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Agriculture & Veterinary Technology

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Agriculture and Veterinary Technology

Dr. Philip Schroeder, Chair
Phone : 607-587-3983
Administrative Assistant Phone : 607-587-4714
Email : schroepd@alfredstate.edu

Agriculture students participate in hands-on experiences working with crops, plants, animals, facilities, and equipment. Graduates leave our programs with a true feel for the industry they plan to enter. Veterinary technology students are prepared to sit for the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE) through intensive lecture and laboratory courses. Passage of this exam is required for licensure as a veterinary technician. Veterinary technology students are also required to complete a 240-hour preceptorship (work experience), which gives them real, practical experience between completing their first year and graduation. Students have many opportunities to help tell the story of agriculture at college-hosted events for elementary and high school students, educators, and the general public. Through the agricultural and veterinary technology clubs, students help organize dairy and livestock shows, consignment sales, judging competitions, agricultural skills contests, tours, and other educational events.

MISSION

The Department of Agriculture and Veterinary Technology will facilitate learning and engage communities in the practices of sustainable food production and animal welfare.  We will develop graduates who will sustainably and profitably manage animals and natural resources for a secure society.

FACILITIES

  • Agriculture Science Building – (A construction project will begin shortly to renovate this building) This facility contains laboratories specializing in soils, botany, and animal anatomy and physiology. A 5,300-square-foot greenhouse produces hydroponic vegetables, and herbs and contains a tropical room, desert room, and plant propagation areas.
  • 800-acre college farm – The farm serves as a field laboratory to provide practical instruction in production agriculture and to produce feed for the college’s livestock. It is home to registered dairy and beef herds, horses, swine, poultry, sheep, and meat goats used for instruction in animal care and management. The farm is also used for soils, botany, feeds, and nutrition, and field and forage crops classes. Students have the opportunity to work on the farm as interns. Other facilities there focus on high-tunnel vegetable production, row crop production, and agroforestry practices.
  • Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture (COSA) – The center, located at the college farm, features an organic dairy herd with which students gain experience in management intensive grazing and a robotic milking system.  Other facilities include a 300-acre farm in Sonyea, where we produce forages.
  • Veterinary Technology Center – This state-of-the-art facility includes surgical and radiography laboratories, a classroom area for Introduction to veterinary technology, animal health care and laboratory animal management laboratories, and animal housing facilities.

DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS

Agribusiness Management (BTech)
Agricultural Automation and Robotics (AAS)
Agricultural Business
(AAS)
Agricultural Technology (AAS)
Veterinary Technology (AAS)