Agriculture

This transfer degree prepares you to transfer into the YVC Bachelor of Applied Science in Agricultural Sciences program as well as approved agriculture articulations with Washington State University. Students will develop an understanding of basic business management and agriculture production principles. They can apply these principles and skills to the management and operation of agribusiness firms. Examples of career opportunities include crop production managers, sales representatives, farmers and ranchers, agribusiness managers and owners, and record-keeping specialists.

Students must meet with an advisor as course requirements may alter due to Washington State University and YVC’s requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Cultivate skills needed to meet various agriculture career responsibilities.
• Practice basic business management principles in an agriculture context.
• Develop a business plan that applies agriculture production principles.
• Apply workplace safety.
• Conduct scientific inquiry, data analysis and reporting on agriculture commodity production.
• Apply interpersonal communication, cultural awareness, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving skills to agricultural workplaces.

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This degree emphasizes the development of horticultural crop production principles with specialization in integrated management of insects, disease and weed pests. Examples of career opportunities include operations supervisors, farmers, technical advisors, field representatives, consultants, orchard mangers and crop managers.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Conduct field scouting operations including pest identification, crop monitoring, and soil testing.
• Develop a crop management plan.
• Practice crop production principles including pest and pathogen management (both pre and post harvest), irrigation, crop nutrition and soil management, and cultivation and harvest practices of various agricultural commodities.
• Apply workplace safety in an agricultural context.
• Conduct scientific inquiry, data analysis and reporting on agriculture commodity production.
• Demonstrate problem solving and professional communication skills to meet crop management responsibilities.

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The AAS-T degree will transfer into the B.S. in Viticulture and Enology at WSU. The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University is partnering with Yakima Valley College to offer a unique pathway to WSU for students interested in agriculture related fields.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Practice efficient grape production procedures that accounts for seasonal timing in specific vineyard operations
• Investigate canopy and crop load management in relation to pruning and irrigation methodology
• Identify insects and diseases and their impact in the vineyard
• Produce appropriate safety and compliance records while following all safety protocols
• Model management skills that would be used to supervise vineyard personnel, including providing their training for safety and work requirements.
• Develop a vineyard business management plan
• Apply interpersonal communication, cultural awareness, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving skills to agricultural workplaces.

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This degree emphasizes the applied principles associated with quality grape and wine production.  Students will learn about grapevine development as well as integrated management of insect, disease and weed pests. In addition, the principles and application of technology associated with wine production will be learned, including wine making using appropriate production, sanitation, and safety methods. Potential career opportunities are available in vineyards (grape production manager, crew supervisor, viticulture technician) and wineries (lab technicians, cellar workers, winemakers, retail sales position).

Program Learning Outcomes

• Generate quality wines using processes and equipment that include fermentation management, adjustments to the juice/wine, racking and transferring juice/wine, utilizing filtration methods, maintaining barrels, and bottling
• Perform lab analyses and sensory evaluations of wines as quality assurance practices.
• Model management skills that would be used to supervise vineyard and winery personnel, including maintaining needed records and providing training for safety and work requirements.
• Practice efficient grape production procedures that account for seasonal timing in specific vineyard operations and can be used for canopy and crop load management
• Identify insects and diseases and their impact in the vineyard
• Develop a vineyard and winery business management plan

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YVC offers a Tree Fruit Production certificate. Career opportunities include horticulturists, integrated pest management specialists production managers, and processing managers.

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YVC offers a certificate in Vineyard Technology. Examples of career opportunities include grape production manager, crew supervisor, technical advisor, and production crew worker.

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The Wine Sales Certificate is designed to provide students with a concentration of courses in a specific technical area. The certificate may be suitable for students who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in a particular area. All courses taken for the certificates would apply toward the related associate degree programs. The certificate can stand-alone or be earned as a specialty certificate with the AAS-Agribusiness, AAS-Vineyard & Winery Technology, or AAS-Business Management. Careers include tasting room attendants and wine club managers.

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This certificate provides students with an understanding of principles and application of technology associated with wine production. Examples of careers in this area include technician, quality control specialist, wine maker assistant, retail salesperson, and plant operation supervisor and worker.

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