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Program Information
The Agribusiness Management Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) program prepares students for leadership and management careers in the rapidly evolving agriculture industry. Students develop technical agricultural knowledge while gaining essential business, financial, and management skills needed to succeed in modern agribusiness operations.
Through classroom instruction, laboratory activities, field experiences, and internship opportunities, students gain hands-on experience in crop and livestock production, precision agriculture technologies, agricultural finance, commodity marketing, and farm business management.
Graduates are prepared for careers in agribusiness management, production agriculture, agricultural sales, precision agriculture, finance, marketing, and agricultural entrepreneurship. The program also provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to emerging technologies and trends shaping the future of agriculture. Students who complete this AAS degree will have earned an Agribusiness Administration certificate and the Agribusiness Technology: Agronomy Operations Certificate by completion. Graduates of this program are awarded an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.
Program Highlights
Earn an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Agribusiness Management.
Gain hands-on experience through labs, field experiences, and an agricultural internship.
Study precision agriculture technologies and modern farming systems.
Learn business management, agricultural finance, commodity marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Prepare for leadership positions within Iowa's leading industry.
Develop skills in crop production, livestock management, and agribusiness operations.
Learn from industry-experienced faculty and build professional connections.
Explore career opportunities in production agriculture, agribusiness, sales, finance, and agricultural services.
Job Outlook
379 Jobs (2025)
-.5% change from 2024-2025
Wage and employment data are from Lightcast (Q2 2026 data set), timeframe 2024–2025.
What will you do
Graduates may:
- Manage crop, livestock, and agricultural production operations.
- Develop farm business plans, budgets, and financial strategies.
- Utilize precision agriculture technologies and data-driven decision-making tools.
- Analyze commodity markets and assist with marketing and risk management strategies.
- Coordinate grain, cooperative, retail, and agricultural supply operations.
- Assist producers with financing, insurance, taxation, and regulatory compliance.
- Supervise employees and lead agricultural business operations.
- Develop and market agricultural products and services.
- Maintain agricultural records and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
- Start and manage their own agricultural enterprise or family farming operation.
Wages
Entry Level: $12.40
Average: $19.79
Experienced: $33.28
Wage and employment data are from Lightcast (Q2 2026 data set), timeframe 2024–2025.
First Semester | ||||
| AGA 181 - Introduction to Crop Science | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGB 330 - Farm Business Management | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGP 333 - Precision Farming Systems | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGS 113 - Survey of the Animal Industry | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| MAT 711 - Business and Financial Mathematics 1 | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 15.0 Credits | ||||
Second Semester | ||||
| AGA 280 - Crop Development, Production, and Management | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGB 101 - Agricultural Economics | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGB 466 - Agricultural Finance | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGS 226 - Beef Cattle Science | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| ENG 110 - Writing For The Workplace 2 | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 15.0 Credits | ||||
Summer | ||||
| AGB 804 - Agribusiness Internship I | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 3.0 Credits | ||||
Third Semester | ||||
| AGA 284 - Pesticide Application Certification | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGA 182 - Introduction to Soil Science | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| ECN 120 - Principles of Macroeconomics | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
3 | ||||
| AGB 437 - Commodity Marketing | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| MGT 195 - Workplace Empowerment | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total:15.0 Credits | ||||
Fourth Semester | ||||
| AGB 211 - Agricultural Law, Taxation and Records | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGB 331 - Entrepreneurship in Agriculture | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGB 336 - Agricultural Selling | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| AGA 376 - Integrated Pest Management | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 15.0 Credits | ||||
Total Semester Hours Required: 63.0 | ||||
1May substitute with MAT 102 or higher. 2May sustitute with ENG 105. 3May substitute with Social Science elective. | ||||
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Program Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of the program students will:
- Operate current technology used in production agriculture, farm business management, and the agriculture service.
- Identify favorable genetics in plant and animal breeding.
- Demonstrate leadership and effective time management skills.
- Identify the plant morphology of common Midwestern crop and weed species.
- Evaluate various crop production practices and techniques used to produce Midwestern crops.
- Categorize soil, plant, and climatic factors that influence plant growth and development.
- Calculate appropriate application rates for essential plant nutrients and crop protection products.
- Demonstrate proper record keeping skills and use those records to construct and analyze various financial instruments used.
- Develop a risk management plan that incorporates standard financial instruments, marketing techniques, and other industry accepted tools.