AGRICULTURE

Program Coordinator: Daryl Nash
Phone Number: (540) 365-4363
e-mail: dnash@ferrum.edu

The Agriculture program provides students with a diversified four-year curriculum and the opportunity for practical experience. The curriculum stresses the theory and practice of agriculture, while also emphasizing the importance of economic and business knowledge. Teaching includes numerous “hands-on” experiences, developing practical skills in students. The required internship furthers this facet by placing students in situations of responsibility and creativity. This broad approach to agriculture, combined with the strong liberal arts base, prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities.

Agriculture graduates find employment in farm management and operation, agricultural finance, education, government and land management, journalism and other media, agricultural supply businesses, marketing and distribution of farm products, agricultural research and numerous other areas. The broad “hands-on” approach and internship experience are invaluable preparations for this diverse industry. Students may choose a major in Agriculture, Agribusiness, or Agroecology. Each of the above majors allows the student to select an emphasis in Animal Science, Plant Science, or General Agriculture.

Today agriculture faces a tremendous challenge to provide food, fiber and industrial raw supplies for billions of people at a time when resources are becoming more limiting. Agriculture, meanwhile, has become more technical and complex and qualified college graduates are needed to meet the future demands in this vital field.

Ferrum is located in a rural agricultural area of Southwestern Virginia. The economy of Franklin County is dominated by the agricultural industries of dairy, tobacco, tree fruit, and general farming. This diversity strengthens the broad focus of the curriculum while providing a range of environmental conditions in which to study and observe American agriculture.

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Faculty:

George Byrd
Associate Professor of Agriculture
Ph.D., University of Georgia
(540) 365-4378
gbyrd@ferrum.edu

Daryl Nash
Assistant Professor of Agriculture
Ph.D., Penn State University
(540) 365-4363
dnash@ferrum.edu

Bob R. Pohlad
Professor of Biology and Horticulture
Ph.D., University of Georgia
(540) 365-4367
bpohlad@ferrum.edu

Required Courses:
I. (Without Minor) B.S. Degree
Required Core Courses: Hours
AGR 110 Agriculture Issues 3
BIO 101 General Biology 4
BIO 201 Animal Science 4
BIO 202 Plant Science 4
BIO 305 Genetics 4
AGR 307 Agriculture Seminar 1
AGR 315 Soil Science & Management 4
AGR 399 Professional Preparations 1
AGR 497 Senior Seminar 1
AGR 498 Senior Seminar 1
AGR 499 Internship 5
Production:
AGR 301 Principles of Field/Forage or
AGR 319 Horticulture Crop Prod.
AGR 302 Principles of Animal Prod. 7-8
Total 39-40

Options:

A. General Agriculture
Hours in AGR (other than above) 9
Hours in BIO, BUS, or ESC
(other than above) 10
Total required in General Agriculture Option 59

B. Agribusiness:
ACC 201 Principles of Accounting I 3
ACC 202 Principles of Accounting II 3
BUS 230 Computer Applications or
AGR 350 Computer Applications 3
BUS 305 Sales Management or
BUS 311 Marketing 3
ESC 310 Env. Policy, Planning and
Impact Assessment or
Bus 315 Business Law or
ESC 425 OSHA Certification 3
AGR 417, BUS 303 Management or
BUS 320 Small Business Management 3
Total required in Agribusiness Option 58

C. Agroecology:
ESC 211 Fundamentals of Ecology 3
BIO 303 Microbiology or
AGR 415 Plant Diseases 4-5

10 or 11 hours from:
ESC 209 Phys. Geology & Hydrology 3
ESC 301 Fish & Wildlife Biology 3
ESC 302 Conservation Biology 3
ESC 310 Env. Policy, Planning and
Impact Assessment 3
ESC 313 Natural Resources 3
ESC 321 Aquatic Ecology 4
ESC 402 Fisheries and Wildlife Mgt. 4
ESC 413 Forest Management 5
ESC 421 Pollution Science 4
ESC 422 Introduction to Environmental
Engineering 4
ESC 425 OSHA Certification 1
AGR 418 Plant Pest Management 4
ESC 424 Environmental Toxicology 3
GEO 220 Physical Geography 3
Total required in Agroecology Option 57-58

Required Distribution:
CHM 101 Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry 4
CHM 105 Introduction to Organic and
Biochemistry 4
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3
COM 201 Public Speaking 3
MTH 208 Introductory Statistics 3
Total 20

II. (Minor Required) B.S. Degree
Required Core Courses: Hours
AGR 110 Agriculture Issues 3
AGR 201 Introduction to Animal Science 4
ECO 201 Macroeconomics 3
AGR 202 Introduction to Plant Science 4
AGR 305 Genetics 4
AGR 307 Agriculture Seminar 1
AGR 399 Professional Preparations 1
AGR 497 Senior Seminar 1
AGR 498 Senior Seminar 1
AGR 499 Internship 3
Total 25

Agriculture Electives: Hours
Hours in AGR 9
At least 7 hours must be at the 300-400 level
Total Hours Required in Major 36

Required Distribution Courses:
BIO 101 4
CHM 101 4
MTH 208 3
COM 201 3
Chemistry Cognates 4
Total 18