Agronomy Schools Key Terms

Some key terms for researching agronomy schools for farming businesses
By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN 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.

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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  See more on pest management from this USDA site.