diff --git a/app/models/crop.rb b/app/models/crop.rb
index f12e7355d..06359be0a 100644
--- a/app/models/crop.rb
+++ b/app/models/crop.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class Crop < ActiveRecord::Base
     },
     :if => :approved?
 
+  validates :reason_for_rejection, :presence => true, :if => :rejected?
+
   def to_s
     return name
   end
@@ -114,6 +116,10 @@ class Crop < ActiveRecord::Base
     approval_status == "approved"
   end
 
+  def rejected?
+    approval_status == "rejected"
+  end
+
   # Crop.interesting
   # returns a list of interesting crops, for use on the homepage etc
   def Crop.interesting