Individuals interested in learning more about crop science, animal science, agribusiness finance, or human resource management now have courses available to them during the spring semester at their local community college. Southside Virginia Community College is entering the second semester of offering its new Agribusiness Program, and four new courses are open for enrollment. The courses are open to anyone with an interest in the broad field of agribusiness.

Most people, when they hear “agriculture,” think about farming. Farming is at the heart of the agribusiness industry, but the farmers who actually produce food and fiber products for the United States make up only two percent of the population. Agribusiness, on the other hand, is the number one industry in the U.S. and employs nearly 20% of the population. Agribusiness includes not only farm production, but also the many businesses and organizations that support and provide inputs to farmers. This input supply sector includes the businesses that provide seed, fertilizer, chemicals, feed, fencing, equipment, and other inputs to farmers. It also includes the financing sector, insurance, and services such as veterinary care. Agribusiness also includes the output marketing sector. This sector includes everything that must happen to a product from the time it leaves the farm until it reaches the final consumer. Examples include processing, transportation, storage, packaging, wholesaling, and retailing. Consider, for example, everything that happens to a wheat plant before it becomes a loaf of bread at the local grocery store, or what happens to a cotton plant before it becomes a t-shirt at the local retailer. All of the activities that are needed to get the product in a form that the consumer desires, and to put that product on the shelf at the local store, are part of the agribusiness industry.

Studies indicate that there will not be enough graduates with agribusiness training to fill future agribusiness job openings. Now is the perfect time to take coursework in agribusiness. Students may obtain a Career Studies Certificate in Agribusiness (20 credit hours of coursework) or pursue an Associates Degree with an emphasis in Agribusiness. Students in other degree programs are welcome to take the agribusiness courses as electives. With sufficient enrollment at each location, the courses will be offered at the Daniel campus in Keysville, the Christanna campus in Alberta, the Southside Virginia Education Center in Emporia, and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston. Students can register at www.southside.edu . Each spring semester course is described below, and those desiring additional information can contact Dr. Dixie Watts Dalton at Dixie.Dalton@southside.edu.

AGR 141 – Introduction to Animal Science and Technology (four credits): Introduces the science and technology involved in sustainable animal production and management practices. Includes beef, sheep, horses, dairy, swine, goats, and poultry, with emphasis on practical experiences in farm settings.

AGR 142 – Introduction to Plant Science and Technology (three credits): Introduces students to plant science, ecology, plant morphology, plant and soil relations and energy conversions. Includes surveying agricultural crops and their importance in the economy.

AGR 143 – Introduction to Agribusiness and Financial Management (three credits): Introduces agriculture's importance to society and ways to start a farm or agribusiness. Evaluates forms of business including cooperatives and creates financial statements and reports necessary for routine accounting and tax preparation. Utilizes financial tools for decision making, budgets and time value of money. Explores retirement, transition planning, personal financial management, and capital acquisition techniques.

AGR 144 – Agriculture Human Resource Management (three credits): Covers principles and management practices utilized to attract, retain and motivate agricultural employees. Emphasizes interviewing techniques, employer/employee relationships, motivation theory, legal issues, safety, and environmental concerns. Includes development of team building and interpersonal skills through activities and cases. Explores diversity and cultural differences at they apply to human resource compliance and performance issues.