Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Cowley College Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Cowley College Academic Catalog

AGR1204 PRECISION AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS COURSE PROCEDURE


AGR1204 PRECISION AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS

3 Credit Hours

Student Level:

This course is open to students of any major, high school, freshman or sophomore.

Catalog Description:

AGR1204 - Precision Agriculture Systems (3 hrs.)

This course provides an overview of precision farming concepts as it applies to various aspects of production in both a site specific and production as a whole. Students will receive instruction in electronic equipment, tools, their uses and their effect on economic and environmental benefits on a variety of agricultural systems.

Course Classification:

Lecture

Prerequisites:

None

Controlling Purpose:

The purpose of this course is to give agriculture students an understanding of the concept and importance of the technology used in today’s agriculture.

Learner Outcomes:

Upon completion of the course, the students will:

  1. Describe management decisions from use of precision agricultural technics.
  2. Demonstrate use of GIS and GPS application in management decisions.
  3. Interpret, explain and apply basic theory and concepts used in precision agriculture.
  4. Demonstrate a knowledge of tools and equipment used.
  5. Implement and describe basic applications used in industry.
  6. Apply and explain basic electronic principles and its relationship to machinery.

Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:

The following outline defines the minimum core content not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other material as time allows.

UNIT 1: MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

Outcomes: Students will make and implement basic management decision used in crop management and precision agriculture.

  • Describe the process of decision making.
  • Identify and explain the concepts of precision agriculture.
  • Recognize and interpret data from precision equipment.
  • Identify and explain individual operations and the use of precision agriculture.
  • Demonstrate the use of tools in the field.
  • Explain remote sensing and its use in agriculture.
  • Describe precision mapping, land use, soil mapping and its relation.
  • Discuss map projections and coordinating systems.
  • Explain inputs based on real-time data.
  • Demonstrate decision making skills with data information.
  • Explain soil sampling and its importance to precision concepts.
  • Describe and discuss yields and expense management.
  • Discuss the management decisions used in precision agriculture.
  • Identify and explain key terminology used in the industry.

UNIT 2: ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE

Outcomes: Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of the use of these systems in production.

  • Classify and describe the different types of systems and equipment.
  • Recognize and interpret basic data received from different types of equipment and systems.
  • Determine and explain which system will give the correct data for different situations.
  • Demonstrate basic use of GIS and its function in precision agriculture.
  • Explain and discuss the basic GPS function and its use in precision agriculture.
  • Describe the use of satellites and its relationship with many of the systems used in precision agriculture.

UNIT 3: TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Outcomes: Students will be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of tools and equipment involved in precision systems.

  • Identify and explain tools and devices used in precision agriculture.
  • Discuss and identify various equipment used in precision agriculture.
  • Demonstrate the ability to trouble shoot equipment and tools.
  • Explain and determine the correct tool and equipment combinations.

UNIT 4: PRECISION AG DATA

Outcomes: Students should discuss and explain Ag data, data concepts and the need of data in all phases of production.

  • Define data as it relates to precision agriculture.
  • Demonstrate ability to interpret data.
  • Identify sources of data and in which production phase it is used.
  • Demonstrate proper handling, storage and management of data.
  • Identify technology used for data collection.
  • Explain the different software used in data collection.
  • Demonstrate proper use of hardware systems for data collection.

Projects Required:

Varies, refer to syllabus.

Textbook:

Contact Bookstore for current textbook.

Attendance Policy:

Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Grading Policy:

The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Maximum class size:

Based on classroom occupancy.

Course Time Frame:

The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching and assessing the educational aspects of the college.  A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time.  The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.

Refer to the following policies:

402.00 Academic Code of Conduct

263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades

403.00 Student Code of Conduct

Disability Services Program: 

Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability.  If a student has a disability which may impact work in this class which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.

DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.