Lakeland College Crop Technology Program: December 2008

Friday, December 5, 2008

Getting ready for finals.

This week we loaded out two more loads of CPS and have been working frantically on getting ready for finals next week!!!
From all of us at the Student Managed Farm... Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
See you all in 2009!

What is the Crop Technology Program?

The Crop Technology Program is a 2-year diploma offered at Lakeland College and attracts students:

· wanting to go back to their family farm or farm on their own
· seeking employment in support industries

Fertilizer and chemical retailers (Customer Service
Representatives)
Crop advising
Crop research technicians
Grain buyers and grain marketing
Seed sales
Custom operators (combine/seeding/spraying)

Employment for the summers is always very strong allowing student in first year to get related employment between 1st and 2nd year. Many of these translate into good full time jobs with opportunities for advancement.

Students study:
Traditional and specialty crop production
Soils and Fertility
Integrated pest management (chemical, biological and cultural control of insects, weeds and crop diseases.
Precision Farming – using GPS and GIS systems to spatially manage crop land and guide operations.
Grain Marketing
Machinery Systems
Farm Management and Accounting
Small Business Management with Sales and Salesmanship
Human Resource Management

The Student Managed Farm (SMF) is a very unique and challenging course for both students and instructors. Replaces an advanced farm management class and is a coached practicum where students manage all aspects of the College’s 800 acre grain farm. This course draws from all the other courses that the student takes and integrates technical ability with human resource management and applied business skill. This program is very unique and could not be offered anywhere but Lakeland College. The students manage the SMF budget of approximately $175,000 and return a net revenue to the College between $4,000 and $30,000 annually.

Students receive all the training to write their Certified Pesticide Applicator’s License issued by Alberta Environment and with work experience and subsequent exams can receive international accreditation as Certified Crop Consultant (CCA).

Transfer agreements exist between the University of Lethbridge (2 for 2 in B.Sc. Agri-Business) and University of Alberta (course by course about 1 ½ years).

Student News and Views

Friday, December 5, 2008

Getting ready for finals.

How much snow have you got in your area?

What is the Crop Technology Program?

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