Overview
Agriculture education provides high school students with technical and specialized knowledge in production agriculture, horticulture, agriculture mechanical engineering technologies, natural resources, as well as other specific agriculture occupations. Agriculture education is a coordinated program of group and instructional activities consisting of classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and leadership development through FFA and supervised agriculture experiences.
Agriculture education programs of study also include foundational standards which are to be included with the individual program standards.
The Employability Skills for Career Readiness Standards must be an integrated component of all CTE course sequences.
AGRICULTURE, FOOD & NATURAL RESOURCES
Agricultural Mechanics Technology
The Agricultural Mechanics Technology program covers the foundation skills necessary for agriculture mechanics and industry employment. Areas of study include general shop safety, basic welding, electrical applications, water management, agricultural drafting and construction, engines and power, basic hydraulics, and machinery maintenance and repair.
Agriculture Business Systems
The Agriculture Business Systems program provides agriculture students with the information and skills necessary for success in agribusiness. Areas of study include agriculture economics, business planning, financial concepts, marketing, sales, careers, and leadership development.
Agriculture Leadership, Communication & Policy
The Agriculture Leadership, Communication and Policy program provides agriculture students with instruction on leadership and communication skills in the agricultural field. Areas of study include research methodology, verbal and written communication, journalism, mass media, agriculture policy, careers, and leadership development.
Animal Science
The Animal Science program provides students with the principles of the livestock and red meat industry. Areas of study include the basic anatomy and physiology of domestic animals, genetics, reproduction, animal health and welfare, evaluation and selection of animals, land stewardship, marketing, and leadership development.
Biotechnology
The Biotechnology program provides students with the principles of the biotechnology industry. Areas of study include animal and plant science applications, biochemistry, principles of genetic transfer and genetically modified organisms, bio-manufacturing, applications to the food industry, and trends in agricultural biotechnology research.
Environmental Management
The Environmental Management program provides agriculture students with the information and skills necessary for success in environmental management. Areas of study include ecology, environmental quality, sustainable use, GIS and GPS, energy, hydrology and hydrogeology, law and public policy, environmental site analysis, careers, and leadership development.
Floriculture Design & Management
The Floriculture Design and Management program provides students with the principles of floral design and management. Areas of study include the history of floral design, the use of color, tools and principles of design in floral arrangements, plant identification, care and processing of cut flowers, marketing and sales, recordkeeping, floral business management, and leadership development.
Food Science Technology
The Food Science Technology program provides students with the basic laws of chemistry, microbiology, and physics applied to the production, processing, preservation, and packaging of food. Experimentation will allow students to see how scientific principles are involved in food safety and preparation, handling and storage, food marketing, and leadership development.
Landscape Design & Management
The Landscape Design and Management program provides students with the principles of landscape design and management. Areas of study include safety, design principles and application, plant selection and care, hardscaping, irrigation, integrated pest management, careers, and leadership development.
Natural Resources & Wildlife Management
The Natural Resources and Wildlife Management program provides students with the concepts of natural resources science and management. Areas of study include ecological concepts and scientific principles, rangeland management, fire ecology, GPS and GIS, fish and wild ecology, forestry, renewable and nonrenewable resources, fish and wildlife management, and leadership development.
Ornamental Horticulture/Greenhouse Management
The Ornamental Horticulture/Greenhouse Management program provides students with the principles of plant science, ornamental horticulture and greenhouse management. Areas of study include plant anatomy and physiology, plant identification, propagation, growing media, nutrition, integrated pest management, plant technologies, growing greenhouse crops, greenhouse business concepts, and leadership development.
Veterinary Science
The Veterinary Science program provides agriculture students with the information and skills necessary for success in veterinary science. Areas of study include safety and sanitation in the clinical setting, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical math, lab techniques, diseases and disorders, nutrition, clinical procedures, office procedures, ethical and animal welfare issues, careers, and leadership development.