Agricultural Science Concentration

Discover Minnesota’s strong agriculture industry with Riverland’s Agricultural Science Concentration. There are about 2 million family farms in the United States. Over 22 million people work in agriculture, and nearly 58,000 new jobs open each year. Our program helps you get ready to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

Program Details

Earn a 60-credit Associate of Arts degree in Agricultural Sciences. This degree can transfer to many four-year colleges. You’ll take 44 credits in general subjects like biology, chemistry, math, and writing. You’ll also take 16 credits in agriculture topics, such as agronomy, agribusiness, and precision agriculture.

Facilities and Resources

Riverland’s Center for Agricultural and Food Science Technology has great tools to help you learn. You can use a John Deere Combine Simulator and a Robotic Seed Bed. We are close to big companies like Hormel Foods, so Riverland is a great place to start your agriculture career.

What You Can Do After Graduation

• Help grow stronger crops
• Find and identify pests that hurt plants
• Create new kinds of plants
• Make farm plans better
• Care for animals
• Use smart farming technology
• Work with farm machines
• Teach others about agriculture

Wages and Opportunities

Starting salaries in agriculture range from $30,000 to $50,000. With experience, you could earn $60,000 to $100,000. You can get hands-on experience through internships, such as Crop Scout Intern or Lab Tech. Top employers include Archer-Daniels-Midland and Bayer Crop Sciences.

Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships like the David and Ollie Hagen Agriculture Scholarship or the Hormel Foundation Agriculture and Food Science Scholarship. Visit the Riverland Foundation Scholarships page for more information and deadlines.

Get Involved

Join Riverland’s Agricultural and Food Science Technology Club to build leadership skills and volunteer. You can also join the Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa, or Student Senate.