Course Syllabus
Course: AGTM 2830
Division: Business and Applied Tech
Department: Business
Title: Forage and Grazing Management
Semester Approved: Spring 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2025
End Semester: Fall 2025
Catalog Description: This course helps students to analyze the factors that comprise forage growth, nutrition, soil health, forage production, grazing, monitoring, and management. Students will learn to explain the function of the various practices and their role in the economics of an operation, resource sustainability, and approaches and procedures for making management decisions.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Justification: The production of agriculture, livestock, and livestock products contribute a large amount to the state and county economy annually. This class will prepare students to manage and sustain valuable natural resources that contribute to their success as a land manager. This course will also prepare them for more advanced courses in agronomy, animal science, and natural resources.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Understand the economics of forage and resource management. Students will be assessed through assignments by developing a resource management plan which includes vegetation, recreation, and wildlife management. Students will compare and contrast costs associated with this plan. The instructor will provide feedback.
Understand costs associated with resource improvements, and monitoring practices. Students will be assessed on their ability to complete assignments that plan resource improvements, and monitoring practices used to assess improvements. These will contain associated costs. The instructor will provide feedback.
Understand basic plant physiology and function. Students will be assessed through activities and written testing.
Apply management techniques for grazing and vegetation management. Students will develop grazing and wildlife management plans to meet resource goals. Plans will be assessed using Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) standards.
Understand soil, plant, and animal health principles. Students will be assessed through activities and written testing.
Content:
Course objectives will be accomplished by providing students with the following learning experiences:
• Develop grazing and harvesting techniques to best utilize resources.
• Identify monitoring techniques and guidelines for resource viability.
• Use cost determination in developing management strategies.
• Identify forages, life cycles, development stages, and harvesting principles.
• Aerial imagery for forage and livestock (drones, satellites, etc.)
• Develop a management plan for desired economic and resource outcomes
Key Performance Indicators:
Exams 30 to 40%
Quizzes 15 to 30%
Assignments/Activities 30 to 40%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
No materials required. Will be provided by instructor.
Pedagogy Statement:
Course instruction will take place in a lecture setting that incorporates hands-on learning and resources from outside of the classroom.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 25
Optimum Class Size: 20
