Precision Agriculture

Precision Agriculture is a new program at Highland Community College and is available at two HCC locations - Highland campus and the Western Center in Baileyville.  

What is Precision Ag?

Precision Agriculture is a study of the basic principles of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Position System (GPS) and how the systems, along with the currently available and emerging technologies, are applied to the site-specific management of production agricultural resources, as a producer, advisor, or technician in the Precision Agricultural Field. 

Program content includes:

• GPS Soil Sampling
• Remote Sensing Technology
• Computer-Based Applications
• Variable Rate Technology
• Hands-on Learning

 

Why consider Precision Ag?

Precision Ag is used more and more in local farming operations. With the increasing availability of such mapping technologies as GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Precision Ag technicians will install, operate, troubleshoot and repair precision ag systems. Technicians will also use advanced processing software to collect, visualize, and analyze data.

Students completing a certificate or degree program in Precision Ag will be more competent in their own farm operations or obtain positions such as Precision Ag Technicians (implement dealers), Crop Specialists, Nutrient Management Specialists, Precision Ag Department Managers, Precision Agronomists, and Precision Farming Coordinators.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in Precision Ag are expected to grow 10-19% from now through 2020. The average salary for someone working in this field is just over $40,000 per year.

 

What degrees are offered?

HCC offers a certificate program and an AAS degree in Precision Agriculture. 

34 Hour Certificate B
All courses included in the Certificate A are marked with an asterisk
Course #	Course Name	Credit
AB 114	Agriculture Orientation	2
AB 128	Agriculture Electronic Devices & Systems	3
*AB 130	Precision Farming Systems	3
*AB 132	Agricultural Data Management   Systems	3
*AB 134	Precision Farming Hardware	3
*AB 136	Introduction to Agricultural GIS	3
AB 138	Remote Sensing	3
*AB 142	Field Mapping for Decision Making	3
AB 144	Intermediate Agricultural GIS	3
AB 146	Aerial Systems Management	2
*AB 148	Positioning Systems Management	3
AB 244	Precision Agriculture Capstone	3

 

Precision AG AAS Degree (65 Hours)
AAS degree in Precision Ag students complete the Cert B (34 hours, course listed above) plus the courses listed below
AB 126	Principles of Agronomy	3
AB 203	Soils and Soils Lab	4
AB 227 or BUS130	Agriculture Microcomputer Microcomputer Applications I	3
AB 202 or AB 224	Agriculture Economics Range Management	3
ENG101	Composition I	3
ENG102 or SP 106	Composition II or Public Speaking	3
PE	Any PE course	1
PS 107	General Chemistry w/ Lab	5
Humanities and Fine Arts	Any course listed on degree sheet	3
Social & Behavioral Science	Any course listed on degree sheet	3

For more information

Cara Baker, Western Center Director 785-442-6240 cbaker@highlandcc.edu

Stephanie Peterson, Director of Admission 785-442-6051 admissions@highlandcc.edu