AGA 211 - Grain and Forage Crops

1. Outline current industry issues  
   1. Discuss industry production trends 
   2. Indicate issues that impact the future of the industry 
   3. Analyze crop insurance and its uses to benefit producers 
   4. Summarize production trends for corn, soybeans, small grains, forages  
   5. Review use of cover crops and other conservation practices included but not limited to no- till, strip till, contour, buffer strips, waterways, bioreactors
   6. Discuss rotational grazing and the impact it has on both producer and environment
   7. Identify environmental impact of plant production practices 
   8. Analyze crop, soil, and climate diversity in the world 
2. Outline historical impacts of crop production practices and their contributions to human civilizations   
   1. Summarize knowledge of history and domestication of many major row crop and forage crops 
   2. Discuss historical practices and equipment used to plant, harvest, and store crops
   3. Discuss historical importance of food crops and changes that have taken place over time 
3. Justify crop production practices 
   1. Express steps in selection of field crop enterprise and cropping systems 
   2. Discuss lands suitable for adapting cover crop and other conservation practices 
   3. Identify areas of the country for their contribution to growing agronomic crops 
   4. Explain how processes such as plant genetics, reproduction, biotechnology relate to seed selection considerations and placement of field crops 
   5. Discuss temperature, humidity, moisture and its effects on crop production 
   6. Summarize the importance of cultural practices such as planting date, row width, seeding rates, seeding depths, variable rate seeding and the roles played in affecting yield 
   7. Discuss forage quality factors and the importance placed on harvest timing 
   8. Describe the 4 phases of fermentation and its importance to both the storage longevity and quality in forage production
   9. Describe proper storage and handling practices of hay and forage crops 
   10. Compare continuous cropping systems to crop rotations and theireffects on weeds, insects, diseases, and risk managementInterpret the importance fertility plays in cropping systems 
   11.  Interpret the importance fertility plays in cropping systems 
   12. Solve for scenarios relating to cropping systems 
4. Evaluate anatomy and physiology at various stages of plant development 
   1. Identify methods used to categorize plants 
   2. Sketch diagrams of the vegetative parts of monocotyledon and dicotyledonous plants 
   3. Review form and function of the four main plant organs: roots, stems, leaves, flowers
   4. Sketch structures located on major crops such as corn, soybeans, alfalfa, small grains, 
   5. Illustrate seed germination for both epigeal and hypogeal emergence 
   6. Outline the different types of plant life cycles: annual, biennial, perennial and their importance in crop production systems 
   7. Describe the make-up of the vascular system of monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants and their importance to crop management  
   8. Summarize the developmental stages of major row crops and forages
   9. Illustrate the impact environmental conditions have on management decisions such as planting and harvest timing 
5. Defend knowledge of machinery and equipment used in crop production 
   1. Distinguish types of tillage, planting, and harvesting equipment 
   2. Locate principle areas on tillage, planting, and harvesting equipment and their basic functions 
   3. Explain the importance of proper equipment maintenance 
   4. Interpret types of equipment used for harvesting and handling based on specific crop production systems 
6. Incorporate essential entrepreneurial skills through interaction
   1. Indicate the importance of assistance from industry professionals to include how to build a trusted team of advisors to your business 
   2. Summarize the link between career goals and entrepreneur characteristics 
   3. Formulate enterprise budgets and their importance to decision making 
   4. Outline alternative types of cash marketing and their associated risks 
   5. Describe the importance of market research as it relates to new business ventures 
   6. Summarize the credibility and biases of different sources of information
   7. Demonstrate commitment to effective time management
   8. Identify resources needed to solve a problem 
   9. Work effectively in a team situation as a participant 
   10. Propose and analyze alternative solutions to a problem based on resources of a farm operation
   11. Write a concise, grammatically correct report