Although some changes in food production practice have led to what some call a "factory farming" approach, many of the fundamentals of farming have not become obsolete, and for today's food production business, in food crops, dairy, meat, or another agricultural field, agronomy programs from a wide variety of American schools continue to provide guidance for farmers. A new generation of Americans are learning aspects of ancient practices from modernized, competitive nationwide educational venues.

But many new farm managers and ag business leaders are sometimes at a loss in deciding how to go about getting this agronomy schooling. In these cases, beginners can get some introductory assistance from a very new medium — the web. Online resources can help prospective students of agriculture with the following:

1. How to figure out ways to use existing experience from secondary education programs to find agronomy schools.

2. How to match experience, goals and specific field preferences to a school or agronomy degree option.

3. How to find agronomy schooling in a region or area.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use existing FFA or 4H knowledge to segue into looking for agronomy schooling

One great resource on the web is the proliferation of sites related to activities and groups a prospective farmer may have had dealings with at a young age. These kinds of groups are often ready to help students find agronomy college or trade schools and solutions.

I recommend: The website for the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Organization can point readers to some resources for continuing education in agriculture, or alternately, to some people who may be able to help find specific programs. If you have 4-H experience, try the website for the National 4-H Council to see how the kinds of programs offered might translate into programs from agronomy universities or colleges for students later on down the road.

Read up on what's new with agronomy schooling

Another web resource is articles and updates (though sometimes exceedingly technical) that give readers an idea of what kind of thinking is going on in today's agronomy colleges and schools.

I recommend: Find state school-based links from sites like this one from Iowa State's Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture to see what's new in agronomy online programs and other offerings. Get more articles on agronomy degrees at independent sites like StudySphere.

Locate agronomy schooling within reach

A lot of farmers do not have the luxury of leaving their existing farmsteads to go thousands of miles to school in another state. Handy directory sites can help beginners do agronomy schooling searches with this in mind.

I recommend: Do a quick agronomy search at eLearner to start seeing what is out there in terms of different agronomy programs. Other sites like the Penton Media/Farm Press Penton Online Continuing Education Portal can get results for those just embraking on looking at agronomy schools for beginners in any future field.

People depend on farming for economical stability and food, which is why an agronomy degree is a wise investment. Agronomists focus on plant and soil sciences, making agronomy degrees span a wide range of topics and future careers. Agronomy universities offer both traditional on-campus classes, and non-traditional learning through distance education.

Agronomy schooling consists of degrees from the two-year associate degree to a doctorate in agronomy. How far you take an agronomy educational program is dependent upon your long-term goals. When deciding on an agronomy school consider the following:

1. There are agronomy programs in both public and private universities. The main advantage of a public university is the lower tuition, but a private university may hold more prestige with future employers.

2. Agronomy colleges offer different programs of study, and not all agricultural specialties can be found at one agronomy college. Even if you have your heart set on a certain university, your educational needs may not be met at that school.

3. There are many online agronomy programs for students who must work, or who live too far away to attend a campus course.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research agronomy schools for academics and location

The best agronomy programs offer the opportunity for both an undergraduate and graduate degree from the same university. Check and see if the university offers a bridge program to another university for a graduate degree, if they don't offer a graduate degree of their own. The location of agronomy universities is important, since universities located in a thriving agricultural community offer better job opportunities upon graduation.

I recommend: U.S. News and World Report offers a profile of America's best colleges in agronomy sciences, including cost, academics and location.

Tailor your agronomy program so that it contains field experience

Future employers like seeing that you have hands-on experience in agronomy. Field experiences helps you build up a resume, too. When choosing an agronomy university, speak to an educational coordinator about field studies. Depending on your major, you can perform fields studies in animal breeding, crop production, seeds, soil management and farming and farm management.

I recommend: Check out the University of Minnesota for a program that offers an internship, agronomy club and field trips. You can also go abroad for internships in agronomy and horticulture, so check out the list at GoAbroad.com.

Start an agronomy degree online from an accredited university

Starting an on-campus agronomy program isn't always a viable option for people who must work or save money before investing in advanced education. Agronomy online programs help you earn credit you can transfer to a different university. Also, graduate degrees in agronomy are available completely online. It's important that you choose only accredited online programs so your credits transfer.

I recommend: Find online programs and schools at eLearners.com. Complete a graduate degree in agronomy via CD and online from Iowa State University.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask schools what types of certificates they offer in agronomy. This is a great way to expand your agronomy schooling, without having to complete a double major.

If you want to study plant and soil science, then you'll need to look into agronomy schools advice and ratings. With an agronomy degree, you'll help farmers, those looking into alternative energy sources, and those wanting to be more "green." The possibilities are nearly endless. As an agronomist, you may work within the fields of plant genetics, soil science, and physiology—and apply chemistry, biology, ecology, and earth sciences. Agronomy is an exciting specialty and coincides nicely with the current trend toward paying better attention to nature.
But like any student, you'll want to take a close look at schools offering agronomy degrees. Which have the best overall rankings? Which schools closest to you offer the best programs? You can discover this information and more with a little research. There are at least three areas you'll want look into:
1. Popular school rankings, listing agronomy universities and colleges
2. What rankings really mean for your agronomy schooling
3. Where to find schools with less famous rankings and internship opportunities within agronomy programs

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at popular rankings for agronomy colleges

The most famous ranking of colleges in the United States is put out yearly by 'U.S. News & World Report.' This information is available online at no cost. There are also other magazines offering college rankings, as well as websites that allow college students to rate the schools they've attended.

I recommend: U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges in America and includes searchable features. Forbes.com offers its own, smaller list of top-ranked colleges. StudentsReview allows you to see what students in colleges across the country have to say about their schools.

Find out what popular rankings mean for your chosen agronomy educational program

When looking for an appropriate agronomy program, note that 'U.S. News & World Report' allows you to compare colleges by SAT scores, acceptance rates, class size, and similar statistics. Forbes.com uses student comments posted online, the average student debt at graduation, how many students and teachers have won large awards, and the number of students who graduate in four years. Critics say both sources mostly judge colleges according to how wealthy they are and how famous their alumni have become, so you'll want to take a specific and hard look at the agronomy programs at these colleges before making a final decision. StudentsReview has no criteria at all; students are simply allowed to judge agronomy college programs however they see fit.

I recommend: CollegeConfidential.com explains how "U.S. News & World Report" and Forbes.com come up with their rankings; to learn more, click on the name of the ranking that interests you. The Huffington Post also takes a critical look at what "U.S. News & World Report" college rankings mean.

Learn more about agronomy school programs

There are other, less recognized sources of information about appropriate agronomy university programs, and many also offer more information about the future of agronomy. In addition, you can find the latest information on appropriate internships at national agronomy websites.

I recommend: Read "What Is a Degree in Agronomy?" at DegreeDirectory for information about what the field is like, what sort of education is required, and which schools may make great matches for you. For help in finding qualified schools and jobs offering internships, visit the American Society of Agronomy's Career Placement Center.

The agronomy sciences are important for any farming operation, to optimize the potential for success in crop yields and other aspects of agricultural business. A farming or agriculture business might opt to pick a staffer or several people involved in the business and task them with further education from agronomy schools for advanced in-house knowledge. Knowing about some of the key terms for aspects of agronomy education will help farming businesses stay on top of the best ways to profit from these environmental science education opportunities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Online agronomy programs

Often, farmers will want to take advantage of online programs for advanced work in agronomy, due to the simple fact that a farm is a material commitment that does not usually permit its managers to go away for school.

I recommend: See examples of online agronomy programs at sites like GradSchools.com.

Soil sciences

Many agronomy programs include soil sciences components. Soil sciences are earth sciences relevant to the very intimate bonds between soils, sunlight, water and other basic elements. This kind of science is integral to many programs and applications in the field.

I recommend: See more on soil sciences at this Soil Science Fact Sheet from North Dakota State University.

Field studies

Field studies are studies that are done 'out in the field' or in 'real-life' situations, as opposed to being conducted in a classroom, where theoretical work is the norm. In agronomy, this means visiting farms, taking soil samples, and doing other 'roving' studies.

I recommend: For a general description of field studies in humanities fields, see Field Studies Done Right. Get examples of agronomy courses including field study components at this SUNY site.

Agronomy certifications

Another focus of agronomy programs is the range of certifications sought by farmers and agronomy students. A student can study toward certification as a Crop Adviser, Professional Agronomist or other key roles.

I recommend: See more on possible agronomy certifications from the American Society of Agronomy online.

Weed science

Weed science is another specialization in agronomy that centers on how to control less desirable plants in a crop space.

I recommend: See much more on weed science from the Weed Science Society of America online.

Pest management

Pest management is a very important field of agronomy study today. For all of human history, farmers have tried to minimize crop loss from insect or animal 'pests,' but these days, chemistry and the study of volatile compounds is front and center in pest management fields.

I recommend: See more on pest management from this USDA site.