into sustainable profits
RATE Students who are employed within 6 months of graduation
Agriculture
At Lake Area Tech, you’ll gain the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to succeed in today’s agriculture industry. Whether you plan to operate a family farm, work as a grain merchandiser, pursue a career with an agricultural company, or specialize in precision agriculture or livestock production, our Agriculture program will prepare you for success.
In addition, you’ll learn from experienced instructors while working with modern equipment and technology that reflects today’s agricultural industry.
If you plan to continue your education, tools like Transferology can help you understand how your coursework applies toward a four-year degree and explore your next steps.
Ag Demonstration Farm
Lake Area Technical College’s demonstration farm provides our agriculture students valuable hands-on learning experiences on a working farm. From spring planting through fall harvest, students are involved in planning and carrying out farm management best practices. The farm includes 70 acres of tillable farmland located just northwest of Watertown. The acres are divided into four fields, each of which has a specific crop demonstration purpose for the growing year. The demonstrations are based on new ag practices being introduced to market.
LATC receives valuable support from local and regional ag industry partners that donate equipment, seed, chemicals, and more to the demonstration farm. This support from local implement dealers, the elevator, and seed and chemical companies, enables our students to incorporate current best practices in agriculture using the latest technologies and products.
To optimize planting, fertilizing, and harvesting strategies at the farm, precision technologies are incorporated. At the farm, students learn and use technologies like GPS, yield maps, auto-guidance equipment, and variable-rate technology.
The Agriculture Advisory Board, a group of area ag leaders, meet during the year to advise program instructors on best practices in the industry. The group provides direction on crop rotation, farm management approaches, technology, and other aspects important to successful ag strategies.
In addition to providing hands-on, real-world experiences for our ag students, public plot tours are offered, which highlight the demonstrations being conducted during the current growing season.
Agriculture Program Learning Outcomes
- Exhibit the ability to solve problems related to the agricultural field by:
a. Setting up a rotational cropping plan and recognizing the advantages of these plans.
b. Calculate nutritional animal rations as they pertain to the dairy, beef, swine, & equine industries.
c. Calculate the correct analysis of different fertilizer blends and determine the importance of these blends with differing situations.
d. Describe and identify the growth stages of corn, soybeans and wheat, allowing the students to determine the proper timing concerning the application of pesticides and nutrients for these crops.
e. Calculate net price when dealing with hedging strategies - Compare and contrast normal animal behavior, and recognize abnormal behavior to aid in identifying and treating livestock and/or illness.
- Demonstrate punctuality and attendance relating to ag classes and related meetings, as established in the attendance policies set by the department.
- Interpret and communicate using technical agricultural terms.
- Demonstrate the importance of participating in industry training during their careers.
- Mapping field areas using a device equipped with global positioning systems.
- Analyze and locate information relating to soil types, soil tests, topography and yield monitor information.
- Demonstrate the basics of CPR/AED training.
- Demonstrate the basic principles of general ag safety procedures.
BUSINESS PARTNERS:
Every class, every semester. Find the right pathway to achieve your degree on your timing.
Getting all of this straight can be tough – but you're not alone. Our representatives are here to help.
"I appreciated the smaller class sizes. I felt that was more conducive to my learning style as I was more comfortable asking questions and meeting with instructors outside of class."
Estimated Cost
At Lake Area Tech, there are no surprises. View expected expenses below, so you can plan ahead for a successful year.
| Tuition | $10,400 |
| State Fees | $3,600 |
| Departmental Fee | $2,701 |
| Campus Support Fee | $2,480 |
| Uniform Fee | $100 |
| Tools | $4,100 |
| Books | $600 |
| Laptop (What laptop should I get?) | $1,010 |
| Total Estimated Program Cost: | $24,991 |
We know that college is a significant investment in your future. Our goal is to offer you the most transparent look at potential costs associated with your degree.
Note that other indirect costs, such as housing, food, transportation, personal and other miscellaneous costs will vary for each student’s situation, and are not included in this estimate. You can find these estimates and a semester breakdown in the PDF cost breakdown worksheet.
We strive to offer a variety of financial aid options, as well as helpful resources regarding outside financial aid options.
Agriculture Staff
Field-tested. Student-ready. Our esteemed staff is prepared to walk with you through every step of your collegiate career.
