Thomas H. Everett. Garland Pub., 1980. This encyclopedia is replete with well-founded advice on how to use plants effectively in gardens and where appropriate, indoors.  REF SB317.58.E94.  Located in Reference Dept., first floor of the library.

• Agriculture Nework Information Center.  AgNIC is a guide to quality agricultural information on the Internet as selected by the National Agricultural Library, Land-Grant Universities, and other institutions.

• AgriFor. AgriFor offers free access to a searchable catalogue of internet sites covering agriculture, food and forestry.

• AgriSurf. This site claims to be the world's largest searchable agricultural WWW index. Sites are selected by agricultural experts. Currently indexing over 19,000 sites categories include: apiculture, aquaculture, crops, forestry, markets and marketing and organic farming, among others. .

• Agricultural Statistics. Online database that contains statistics on agricultural production, supplies, consumption, facilities, costs, and returns.  Covers 1994 to present. 

• Agriculture Factbook.  Factbook offers basic facts about many aspects of U.S. agriculture including the U.S. farm sector, the structure of U.S. agriculture, and rural America.

• Agripedia. Agripedia is an Internet Accessible Interactive Multimedia Instructional Resource. It allows students to use resources across the country in an integrated, interactive learning resource on the Internet. As an "encyclopedia of agriculture", Agripedia presents facts, figures, demonstrations, examples, graphics, and more regarding the concepts, practices, and vocabulary of agriculture in a multimedia format using audio clips, graphics, text and animation.

• Breeds of Livestock.  Comprehensive searchable database, with images, of livestock breeds throughout the world.  Includes cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine and poultry, as well as information on research and gives links to other resources; Department of Animal Sciences, Oklahoma State University.

• Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture is a complete accounting of United States agricultural production.  The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the Nation.  This site provides the 2000 census, links to the 1992, 1997, are provided.

• Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities through national program leadership and federal assistance. Highlights new developments in agriculture.

• Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS).  Electronic repository contains over 4,000 publications related to agriculture, natural resources, the environment, and human and rural development, pest control, ecology, weather, and other agricultural topics.  Sponsored by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

• FAOSTAT DATA.   The FAO as part of its mandate, compiles information and data on various aspects of food and agriculture from all countries.  The data are analyzed and interpreted to support FAO's programs and activities and, in accordance with the basic functions of the Organization, they are disseminated to the public through the internet.  Country-level data is provided on agricultural production and trade, producer prices, land use, and means of production.

• FedStats.  FedStats serves as a gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies.  Topic links are provided as well as links to statistical agencies.  Searching across agency websites is also provided. Internet Resources for Agriculture and Life Sciences.  Well-maintained directory from Virginia Tech.  Areas include: agriculture and applied economics; education; animal, dairy and poultry sciences; biochemistry; food science and technology; plant, soil, and environmental sciences; sustainable farming, and more.

• History of American Agriculture.  Every aspect of farm life is covered in this database maintained by USDA.  Categories include farm machinery, economy, organizations, crops, livestock, and life on a farm

• Internet Glossary of Soil Science Terms. This site is sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America.

• National Goat Handbook.  Everything you need to know about raising goats are found at this website.

• New Crop.  Center for New Crops & Plant Products, at Purdue University provides windows to new and specialty crop profiles.  Highlights include Famine Foods, a list of unconventional food sources, Guide to Herb Varieties and sources of Herb Seed and plants.

• `USDA Economics and Statistics System. This database contains nearly 300 reports and data sets from economics agencies of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.  These materials cover U.S. and international agriculture and related topics.

• Virtual Library of Agriculture. Sites are categorized by subject. The latest agricultural news is also included.

• World Agricultural Information Centre. Sponsored by the FAO this site maintains a subject guide to all aspects of agriculture. Site information can be searched.

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©VSU  Library and Media Services, 09-13-06.
Created by Gloria Beck, Government Documents Librarian.