Agricultural Sciences
Bachelor of Agriculture Technology - Courses
Year 1 | CREDITS | |||||
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AE | 3XX | Economics of Precision Agriculture | 3 | |||
Precision farming and smart agriculture technologies have costs associated with special equipment and time investments. This course will investigate the economic factors in adopting precision farming techniques and specialized technologies and will investigate how precision farming data can be used to manage risk. Students will gain fundamental knowledge in agricultural business, economics, and management to understand and improve integrated technology systems. This course will make use of case studies to analyse the economics of technology adoption.
Prerequisite: AE100 Agricultural Economics |
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AE | 4XX | Advanced Farm & Ag Business Management | 3 | |||
The course prepares students for managerial decision-making by investigating economic models and exploring how the Canadian agriculture economy functions both at a micro and macro level. Agricultural markets are explained with an emphasis on price risk management in commodity marketing. Topics covered will enable the student to draw on analytical tools and previous knowledge to analyze complex business problems in order to provide sound recommendations communicated through a professional report and presentation. The application of block-chain technology to agriculture will also be studied.
Prerequisite: AE230 Financial Management; AE300 Crop Marketing or equivalent |
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AN | 4XX | Advanced Livestock Production & Management | 3 | |||
This course covers extensive and intensive livestock systems and management. Topics include advanced livestock nutrition, genomics, herd health management and forage and grazing systems, and the quantifiable relationships between them. An understanding of integrated resource management as it applies to extensive livestock systems will be developed. On-farm labs will provide learners hands-on exposure to various applications of technology in livestock production and management. | ||||||
AT | 300 | Introduction to Emerging Technologies in Agriculture | 3 | |||
This course will review the evolution and applications of technologies that continue to shape how food and fibre is produced. Agriculture technology trends such as robotics, sensing technologies, genomics tools, drones, management software, smart packaging, and artificial intelligence will be explored and discussed. This course will introduce and provide an overview of the scientific methods of knowledge acquisition, computer/electronic technologies and data management that improve production and processing of commercial crops and livestock. The course will also explore emerging career opportunities for agricultural technology specialists. | ||||||
AT | 3XX | Sustainable Farm Business | 3 | |||
Students will study and evaluate the environmental, economic and social pillars in an agriculture business and how emerging technologies, such as smart agriculture and precision farming practices affect farm business sustainability now and in the future. This course will include a significant group project with case study evaluations of adoption of technology that affect the social, economical and environmental goals of farms and business. | ||||||
CR | 4XX | Advanced Agronomy | 3 | |||
This course will focus on advanced agronomics in weed, insect, disease, fertility and precision agriculture. Students will use integrated crop management and economic thresholds to make decisions on pest levels and agronomic practices. An understanding of quantifiable relationships between soil properties, climate, water, fertility levels, varieties, yield potential, and crop quality will be developed. Advanced topics including genetic phenotyping, and predictive pest modelling. Lab time will allow learners to assess the growth and yield effects of various measured variables.
Prerequisite: CR260 Field Crops; SO102 Soils; SO242 Fertility |
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PA | 300 | Precision Farming Global Positioning Essentials | 3 | |||
The course introduces the philosophy, tools and concepts that drive the precision farming cycle. The tools introduced include Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, sensors, use of position and map based control systems and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping techniques. The installation, trouble shooting and diagnostics of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is a topic further explored. The evaluation of the factors which cause and correct errors in position determination; and strategies for evaluating the causes of and managing the variability in fields will be covered. Students will explore leading industry hardware and software in two groups, one with a livestock technology focus and one with a crops technology focus, for part of the course and for labs. | ||||||
PA | 3XX | Machine Control & Inter-Component Communication Systems | 3 | |||
In addition to reviewing modern farm machinery, this course will focus on the electronic hardware monitoring and controlling equipment functions. The installation, trouble shooting and diagnostics of control systems such as auto-steer, controlled traffic, section control, auto-feeding, robotics, other sensors and variable rate control equipment are among the topics explored. Students will split into two groups, one with a livestock equipment focus and one with a crops equipment focus for part of the course and for labs. The livestock sections will cover silage and haying equipment, as well as automated feeding systems, automated milking, automated handling, weigh scales, “GrowSafe” technologies and other electronic livestock equipment. The course will also explore how data from multiple pieces of equipment are integrated for decision-making purposes.
Prerequisite: PA300 Precision Farming |
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PA | 311 | GIS for Agriculture Decision Making | 3 | |||
This course introduces the students to both traditional geographical information systems (GIS) and agriculture industry software as decision-making tools. Learners will explore and use leading industry software in lab settings. Methods for managing and analysing large amounts of production, management and spatial data will be introduced. Layering, mathematics, introductory code writing, and spatial statistics will be used to map field profitability, create management zones and to aid production decision-making. Learners will make professional map based reports of field attributes and map based plans for a college field.
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PA | 412 | Remote Sensing for Decision Making | 3 | |||
This course will introduce the science, tools and software used in remote sensing of agricultural, cropping, livestock, and processing operations. As well, the vast array of real time sensor applications, sensors used on satellites, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) will be described. The value of spectral imagery and plant indices will be explained. Remotely sensed data will be analyzed to evaluate crop variability and health. The role of remotely sensed data in developing prescriptions for precision farming operations will be investigated. Hands-on exposure to the use of sensors and the data they produce will be delivered in the course labs.
Prerequisite: PA300 Precision Farming |
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Elective in Humanities, Sociology, Arts, Psychology | ||||||
This course should be in one of these subject areas:
A list of suggested courses currently offered by Lakeland or approved for Lakeland students by another institution will be available from the academic advisor.
As well, you can ask for approval for an option not on the list. The program head and the agriculture academic advisor provide that approval.
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Electives
To broaden perspective and critical thinking skills, you're required to complete a 3-credit course unrelated to agriculture, agriculture technology or the biological, physical or chemical sciences.- the Humanities – English & History
- Education
- the Arts
- Social Sciences.
- to check course prerequisites
- to work with your academic advisor and program head on timetabling and other course requirements.
About Practicums
- Student placements will include work settings at agriculture data companies, technology and equipment manufacturers, agriculture equipment dealerships, crop input service providers, private agronomist service companies, crop and livestock service centers, farms, breeding and genomic companies, and other related agriculture industries.
- All placements will have a focus on smart agriculture and/or related agriculture technologies
- Practicums provide opportunities for students to network and forge strong connections with colleagues and gain a greater understanding of their strengths in the field.
- Practicums are project and/or skills based. Students are matched with a workplace mentor/supervisor and are supported by a program faculty member.
- Practicum placements may lead to full time employment with an organization after graduation.
Year 2 | CREDITS | |||||
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AT | 3XX | Innovation Leadership in Agriculture | 3 | |||
Students will analyze historical and current theories in leadership and practices in preparation for selecting appropriate leadership strategies in helping organizations achieve their vision and goals. Focus will be on students developing advanced communication, interpersonal, team building and critical thinking skills as core to leadership development. Students will also practice problem-solving skills such as analytical skills, deductive reasoning, organizing complex thoughts, and presenting solutions. Students will apply individual leadership style and competencies to agriculture work-place scenarios (industry collaboration & mentorship). | ||||||
ATPR | 400 | Practicum I | 15 | |||
Provides approximately 55 days of work experience with a focus on real world application of the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the course of the program. In cooperation with leading industry partners. Practicums are designed to give students supervised practical application of previously studied knowledge and skills. Students will apply technical skills to address business applications of emerging technologies and will implement personal and interpersonal skills to strengthen performance in the workplace and to make a successful transition to the workforce. All placements will have a focus on smart agriculture and/or related agriculture technologies | ||||||
ATPR | 411 | Practicum II | 15 | |||
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- industry
- the college community
- the public