Agriculture

Apply  Visit  Request Information

 

Whether you want to work the land, raise livestock or help others do it better, NDSCS is a great place to start.

Academic Options

The NDSCS Agriculture department began in 1976 to provide students training in mechanics and farm management. Keeping up with technology and current workforce demands, programs have evolved to include Ag Business, Animal Science, Farm Management, Precision Agronomy, Precision Ag Technician, Ranch Management and a 9-month Meat Processing certificate. These programs are designed to help students gain employment in a the Agriculture industry or to help prepare students to operate a farm or ranch in the future.

Class sizes are kept smaller to allow students to benefit from lab activities, personalized instruction, and classroom interaction. Multiple programs allow for students to choose from a wide array of elective options to reach their career goals. Students who choose to continue their education find their coursework transferable to other institutions.

off
Ag Business
Ag Business

Ag Business focuses on core business concepts such as accounting, sales, management and marketing, while providing a diverse agriculture background.

  • Type: A.A.S. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements 

Agriculture Applicator and Operations

Students who enroll in Precision Agronomy will seek employment m the areas of farm equipment operators. Typically, these jobs could be farm labor or applicators and operators for agronomy centers. Upon completion students will be prepared for their CDL testing, have their commercial applicator license and be ready to operate large agriculture equipment. 

  • Type: Certificate
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Agriculture Education

The Agriculture Education curriculum plan is designed for students who plan to continue their studies toward a bachelor's degree in agriculture from one of the area universities.

  • Type: A.A.S. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton, Online, Combination
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Animal Science
Animal Science

In Animal Science you can choose between careers in diversified crop and livestock production, sales of livestock feed and supplies, and employment in a livestock operation.

  • Type: A.A.S. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Farm Management
Farm Management

The Farm Management option focuses on farm management, record keeping and other agricultural topics such as precision agriculture, ag marketing, crop production, computerized records and soil fertility.

  • Type: A.A.S. degree (Agriculture degree sub-plan)
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Meat Processing
Meat Processing

The Meat Processing option is a collaboration offering between NDSCS and NDSU. Students who enroll in the Meat Processing certificate program at NDSCS will have the opportunity to gain skills in a high-demand career field.

  • Type: Certificate (Agriculture degree sub-plan)
  • Locations: Wahpeton, Fargo
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Precision Agriculture Technician
Precision Agriculture

Students who enroll in the Precision Agriculture Technician program will seek employment in the agriculture equipment industry. Students will find many challenging courses, including agronomic fundamentals, sales, data analysis, data management, electrical fundamentals, hydraulic systems, and more. 

  • Type: A.A.S. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available
     

» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Precision Agronomy
Agronomy

Students who enroll in Precision Agronomy will seek employment in the agriculture retail industry. Course work is designed to provide instruction in crop production, soils, field crop scouting, precision ag, agriculture sales, and business management. Cutting edge agricultural technology is infused into this curriculum.  

  • Type: A.A.S. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available
     

» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

Ranch Management
Ranch Management

The Ranch Management option is designed to provide the student returning to the ranch or diversified livestock operation with the management and production skills necessary to be successful.

  • Type: A.A.S. degree (Agriculture degree sub-plan)
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Green Technology Available


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

full

Right now, there are more great agriculture career options than there are people to fill them, and the same goes for the future.

We’re helping our students jump into outstanding ag careers through hands-on experience with the latest information, advanced technologies and best management practices.

September 2018 - AM 890 AgNews Interviews NDSCS Ag Department Chair Craig Zimprich about land donated to NDSCS for a Land Lab. Click here to listen.

October 2017 - AM 890 AgNews Interviews NDSCS Ag Department Chair Craig Zimprich and NDSCS Associate Professor Dr. Anissa Hoffman about the new Ag Land Lab. Click here to listen.

 


 

NDSCS KOSEL FAMILY AGRICULTURE LAND LAB

In 2018, the NDSCS Agriculture department was gifted the lease for the NDSCS Kosel Family Agriculture Land Lab. This is a 90+ acre piece of land on the edge of Wahpeton. The acreage is used to demonstrate different crops, tillage, and management. Several courses in the Agriculture Department utilize this land and the data collected to create applied learning opportunities.

Tour Our Land Lab

Agriculture and Kosel Family Land LabSnap Content

 

View Full Screen

 

Agriculture Graduates from 2022-23 Academic Year - Includes Ag Business, Agronomy, Animal Science, Farm Management, Precision Agriculture and Ranch Management
Graduates Registered Avg. Beginning Annual Salary Reported High Annual Salary Placement Rate
44 $40560 $58240 95%

North Dakota State College of Science Receives Transformational $500,000 Gift from Linda Kosel Patterson to Enhance Agriculture Program

Linda Kosel Patterson
01-10-2024

The NDSCS Alumni Foundation is thrilled to announce a significant donation of $500,000 from Linda Kosel Patterson, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to the advancement of agricultural education in the region. This substantial contribution is set to revolutionize the NDSCS agriculture program, establishing a state-of-the-art ag technology experience for current and future students.

Kim Nelson, Executive Director of the NDSCS Alumni Foundation, expressed profound gratitude, stating, “Linda’s gift towards the Kosel Family Agriculture Lab will have a positive, significant impact on farming families across the tri-state area for generations. Her generosity is a testament to her dedication to NDSCS and our students, equipping them with advanced tools, equipment, and technologies essential for innovative and comprehensive agricultural education.”

This donation follows a significant contribution from the Yaggie family in December, which enabled major enhancements to the NDSCS agricultural center, now known as the “Yaggie Family Agriculture Center.” The new “Kosel Family Agriculture Lab” will be a fundamental pillar of the remodeled and updated facility.

Linda Kosel’s history of support for NDSCS is longstanding and substantial. In May 2017, along with Mary Kosel, Linda’s mother, they facilitated the use of nearly 95 acres of farmland for the NDSCS Alumni Foundation. This gift created the Kosel Family Agriculture Land Lab used by all NDSCS Agriculture Programs. The land lab has been pivotal in doubling the NDSCS Ag Program’s student enrollment and has enabled the introduction of new associate degrees in Precision Agronomy and Precision Agriculture Technology.

Craig Zimprich, NDSCS Ag Program Director, reflected on the Kosel family’s enduring support: “The Kosel Family's contributions--including this latest donation and the establishment of our Agriculture Land Lab--are invaluable. They provide our students with the opportunity to translate classroom & lab learning into practical skills, using the latest equipment and tools.”

 

The Kosel Family Legacy

The Kosel family’s legacy in agriculture and education began with Richard and Mary Kosel, who started their farming journey north of Wahpeton in 1947. Their lifelong commitment to agriculture and education, along with their daughter Linda, has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of agricultural education at NDSCS.

The NDSCS community is profoundly grateful for the Kosel family’s continued support and partnership, which significantly enhances the educational experience and opportunities for our students in agriculture.

North Dakota State College of Science Celebrates $1 Million Donation from Yaggie Family to Renovate Agriculture Center

Yaggie family - Jeri, Donald, Richard, Robert
12-26-2023

In a grand gesture that underscores a legacy of commitment and generosity, the Yaggie family has contributed a $1 million donation to the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Foundation. This significant contribution will fund the renovation of the NDSCS Agriculture Center, which will be renamed the “Yaggie Family Agriculture Center” in honor of the family’s longstanding involvement in agriculture and the community.

Robert (Bob), Donald (Don) and Richard Yaggie, along with Jeri Yaggie (in memory and honor of her late husband, David) have made this generous contribution to NDSCS that will benefit our entire region.

This transformative donation comes as a tribute to the family’s deep roots in agriculture and education, with multiple generations of Yaggies having attended NDSCS. “The Yaggie family's gift is a testament to their belief in the future of agriculture and the importance of education in our community,” said Dr. Rod Flanigan, President of NDSCS.

The renovated Yaggie Family Agriculture Center will not only serve as a tribute to the family’s contributions but will also be a cornerstone for future agricultural education and innovation at NDSCS.

NDSCS Director of Facilities, David Cooper, shares details of the renovations made possible by this gift, “These are exciting times for NDSCS, as the Tech Center remodel is in the Architectural design and engineering phases. This will not only create a visible presence for the NDSCS Precision Agriculture program, it will also help the different programs within Precision Ag to grow, providing the latest in today’s student environment and combining hands-on learning with today’s technology. This remodel includes the renovation of all classrooms, shops, and offices to include the relocation of the John Deere Diesel program to make room for Precision Ag equipment training programs. We are working closely with our technology partners to insure all of the spaces provide the best learning environment possible for our students.”

From Otto Yaggie's homestead beginnings to Leo’s visionary expansion into the Red River Valley and the establishment of the Minn-Dak Beet Growers, the Yaggie family has been pivotal in fostering agricultural innovation. Today, the Yaggie farms continue to thrive with a collaborative spirit across four generations. Donald--along with his sons Kevin, Mike, and Jeff—farm in the Breckenridge area, as well as, Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Also, part of the family legacy are Robert (1960 NDSCS alum) and his son, Bruce, Richard and his son, Allen, David (a 1965 NDSCS Alum) who passed away in 2019 and his son, Mark, who passed in 2017. All farm near Breckenridge.

The Yaggie family's involvement extends beyond their farms. They have been active in various community and agricultural organizations, including: the International Flying Farmers; St. Mary’s School and Church; and CHI Hospital--showcasing their commitment to enriching the community and supporting future generations.

“We are deeply grateful for the Yaggie family’s generosity,” said Kim Nelson, Executive Director of the NDSCS Foundation. “This donation will allow us to advance our agricultural programs and continue to serve as a leader in educating the next generation of agricultural professionals.”

In addition to their support of the Yaggie Family Agriculture Center, the family also supports NDSCS through their involvement on the NDSCS Foundation Board, NDSCS Catbackers, the NDSCS Ag Advisory Committee and promoting NDSCS to the entire surrounding community.

(photo caption: left to right — Jeri, Donald, Richard and Robert Yaggie)

Ag students with awards

NDSCS Agriculture Program Students Excel at NACTA Conference

04-24-2023
The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Agriculture Program students had the opportunity to attend the NACTA (North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) Judging Conference in Modesto, California from April 12-15, 2023.

Continue

NEW Ag programs available

NDSCS to offer two new Agriculture Degrees

02-07-2023
North Dakota State College of Science will offer Associate in Applied Science degrees in Precision Agronomy and Precision Agriculture Technician starting in the fall of 2023.

Continue

Student interview for AgWeek TV

College meat cutting programs start to fill up industry need

11-07-2022
Multiple colleges in North Dakota and Minnesota are starting up meat cutting programs to try to help meet a demand for workers. Some of the first North Dakota State College of Science students are interning with a small-town meat locker as part of that program.

Continue

NDSCS offering Meat Processing program

Meat Processing
06-23-2021

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is accepting applications for students interested in obtaining a certificate in Meat Processing, a new program, beginning Fall 2021. Students who enroll in the Meat Processing certificate program at NDSCS will have the gain skills and techniques needed for this high-demand career field.

This responsive and innovative program is a partnership between NDSCS and North Dakota State University (NDSU). Students will enroll at NDSCS and take 15 credits one semester, then spend the first 8 weeks of the following semester being trained at the NDSU Meats Laboratory and finish the semester with an internship at a small meat processing facility and/or retail stores.

“The long-term goal of this project is to increase the availability of new workers for local, retail, and small-scale meat processors by educating students through this collaborative certificate program” said Agriculture Department Chair Craig Zimprich. “Small meat processors are a vital link in the food supply and allow farmers, ranchers, and livestock producers to retain a greater portion of the live animals value locally.”

This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Education and Workforce Development program, award number 2021-67037-34169, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Additional information about the program and how to enroll can be found online at NDSCS.edu/Ag.

Agriculture Instruction

NDSCS and Midwest Community College Partners Join Forces with NRCS

09-21-2020
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is partnering with NDSCS and eight other Midwest community colleges to support hands-on student learning in the field, to develop future conservation-minded farmers and ranchers, and to cultivate more graduates interested in pursuing careers with NRCS.

Continue