Name two agricultural science areas commonly tested in CDEs.

• A. Plant science and forestry
• B. Horticulture and plant pathology
• C. Soil science and agronomy
• D. Plant science and animal science

Answer: (D)

Two broad areas cover the most ground in agricultural CDEs because they mirror the two main pillars of farming: crops and livestock. Plant science focuses on growing and managing plants—crop production, plant physiology, genetics, soil interactions, and pest or disease management—while animal science deals with the care and management of livestock, including nutrition, reproduction, housing, and health. Together, they provide a wide, practical range of topics that frequently appear on exams and hands-on events, making this pairing a common and reliable focus for CDEs.

Other pairings tend to emphasize only plant-centered areas or pair a plant topic with a less frequently tested field, which doesn’t offer the same breadth across the diverse questions and tasks students encounter in these events.