Students will be introduced to basic GPS principles and how they are applied to precision agriculture and GIS applications. Different GPS corrections and constellations and primary industry uses will be introduced as well as different GPS terms and how they are used in the industry. Once an aptitude is gained for the GPS, the course will shift to GIS operations in the agriculture industry.

Industry relevant skills including how to operate, install and analyze performance of basic hydraulic systems. Fundamentals of hydraulic systems used in industrial applications are presented.

Introduction to the components of electronics.  Also introduced will be digital fundamentals including combinational and sequential logic circuits and an overview of electronics math.

This lab will consist of the practical use and installation of a variety of GPS/Precision Ag products.  Students will work on real world applications including auto-steer and product control installation, mapping and recording data points with GPS, and land preparation and planting at the Precision Ag land plot.  Students will become familiar with different manufactuerers’ products.

Experience with soldering, hand tools, components, color code, Ohm’s law, and reading circuit diagrams. Work with ohmmeters, ammeters, voltmeters, power supplies and other devices included. This lab examines AC/DC circuit characteristics, including capacitance and inductance and explores the P/N junction as it applies to diodes and bipolar junction transistors.

Detailed instruction on the use of Microsoft Excel covering beginning, intermediate, and advanced concepts. Concepts covered include working with formulas and functions; creating and formatting charts graphs and pivot tables/pivot charts; sorting and filtering lists; data consolidation between multiple worksheets and workbooks; and importing and exporting of data.

Provides a foundation for gaining the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for college success. Students will learn to make a successful transition to higher education by setting up a pattern of success that will last the rest of their lives. Students will define goals and develop thinking skills, learning strategies and personal qualities essential to both academic and career success. Please note: Students who have served active military duty (excluding basic training and AIT) may be exempt from the Student Success course. Student must provide a copy of DD214 or other official military documentation to the Registrar for verification.

Focuses on the wireless industry and how it pertains to agriculture and transportation technologies. This course will provide fundamentals of wireless communications.

Different types of guidance systems available for agricultural machinery. The course will discuss the sensors and devices involved with different types of guidance systems from different manufacturers, including the advantages, accuracy and different features of those systems. Students will install, setup and calibrate guidance systems from different suppliers. Also, they will perform situational analysis for each type of guidance system and will be trained in troubleshooting and resolving faulty installation.

Students will be introduced to various data collection tools used in the precision technology field. As a comprehensive data collection course, students will be studying yield monitor systems, crop vigor sensor systems, soil sampling and topography mapping systems, as well as a multitude of other tools used in data collection. As a part of the study of yield monitor systems, students will be involved with harvesting and data collecting at the precision technology land lab. Also included will be an introduction to the GIS software programs involved in interpreting and managing this data.

Supervised internship performed off-campus in a precision technology business setting.

Students will examine, diagnose, and repair internal combustion engines utilizing standard industry tools and equipment. They will implement safety techniques with every curricular unit in the most applicable ways to advance themselves towards industry certification. Topics to be explored include: valve train design and component identification, ignition and fuel system identification and design, similarities and differences between 2- and 4-stroke cycle engines, similarities and differences between air cooled and water cooled engines and component failure identification.

An overview of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards focusing on hazard recognition and injury and illness prevention.  The 10-hour general program is intended to provide entry-level workers with awareness of hazards in and around the work site.  Emphasis is placed on recognition and prevention and helps create a culture of safety.  Upon successful completion the student will receive OSHA 10 certification.

This course will introduce the student to field data collection techniques using geocoded field data recorders along with GIS systems. Also included: downloading field data; using computer based GIS software for data management; and processing for agronomic-based GIS systems to include soil sample, field boundaries, field attributes, yield data, ground control points and other associated field data.

Safe handling procedures for pesticides and proper loading and mixing of crop protection products are discussed. Proper use of liquid and dry application equipment and nozzle selection will be studied.

Students will learn about the components of Variable Rate (VR) application systems. They will study the principles of VR application equipment and the economic and environmental impact of variable rate applications. Students will study VR sensor-based controllers for fertilizer and chemical applications and the use of soil maps, yield maps and GPS/GIS for map-based VR applications of granular and liquid fertilizers and chemicals.

A continuation of PAT 130.

Introduction to the responsibilities of farm business entrepreneurship. Students are exposed to the four functional areas of management: marketing, finance, supply chain and human resources.  Students learn to understand the role that managers play in planning, organizing, directing and controlling as related to agri-business.

This course will teach students to recognize an emergency, the appropriate action to take when facing an emergency situation and how to sustain life until professional help arrives. Topics covered include basic life support and AED use; heart attacks and chest pains; serious injuries; poisoning and allergic reactions; rescuing and moving victims and more. Students will also learn techniques for preventing disease transmission. This class is offered for credit as a Pass/No Pass course.