I thought about putting this on your Colorado potato gardening thread but will put it here, instead.
TAMU (Texas Agricultural & Mechanical University) is a good choice, I will even go so far as to say, an excellent choice for gardening information for people living most anywhere! Okay, maybe not Barrow Alaska . Anyway, there is all this very good information on variety trials, identifying diseases, and on irrigation, for example. Here is something that I've used and think anyone could benefit from:
Steve
BTW - My understanding is that GW Carver was busy throughout his life suggesting alternatives to cotton. The economy had changed since Carver had been born in 1864. Cotton was a cash crop for folks who could rely on cheap (very cheap) labor and which provided nothing for a person to eat!