♪
Any student that wants to
get into agriculture just
needs to know that it is
just not out working long
hours in the field it is
knowing technology,
knowing machinery,
it is knowing how to
irrigate properly in order
to keep cost down and
production high it
becomes a very
technical field so you
have to have this
knowledge to provide
the service to employers
that are really valuable.
My name is Rod Taylor
and I am the Dean for
Math, Science and Engineering
at Columbia Basin College.
♪
We started a new Associate of
Applied Science degree in
Agricultural Production that
includes three certificates
that are embedded in it. One
for crop and soil, one for
hydroponics and greenhouse
management and one for
precision agriculture.
One of the certificates is
the crop and soil certificate
and within that students learn
about crop production and
agricultual safety. They will
learn about agricultural
machinery and mechanics,
weed science, irrigation
principles, crop pests and
diseases.
It will be their introduction
into precision agriculture.
♪
With the precision agriculture
certificate they will learn
more about crops within the
field, more ag safety because
safety is always a paramount
importance as students are
going through the program.
They learn about GPS and
GIS applications. There will
be an intro to computers
and information technology.
And what we call Crop
Production 2 class.
Further their knowledge in
the crop varities that they
will be associated with in
the Columbia Basin area.
The third certificate offered
in the program is the
hydroponics and greenhouse
managment certificate.
Within that is growing
within a greenhouse and
cultivated plants with a
lab. The crop growth
development with a lab.
Hydroponic technology
and greenhouse production
and management with a lab. 
Basically they are learning
another side of agriculture
that is within more of a
greenhouse setting.
♪
Some of the biggest things
that are really attractive in
this program is the
technology aspect to it.
Students will be learning
how to fly drones and map
fields and working with
software on computers.
Many students do not know
that you can get a bachelors
degree at Columbia Basin
College. Our Bachelors of
Applied Science and
Agricultural Business
is the seemless transition
from our Associates Degree
into higher level
management positions
that will pay better and
again they will have the
background to really provide
empoyers with a knowledge
base of everything from
production up through
the business concepts.
My name is Chris Lamm
and I am a graduate of
CBCs Agricultural program.
I chose to come to CBC
because of the opportunites
that I saw when I first
joined the program.
Scholarships, internships,
the classes in general.
The thing that makes our
program stand out is that our
students really become well
rounded in a number of areas.
Ag is not just working in
the fields. You can be in
Marketing and be involved
in ag, you can be in medical
and be involved in ag.
They can become
Agricultural Technicians,
Field Personnel, Argronomists
Farm and Ranch Mangers,
Sales Representatives,
Precision Ag Technicians,
GPS and GIS Technicians,
Sales Spcialists,
Hydroponic Consultants,
Commercial Hydroponic
Growers, Greenhouse
Managers, Manufacturer-
Supplier of Hydroponic
Equipment and Nutrients.
Pay wise, the industry is great.
There are opportunities and
do to those opportunites
and the avability of jobs
especially here is the
Tri-Cities, you are looking at
salaries ranging from
$35,000-$55,000 a year.
This program will start
in the fall of 2020.
The first year of the program
is where they will earn their
crop and soil certificate.
The second year is where
they earn the other
two certificates.
So why would students
choose CBC?
The benefits of this program
include, affordability,
certifications, the future needs
of the industry, the local
support that we have,
the hands-on learning,
the dynamic curriculum
and the local
professional opportunites.
The job prospects makes the
program very attractive to
any student that wants to
pursue an agricultiral career.
It is not just learning through
a book, it is actually being
able to go outside and get
your hands on the soil,
get your hands on
the crops.
It is great.
♪
