Agricultural Business
It is an exciting time to be an agricultural business student. One out of every six jobs in the American economy is related to agriculture and food businesses. The curriculum in agriculture business is designed to provide students with the technical and business skills necessary to be successful in our nation's largest industry. Career opportunities in agribusiness range from managing a farm (dairy, beef, equine, vegetable, fruit, crops) to working in the nurserie, timber, banking, or publishing industries. Ample opportunities are available in the management of farm supply stores or cooperatives, agricultural input sales, insurance, real estate, agricultural processing, and manufacturing industries.
Agricultural business managers also must have enough technical knowledge of crops, growing conditions, and plant diseases to make decisions ensuring the successful operation of their farms. A rudimentary knowledge of veterinary science, as well as animal husbandry, is important for livestock and dairy farmers. The agricultural business curriculum will provide the student with the basic business, crop, and animal skills to make informed business decisions.
Showmanship Day
All students enrolled in agriculture classes truly enjoy participating in the annual showmanship activities each spring. Students can select a species of animal (cattle, horses, swine, alpacas, or sheep) to train, groom, and show in this annual competition. Family, friends, and alumni are invited to enjoy the competition and the awards BBQ following the showmanship contest.
Related Clubs and Activities
Students have the opportunity to participate in the Collegiate Agricultural Leaders (CAL) Club, Collegiate FFA, Equestrian Club, Dairy Judging Team, Agricultural Skills Day, Livestock Club, Spring Fling Consignment Sale, Community-Supported Agriculture projects, local foods projects, showmanship contests, and Sustainability Club.
Scholarships
The department offers various scholarships to students.
- Demonstrate essential technical knowledge of animal husbandry methods to make informed agribusiness decisions
- Demonstrate essential technical knowledge of crops, soils, and growing conditions to make informed agribusiness decisions
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze information, and compare and contrast agricultural management systems
- Info Management (computer & research skills appropriate to degree level and type)
- Written & Oral Communication (appropriate to degree level and type)
- Critical Thinking (problem solving, reasoning skills appropriate to degree level and type)
Recommended: Algebra
- Focuses on:
- Farm business management
- Agricultural sales
- Retailing management
- Agricultural Business transfer
- Modern, well-equipped labs
- 750-acre College Farm
Students in this program benefit from an articulation agreement with Cornell University. (A formal transfer agreement with Cornell University guarantees admission to Cornell for those who complete certain course work at Alfred State and maintain at least a B average.)
Students must:
- successfully complete the prescribed sequence of courses
- achieve a minimum index of 2.0 in their core courses
- achieve a minimum index of 2.0 overall
- be recommended by the department faculty
- Writers of Technical Publications, Radio & TV Scripts, News Items for magazines & newspapers, Education & Public Relations material
- Warehouse Managers for Farm Chemicals, Feed, Seed, and Fertilizers
- Agricultural Credit Officers for Banks, Government, Loan Agencies, and Farm Cooperative Loan Agencies
Management or Ownership of Commercial Farms- Feed, Seed, and Fertilizer Sales Technicians
- Manager/Assistant Managers of Farm Supply Stores
- Chain Store and Retail Food Management
- Agricultural Consulting Services
Alfred State agricultural business graduates may enter directly into the technology management BBA degree program.
Many schools, including Cornell University, grant full credit to students wishing to transfer to fouryear programs, usually in agricultural economics or agricultural education.
A formal articulation agreement exists between Alfred State and Cornell University for transfer options.
| First Semester | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ANSC | 1204 | Intro to Animal Science | 4 |
| AGRI | 1002 | Intro to Agriculture | 2 |
| CISY | 1003 | Intro to Microcomputer Applic | |
| or | |||
| CISY | 1103 | Info Technology Mgmt | 3 |
| COMP | 1503 | Freshman Composition | 3 |
| XXXX | Gen Education Elective | 3-4 | |
| 15-16 | |||
| Second Semester | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ANSC | 3202 | Dairy Management Analysis | 2 |
| AGRI | 2012 | Organic & Sustain Agr Tech | 2-3 |
| BIOL | 1304 | Botany | 4 |
| xxx3 | Gen Education Elective | 3 | |
| ACCT | 1124 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| xxxx | Ag Elective OR | ||
| xxx3 | Business Elective | 3-4 | |
| 16-18 | |||
| Third Semester | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT | 2224 | Mangerial Accounting | 4 |
| AGEC | 3213 | Farm & Rural Business | 3 |
| xxxx | Ag. Elective | 3-4 | |
| xxx3 | Ag or General Education Elective | 3 | |
| xxx3 | Gen Ed or Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 16-17 | |||
| Fourth Semester | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AGEC | 4303 | Rural Business Finance | 3 |
| xxxx | Gen. Education Elective | 3-4 | |
| xxx3 | Bus or Marketing Elective | 3 | |
| xxxx | Ag Elective | 2-4 | |
| AGRI | 4002 | Senior Seminar/Capstone Project | 2 |
| 13-16 | |||
| Agriculture Electives: | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ANSC | 2114 | Domestic Animal A&P | 4 |
| ANSC | 3004 | Feeds and Nutrition | 4 |
| ANSC | 3103 | Livestock Mgmt & Production | 3 |
| ANSC | 3202 | Dairy Mgmt Analysis | 2 |
| ANSC | 3204 | Dairy Cattle Production III | 4 |
| ANSC | 3222 | Dairy Calf Management | 2 |
| ANSC | 2102 | Dairy Cattle Reprod & A. I. Tech | 2 |
| AGPS | 2114 | Field and Forage Crops | 4 |
| AGPS | 5003 | IPM | 3 |
| HORT | 2544 | Woody Plants | 4 |
| AGPS | 5103 | Sustainable Vegetable Production | 3 |
| AGRI | 3351 | Live Animal Evaluation | 1 |
| Business Electives: | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BUAD | 3043 | Business Law | 3 |
| MKTG | 3153 | Web Design & Marketing | 3 |
| BUAD | 4203 | Intro to Personal Finance | 3 |
| CISY | 3023 | Advanced Spreadsheets | 3 |
| BUAD | 3153 | Fundamentals of Management | 3 |
| Also Required | credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| HPED | One Unit of Physical Education | 1 | |
| Survey Details | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving Degrees | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Responding to Survey | 5 (100%) | 1 (100%) | 2 (40%) |
| Employed | 3 (60%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (50%) |
| Employed in Field | 3 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (100%) |
| Transferred | 2 (40%) | 1 (100%) | 1 (50%) |
| Unemployed & Seeking Employment | -- | -- | -- |
| Unemployed & Not Seeking Employment | -- | -- | -- |
Prefer not to disclose (1)
