Suggested websites
Evaluating Web Pages
CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING A WEB PAGE:
- Identify the author and the author's expertise on the topic.
- Verify the facts, statistics, or quotes on the web page in another source.
- Identify the agenda of the page: are they selling something or promoting a point-of-view that benefits them?
- Check to see when the page was last updated. If you can't find a date, consider using a different source.
DO THE ABOVE BECAUSE:
- Most people don't know what they are talking about.
- Many people will make up facts, misrepresent facts, or leave out facts in order to support their position.
- People will tell you anything if money or power is somehow involved.
AND IN THE END:
- Learn to think for yourself and do not rely on gathering other people's opinions posted on the internet.
Statistics / Data Sets
National Agricultural Statistics Service
U.S. Geological Survey Water Data
EPA Toxic Release State Factsheet
International food & agriculture data
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Crop Explorer
OCS - Oregon Climate Service
ISRIC Soil and terrain databases by region
"ISRIC - World Soil Information is an independent, science-based foundation. The institute was founded in 1966 following a recommendation of the International Soil Science Society (ISSS) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It has a mandate to serve the international community with information about the world’s soil resources to help addressing major global issues. ISRIC is the ICSU World Data Centre for Soils (WDC-Soils) since 1989 and it collaborates with a wide range of partners worldwide."