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Agronomy, AAS Degree

Agronomists are individuals who are experts in planting, cultivating and harvesting food for an ever-expanding global market. Mitchell Tech’s program has an excellent reputation and will provide graduates with many career options.

Students will learn about different methods to increase soil organic matter and improve the overall soil health. They will study crop growth stages for the top four crops produced in South Dakota: corn, soybeans, small grains, and alfalfa, and discuss management options available at certain crop stages. Disease and insect identification are also key factors involved with today’s crop production efforts. Weeds that are common to this region will be observed and control strategies will be discussed. Crops also depend on a balanced fertilizer source; students will look at soil test and tissue test results and help make sound environmental recommendations.

Students will also gain experience with ag chemicals and will test for their chemical applicator’s license. Hands-on activities with machinery, small engines and other areas that will expand the student’s experience will be integrated into a variety of courses.

A featured component of this program is the Mitchell Tech Land Lab. The program farms 85 acres of land near Mitchell. Mitchell Tech Ag students and instructors manage all aspects of crop production including government programs. The land lab gives students exposure to precision technologies including auto-steer, geo-referenced data management and variable rate technologies. Students gain experience in all areas of the operation: budgeting, planning, planting, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting and marketing.

Graduates will find work in all areas of agriculture from production to sales and service, agronomy, working with cooperatives or in management.

Any student who enrolls in Commercial Driver training must obtain a South Dakota driver’s license in order to complete the CDL training course. A Class A CDL is a graduation requirement for this program.

Mitchell Tech recommends that applicants to the Agronomy program obtain a physical examination for their safety and protection.

Please Note:

  • Students enrolled must possess a Class A CDL license before the end of the 10th day of their first semester of enrollment or be registered for TRAN 100 during their first semester.
  • Students must pass the Commercial Applicator’s License exam in order to graduate.
  • Students in this program are required to purchase a laptop computer from Mitchell Tech. The laptop will have the necessary software installed and will be serviced free of charge while the student is attending Mitchell Tech.
  • Students are required to achieve a grade of 2.0 (C) in technical courses in order to satisfy graduation requirements.
  • Students are required to complete at least one internship to satisfy graduation requirements.

Award: AAS Degree

First Semester

AGT 101Animal Science I

3
AGT 102Weeds & Herbicides

3
AGT 104Ag Chemicals

2
AGT 120Soil Science I

3
AGT 211Farm Accounting

3
TRAN 100Industrial Transportation CDL

1
CIS 105Introduction to Computers

3
SSS 100Student Success

1
Total Credit Hours:19

Second Semester

AGT 110Crop Science I

3
AGT 112Fertilizers

3
AGT 160Commodity Marketing I

3
AGT 190Internship I

6
AGT 214Ag Law

3
CPR 100First Aid, CPR AED

0.5
Total Credit Hours:18.5

Third Semester

AGT 103Machinery Management

2
AGT 212Ag Chem Equipment

3
AGT 220Soil Science II

2
AGT 261Ag Sales & Service

3
AGT 291Land Management

1
Communications Elective

3
Math Elective

3
General Education Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:20

Fourth Semester

AGT 210Crop Science II

3
AGT 263Fundamentals of Insurance

2
AGT 290Internship II

6
PAT 102Principles of GPS/GIS

2
General Education Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 73.5