Agriculture

The focus of this course is on the role of agriculture in today’s economic system. The course provides an understanding of the economic relationships coordinating the food and fiber industry. Economic principles and concepts are studied in terms of American agriculture. 

Introduction to agricultural communication is a course designed to prepare students to understand, analyze, and communicate about complex issues in food, agriculture, and the environment. This course will provide students with a foundation in basic and advanced communication theories, models and practices that apply within agricultural settings. This course is designed to introduce students to the Agricultural Communication and Management concentration and the related fields of employment including, but not limited to, public relations, sales management, marketing management, communications management, technical writing, journalism, and media relations.

The basic concepts and components of soils will be examined in this course. How these principles relate to plant growth and human existence is of importance for society. The principles and practices of soil and water conservation, methods and technologies used in conservation and management of natural resources will be studied. Laboratory introduces students to analysis of soils and soil classification as well as a demonstration of RUSLE.

Historical analysis of soil and water conservation policies and programs, as outlined in the Conservation Title of the U.S. Farm Bill. Course will examine policy initiatives, implementation strategies, and evaluative and/or administrative processes. Students will explore and discuss various approaches to resource management including the use of incentives and disincentives, top-down regulatory approaches, and private-public partnerships. 

Production of important field crops of the world with greatest emphasis on U.S. and Midwestern field crops; crop production changes and adjustments, crop distribution over U.S., and crop groups and classifications, special agronomic problems, crop enemies, crop ecology, fertilizer and liming practices, tillage, crop improvement through breeding. 

Analysis of problems involved in meeting current and prospective world needs of food and fiber production.  Course work will have an emphasis on business organization, credit, diversity, education, marketing, and production.  Students will experience World Food through multiple perspectives including culinary arts, economics, geography, and policy.  There are practical exercises in cross-cultural negotiation technique, import-export of agricultural goods, and international trade.

This course will provide insight into the sales function within agriculture business. Selling strategies and approaches, why and how people buy, prospective, territory management and customer relations are all topics to be discussed. The topics of self-presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills that are necessary in developing leadership qualities within the agricultural sector will be explored. 

This course will provide an overview of common-law principles and statutory law to agency relationship, land tenure, farm tenancy, farm labor, farm management, taxation and estate planning.

This course is designed to educate students about current revolving issues in the agricultural, food, and natural resource sciences and to expose student to a variety of methods used to critically evaluate contentious issues and effectively communicate, inform, and influence decisions made about these issues.  In addition, this course explores the impacts agricultural issues have on the agricultural industry and society. 

Emphasizes genetic improvement of livestock. Quantitative and molecular genetic principles are studied and applied to livestock production.  Current and emerging genetic and reproduction technologies, including genomics, genetic engineering, cloning, embryo transfer, and artificial insemination are discussed.  

Emphasizes reproductive anatomy & physiology of livestock. Anatomical structures involved and hormonal control of reproduction, pregnancy, parturition, and lactation are studied and applied to livestock production. Current and emerging reproductive and genetic technologies, including artificial insemination, cloning, estrous synchronization, estrus and pregnancy detection, multiple ovulation embryo transfer, semen sexing, genetic engineering, and genomic engineering, and genomic selection, are discussed.  

The course covers in-depth production practices of major forage crops. Areas of focus include the principles of classification, varieties used, production practices, harvesting, marketing and seed production. Laboratory work includes forage seed and plant identification.

This course will examine advanced concepts in soil conservation, including factors that influence soil erosion, soil-loss prediction models and methods of measurement, and practices in erosion control. Students will explore conservation cropping systems, tillage methods, structural systems, and vegetation establishment. Course will include a review of soil survey and land-use planning tools. 

An internship is an intensive career-oriented work experience related to the studen'ts academic studies, professional and educational goals. It is also an opportunity to gain practical experience in one's major field of study, apply knowledge gained in the classroom, and make useful contacts in a professional field. The experience is ideally unique to the student and must be supervised by a qualified supervisor.