Diploma in Crop Technology

at Lakeland College - Vermilion Campus Canada

Break ground for an agricultural business career at Lakeland College.

Start agribusiness by choosing where you want to focus:

• Crops
• Livestock
• Marketing

 Whatever your stream, you’ll grow your agricultural and business knowledge. You'll:

• Evaluate new and future technologies for agriculture
• Develop commodity marketing skills
• Learn financial and risk management
• Receive negotiations and sales training
• Create marketing plans
• Expand your leadership and management skills

You’ll put what you learn into action:

• Develop and present business plans
• Operate a farm through a simulation course
• Plan an event (Band in the Sand)
• Compete in an agribusiness case competition
• Host and run a major retail event

Environmental monitoring and protection emphasizes water quality protection, a growing area of employment and environmental concern.  You'll learn how to protect and sustainably manage both water and land resources through field procedures and best practices such as protecting surface water and riparian habitats. 

Whether on a field trip or in a lab, your hands-on training uses modern field equipment to learn how to do full environmental monitoring, field surveys and protection programs for water and soilsstudents measure water flow.  You’ll be job ready on two fronts: practical job skills and industry-required safety certification. That includes safe ATV and boat operation.

You’ll develop employable skills in environmental sampling, site assessment and waste management. They include:

• Surface water, ground water, air, vegetation and soil monitoring & sampling techniques
• Field techniques in biomonitoring and habitat assessment
• Phase I and II site assessments in upstream oil and gas, commercial and industrial settings

Lakeland's Bachelor of Agriculture Technology prepares you to take on the challenges of this rapidly evolving sector.

Integrating computer technologies and the Internet of Things has transformed agriculture. At Lakeland, you'll be immersed in those kinds of hands-on, real world experiences--experiences that bring together ag tech with production and business management. You'll use the latest in:

• Ag equipment and its tech
• Software
• Hardware
• Digital devices

 You'll learn:

• On our Student-Managed Farm–powered by New Holland
• In your lab, the new ag tech centre
• From your industry practicum

 Graduate with expertise and technical skills including:

• Precision data systems
• Machinery learning
• Artificial intelligence
• Robotics
• Bioengineering 

Spend a year putting theory into practice and earn a general agricultural certificate.

Focus on either crop or livestock production. Whatever your choice, you’ll learn common skills for modern agricultural operations:

• Computer training
• Keeping accurate business records
• Using up-to-date technology for precision farming

Half of your time will be on college farm putting theory into practice. Our Student-Managed Farm – powered by New Holland includes:

• Beef and dairy herds
• Range land
• Crop land
• Facilities such as the [Dairy Learning Centre] and Agricultural Technology Centre

On the crop side you’ll learn practical field skills such as how to

• Identify weed and plants
• Assess pest problems

On the livestock side, develop basic production skills for dairy, cow-calf, and sheep.

You’ll likely want to stay another year. Earn a [crop technology] diploma or choose one of our animal science technology diploma majors.

You’ll develop essential skills such as:  

• Observing, reporting and assessing skills in case management situations  
• Building therapeutic relationships  
• Helping children and youth who have behavioural or learning difficulties  
• Supporting family interventions  
• Recognizing symptoms of abuse & addiction  
• Building resiliency  
• Working with children and youth in diverse setting

Launch your future in the livestock industry with Lakeland’s animal science livestock science major. You’ll gain a broad view of different sectors from both the production and business side.
 
Specialized livestock courses are also your student-managed team options. They are:

• Beef production
• Dairy production
• Sheep and goat production

In your first year,  you’ll choose either beef or dairy production. Which course you take determines one of your Student-Managed Farm powered by New Holland team options.  In second year you’ll take the other production course.

You’ll learn stockman’s practices as part of animal husbandry. Your courses will follow the production cycle from calving and lambing through to selling livestock. In addition to feeding, breeding and animal welfare, you’ll also study the livestock business. You’ll learn about key economics, business records and business plans.

Set your career in the dairy industry in motion with Lakeland’s new animal science technology major.

 Through our dairy science major you’ll learn specialized dairy management skills. You’ll study:

• Production
• Herd management
• Nutrition
• Farm management
• Sustainability

You’ll learn hands-on and through student-managed activities. Those activities range from practical herd management to implementing new technologies. Our Dairy Learning Centre will be central to many of your learning experiences. You’ll investigate current industry events and trends.
 
In your second year, you’ll be a member of the Student-Managed Farm (SMF) dairy unit. Or, you’ll do a student-led practicum. Whatever your choice, you’ll understand multiple aspects of how to manage a dairy farm. The range goes from herd health to supervising employees to business financials.
 
You’ll graduate armed with knowledge and tools to return to the farm or to make your mark in another area of the dairy sector.

You’ll start by learning a wide range of environmental concepts related to water, soil and plants. You start in the classroom, but you’ll be in outdoor labs within your first month.

Your training is fun, hands-on and useful. You'll apply and practice what you’ve learned using real-life situations. These are the same skills you’ll use throughout your career; skills that employers will notice. They include:

• Aquatic habitat assessments
• Wetlands & soil classification
• Water monitoring and sampling
• Environmental site assessment
• Plant identification

Focus on the beef industry with Lakeland’s new animal science major
In the beef science major you’ll study both commercial and purebred cow/calf operations as well as feedlots. You’ll start at calving and go through the complete production cycle. You’ll finish with beef products – one of your courses is meat science.

Hands-on and student-led experiences are the bedrock of this program. You’ll grow both knowledge and skills related to:

• Herd health
• Nutrition
• Animal handling
• Finance
• Marketing

Your Student-Managed Farm (SMF) powered by New Holland choices include purebred, commercial or livestock research units. Or, you may choose a student-led practicum.
Through labs and student-managed opportunities you’ll have a thorough and practical understanding of the beef industry. You’ll be ready to start your career in any industry sector, or on your own farm or ranch.

Go beyond the classroom with our new post-bachelor commercial agriculture production certificate. This certificate is designed for ag degree holders who want to build their practical skills.

There’s no substitute for putting your knowledge into action. You’ll do that through hands-on learning with:

• Crops
• Livestock
• Equipment
• Technology

You'll boost both your real-world and critical-thinking skills by working and learning on our Student-Managed Farm - powered by New Holland/ It's Canada's only student-managed farm.
Choose a crops or livestock stream. No matter your choice, you’ll gain insight and experience about typical agricultural production in Western Canada. And, ultimately be better prepared for your career.