Another summer is essentially over with Labor Day just around the corner. A sure sign summer is over is the start of another school year. Barton Community College starts this Wednesday with another crop of incoming freshman in the agriculture program. But let’s take a step back and examine what education it takes to succeed in today’s agricultural environment as a farmer and/or rancher.
This education is obtained in many ways. Prior generations of farmers and ranchers learned through trial and error and their neighbors. Later through the Land Grant University system and Cooperative Extension. The agricultural industry started its own outreach with the development of crop varieties, the fertilizer industry, the ag machinery industry and the pesticide industry. There are also numerous producer and advocacy groups disseminating information. Now the typical producer has a degree or certificate and continues their education with the previously mentioned sources. The key is for a successful farmer to never stop learning.
• Crop Science – Producers need a basic understanding of the plants they grow. What crops are adapted to what conditions. How the crops develop and how they must be handled and stored.
• Soil Science – Soils matter to farmers and ranchers. An understanding of soils and their properties determine what crops to grow, the quality of pasture, building locations, the application rates of chemicals, and on and on.
• Animal Science – This really matters to all producers of agricultural commodities. A basic understanding of livestock growth and development and animal health are key for those producing livestock and those producing the foodstuffs for them.
• Animal Nutrition – Producers need to understand how to keep animals healthy and maximize efficiency of production. They need to be able to read and understand an analysis of feed compared to livestock needs. They need to be able to determine rations and overall nutritional needs as efficiently and cheaply as possible.
• Species specific course – producers need a background specific to the species they are producing and even more specifically the end use of that animal.
• Agricultural Economics – A basic understanding of macro and micro economics is necessary to create efficiency of operations and make appropriate input, production and marketing decisions.
• Crop Production – Producers need an understanding of the best management practices for crops which helps them integrate Crop Science and Soil Science.
• Fertilizer Management – Fertilizer are a major expense in crop production and their efficient and environmentally sound use is vital for producers to stay in business.
• Pest Management – Dealing with weeds, diseases, and insects in cost effective, environmentally safe manner is a key for the viability of operations. It is so much more completed than simply applying chemicals.
• Accounting – Every producer needs to be able to read a spread sheet, especially in today’s complicated monetary environment.
• Computer Science – Computers are involved in everything from tractor operations to yield monitors and GPS. You cannot survive without a basic grasp of computers and their programs.
As this column always ends, there is so much more but hopefully this dispels the attitude that it’s just farming or ranching.