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A Content Review of
Precision Agriculture (PA)
Courses Across the U.S.
Danielle Skouby
Leon Schumacher
Matt Yost
Newell Kitchen
USDA Challenge Grant Team
USDA Challenge Grant Team
Rationale for Research
“…Higher education institutions are gradually, but
disjointedly, organizing classroom education programs
that educate students for precision farming opportunities.
To increase student success these programs need to be
coordinated…”
~ Precision farming workforce development:
standards, working groups, and experimental
learning curricula.
Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
Objectives
Identify course requirements
Identify list of topics that courses covered
What was the frequency that topics were covered
Entry Level vs. Advanced Level
What vocabulary is used to address certain topics
Overview of Research Methods
Identify the population
Identify course prerequisites
Determine textbooks/reading material
Identify what information was taught more frequently
Steps to Obtain Syllabi
Developed a list of instructors
Sent out emails asking for syllabi
Generated keywords (i.e. Topics)
Converted all syllabi to searchable PDF’s
Categorized entry or advanced level syllabi
Generating Keywords (i.e. Topics)
Yield Mapping
Yield Map
Map Yield
Generating Keywords (i.e. Topics)
Variable Rate
Technology
Variable Rate
VRA
Variable Application
Steps to Obtain Syllabi
Developed a list of potential instructors
Sent out emails asking for syllabi
Generated keywords (i.e. Topics)
Converted all syllabi to searchable PDF’s
Categorized entry or advanced level syllabi
Number of Syllabi Shared
Total number of syllabi……………………………. 43
Total number of schools that shared course
syllabus…………………………………………… 24
Schools with only 1 (entry level) course…. 17
Schools with 2 or more courses………………… 7
Colleges/Universities that shared syllabi
Prerequisites required to be enrolled: n=43
Prerequisites #
No Prerequisites 19
College Algebra 8
Precision Ag (Intro) 4
Junior or Senior
Standing
4
Physics 3
Soils 3
Graduate Standing 3
Plant Pathology 2
Prerequisites #
GIS 2
Farm Management 2
Agribusiness 1
Insect Biology 1
Remote Sensing 1
Statistics 1
Basic Computing
Class
1
Required Textbooks n=43
Textbook Requirements Frequency
The Precision-Farming Guide for Agriculturists 15
Other Textbooks Listed 12
No Required Textbook 10
Course Notes 5
Textbook is Optional 3
Authors: Dan Ess, Mark Morgan
Deere & Company. 2010. 166 pages.
3rd Edition
Entry Level Topics: n=25
23 21
18 17 17
15 15 13
10 9 9
8 7 7 7
5
#
5
3 3
2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
#
Topics only taught in entry level courses: n=25
23
17
21 18
15 17
10
15
9 12
9 7 8 7 7
5 4 3 3 1 1
3 2 1 1
11
13 7
6
8 5
9
4
5 1
2 4 1 2 2
4 5
2 1 3 3
1 2 1 1
TopicsTaught In Both Entry and Advanced Courses
Entry Level 2nd Level
N=43
23 17
21 18 15 17 10
15
11
13 7 6
8 5
9 4
#
Entry Advanced
Topics Taught In Both Entry & Advanced Courses n=43
Topics Taught In Both Entry & Advanced Courses n=43
9 12
9 7 8 7 7
5 4
5 1
2 4 1 2 2
4 5
Entry Advanced
Topics Taught In Both Entry & Advanced Courses n=43
3 3
1 1
3 2
1 1
2 1
3 3
1 2
1 1
Entry Advanced
Topics that resulted in zero hits
Weather Variability
Yield Monitor Calibration
Yield Map Cleaning
Yield Stability
Soil Variability
Topography
Insect Management
Crop Sensing
Ultrasonic
Machine Vision
Product Comparisons
Variable Rate Pest
Data Compatibility
Data Ownership
Eutrophication
Leaching
Hypoxia
Soil Erosion
Nitrous Oxide
Conclusions
Reviewing the syllabi was helpful
Included syllabi from across the US and Canada.
Generated topics from “Precision Farming Basics” TOC
Key topics found in entry courses
GIS & Variable Rate Technology
Key topics found in advanced courses
GIS & Economics
Variable Rate Technology
Recommendations
Research Team decided a survey was next step
Update on Continuing Work
Developed an IRB approved survey
Sent out electronic and hard copies of a survey.
1st round: sent out 134 emails
Mailed on 6/20/16
Emailed a link to Qualtrics on 6/22/16
Sent a reminder on 7/25/16
Sent a hard copy to ISPA communities on 6/29/16
Update on Continuing Work
Receiving Completed Surveys BACK!
Have received 40 responses.
51 Courses
Top prerequisites
No Prerequisites: 16
Soils: 16
College Algebra: 15
