A general introductory class on animal agriculture dealing with livestock terminology, breeds, beef, sheep, swine, poultry, horses, and dairy animals. Livestock marketing, market classes and grades, and the industry as a whole will be covered.
A general introductory class covering basic plant structure, physiology, reproduction, ecology, geography and evolution. Emphasis will be on crops relating to Montana agriculture.
Principles of economics and agricultural marketing functions, agencies, services, and economic problems associated with production agriculture in Montana. The course includes an overview of commodity trading and the futures market.
Agricultural development and advancement; managerial balance of land, labor, capital, and implementation to provide for greatest returns; also includes farm business organization and arrangements, estate planning, credit, and farm business analysis.
This is a class designed to acquaint students with a number of agricultural computer applications and features agricultural specific software. Emphasis is placed on software useful to the farmer, rancher and agri-business. Livestock, cropping, financial management, digital mapping of land resources and other agricultural based computerized applications will be featured.
This course is a study of soil as a natural and extremely valuable resource. Course topics include soil properties, soil classification, soil water, soil organisms, soil nutrients, and soil formation. Emphasis is placed on soil conservation and the proper management of our soil resources. Various laboratory exercises will be performed to analyze soil and its physical and chemical properties. This course does meet the laboratory science requirement.
Meets MSU-Northern General Education Core Natural Sciences (CAT III) requirement including the laboratory requirement.
Art and science of crop production; growth, development, and management of various agricultural field crops; emphasis given to crops important to the Northern Great Plains. Includes yield estimation, storage and handling facilities, tillage and harvesting methods, and practical applications in grading grains.
This is a study of pest management for common Montana agriculture crops. Chemical and non-chemical controls will be discussed. Topics will include pest identification, biology and control; chemicals, safety and application. There will be an opportunity to qualify for private and commercial pesticide applicator certification as required by the State of Montana.
Principles of animal nutrition and practical feeding of livestock; comprehensive information concerning the composition, properties, and uses of feeds, application of balanced rations incorporating the use of substitution, Pearson Square, and Computerized ration formulation for private and commercial use.
This is a course that correlates and applies the art and science of production of the four-footed meat animals - beef, sheep, and swine. Topics include breeding and selection, reporduction and physiology, disease, sanitation and pollution control, housing and confinement production, and marketing and processing.
A study of the ecology and physiology of forage and range plants. Response of vegetation to grazing, climate and other environmental forces are explored. Range utilization, plant identification and stocking rate exercises are components of this class. Both range and pasture crops are discussed.
This course is an exploration of issues facing rural areas and the impacts of those issues on conducting business. The focus will include agriculturally dependent cooperatives with particular emphasis given to issues most relevant to Montana.
This course is a study of global positioning systems (GPS) technology and how it can be used in agriculture, outdoor activities, orienteering, land resources, transportation and in a large number of other applications. Class participants will use handheld and mapping grade GPS receivers and become familiar with GPS data collection, DGPS or differential correction, processing of spatial data, map types, coordinate grinds, map datum, amd waypoints. Students will learn how to link GPS receivers with computers and equipment, manage GPS data with software, upload and download coordinate information and create printouts of patial data, locations and routes.
Meets MSU-Northern General Education Core Technology (CAT VII) requirement.
An examination of marketing tools available to farmers and ranchers, including futures and options. The course addresses costs of production, storage and transportation, risk management, financial planning, and means of securing market information.
This course is a study of soil and water and plant relationships. Emphasis will be on dry land soil practices, irrigation principles and practices, point source pollution, and measurement and methods of control.
This course will involve the study of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for natural resource and land management. Students will develop an understanding of spatial reasoning and methods used to visually inventory and analyze land based resources. GIS software, images and data sources commonly used for natural resource management by industry and government agencies will be featured in this class.
This course is a study in the use of agricultural technologies from a management perspective. Topics will include a study in the use of technologies in the management of agricultural finances, land, machinery, crops and livestock. Computer and software technologies will be used for budgeting, enterprise accounting, enterprise analysis, recordkeeping, and to analyze machinery decisions and costs. FINPACK and other arm/ranch financial planning and machinery analysis software will be featured.
A planned and supervised work-learning experience extending the student’s learning experience in agricultural business, agricultural production, or government agencies related to agriculture.
Prerequisites: Junior standing and approval of minor advisor, Dean of the College of Technical Sciences, and cooperative education coordinator. Pass/Fail only
This course is a survey course designed to familiarize students with the educational requirements, talents, and responsibilities for careers related to industrial and engineering technology. The content of this course should provide the framework for materials to be presented in future math, science, industrial, and engineering technology courses.
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Meets MSU-Northern General Education Core Natural Sciences (CAT III) requirement including the laboratory requirement.
Prerequisite: AG 102
Course Fee: $5.00
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