Examines proven strategies designed to help learners achieve greater personal, academic, and professional success. Learners will apply personal responsibility thinking and behaviors; self- management, awareness, and motivation strategies; as well as interdependence skills to develop a proactive life plan.

Familiarizes learners with the Agriculture Center of Excellence and standard operating procedures. Learners will begin to develop a strategic college plan. Learners will be exposed to the various opportunities available throughout their program of study. This course will acquaint students with basic agronomy practices and learners will begin the process of managing acres of cropland that will continue throughout the program.

Examines basic soil and plant relationships. Soil fertility is important in considering the role that the soil plays with regard to the availability of nutrients to plants. Learners will study nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other macro and micro nutrients. Learners will practice appropriate sampling, analyzing and interpretation of soil sample results. Various soil management practices will be discussed, along with soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The soil profile will be examined.

Introduces learners to the work environment of an agriculture equipment technician. Safety and the use of basic hand and power tools will help the learners work safely and efficiently. Additionally, learners will cover various types of equipment safe operation both in a shop and farm environment. Learners will be completing agriculture equipment driving examination.

Explores agricultural applications of GPS, yield monitoring systems and mapping. Learners will gain experience in operating equipment and software designed to support the production crop industry. The basics of variable rate technology, remote sensing, drones, and site-specific crop management techniques will be explored.

Examines natural resource management, using remote sensing and GIS for mapping resources. Learners will gather and analyze data with the help of remote sensing technology. Data can be collected using ground or aerial photographs or satellite photographs of the land area being studied. With this data, learners will be able to create various land cover maps, vegetation maps, soil maps and geology maps.

Exposes students to various technologies used throughout agriculture. Areas of technology include precision farming, agriculture software packages, modern agriculture renewable energy technologies and equipment. Based on new technologies and equipment available for use, the technology area focused on may change slightly from year-to-year. Learners will interpret maps, generate operational plans and perform financial analyses based on agronomy data.

Examines plant development, structure and functions. Learners will gain the necessary skills to identify common garden crops in Wisconsin. Through hands-on exploration, text and classroom activities, learners will practice identifying parts of plants and weeds.

Familiarizes learners with pest management practices. Pest management requires modern equipment to apply a variety of pesticides, and there is a vast array of equipment on the market. Learners will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make an effective, safe and efficient application following label instructions. Learners will examine methods of application, equipment choices and calibration and cleaning. Learners will be prepared to take the pesticide applicator exam upon completion of this course.

Explores agricultural applications of using drones for crop remote sensing, photography, overseeding cover crops and forages, fertilization, fungicide and herbicide treatments.  Learners will gain basic flight training and  experience in operating drone equipment to prepare for FAA certification exams.

Explores agricultural applications of precision planting, precision fertilization, and precision spraying technologies.  Learners will gain experience in operating equipment and software designed to support the production crop industry. Utilize variable rate technology, monitor applications, record and store agricultural data.

Examines the principles of farm crop production, including classification, growth and management of corn, soybeans, alfalfa, barley, as well as other Midwest crops. Learners will explore soil preparation, plant physiology, planting dates, planting depths and seeding rates for various types of crops. Furthermore, learners will engage in the study of plant structure identification. Different types of equipment used in planting and harvesting will be explored and discussed during the course.

Explores grid sampling sizes, plant nutrient analysis, CEC, base saturation and nutrient management planning. Learners will apply classroom theory through hands-on activities such as grid sampling, plant identification and pest identification. Furthermore, learners will gain a greater understanding of plant nutrient testing and the implication of soil sampling test results. Learners will examine soil conservation practices, soil nutrition and pesticide application.