Precision Agriculture - Techgronomy Diploma

What will you learn?

Students will engage in hands-on training on our Olds College Smart Farm ecosystem, focusing on integrating precision technology and agronomy and enhancing decision support systems through actionable and effective on-farm decision making. Graduates will be prepared to work in fast-paced environments where emerging technologies are constantly influencing the industry.

Apply precision agriculture technology within diverse agronomic contexts
Operate and evaluate precision agriculture equipment for current agricultural conditions and issues
Integrate and analyze agricultural field data using precision agriculture software to provide recommendations for sustainable cropping decisions
Install, calibrate, troubleshoot, and repair precision agriculture hardware and equipment, including electrical/mechanical/hydraulic/software systems
Integrate agronomic principles in precision agriculture practices related to economic, environmental, and social impacts

Analyze the complexity and interdependence of agricultural ecosystems including plant, water, and soil science
Analyze the design and function of agricultural equipment in relation to agronomic principles
Apply knowledge and understanding of the nature and performance of agricultural information systems to make recommendations to stakeholders
Apply business principles to sales, client relations, return on investment, financial planning, and budgeting

View Program Outline

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Olds College has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:

Precision Agriculture Specialist
Agriculture Business Development Integrator
Precision Farming Sales Specialist
Precision Farming Technical Lead
Knowledge and Innovation Coordinator
GIS Specialist
Data Management
Applications Engineer
Adoption Specialist
Precision Agronomist
Digital Farming Specialist
Account Executive
Agricultural Operator
Service Technician
Agricultural Consultant
Crop Risk Specialist

Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!

ALIS Occupational Profiles

Credential: Diploma

Length of Program: 2 Years

Method of Delivery: Blended

Program Intakes: Fall intake

Program Dates: Please visit our Dates & Schedules page to confirm start and end dates of your desired program and confirm campus closures.

Applications Open: October 1 for the Fall Intake

Selection Process for Admission: First Qualified, First Accepted

Tuition, Mandatory Fees, Books, and Supplies: Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for details

Tuition & Fees:

Year 1: Tuition: $5,915 / Fees: $2,065 / Books & Supplies: $1,500
Year 2: Tuition: $4,840 / Fees: $1,925 / Books & Supplies: $1,500

* Please note that international students pay 3.5 times the domestic tuition amount. These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*

International Students in this program will require a Co-Op Permit, a Study Permit and a Social Insurance Number for this program. Learn more on the International Students page.

What do I need to apply?

Admission Requirements:

50% or better in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
55% or better in Math 20-1 or 20-2
50% or better in Two of Biology 20, Chemistry 20, Physics 20 or Science 20, OR One of Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30 or Science 30
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement

Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.

Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.

International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from international applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency. Further information can be found on our website under International Students.

What is the Olds College Smart Farm?

In the summer of 2018, Olds College launched the Olds College Smart Farm, an exciting initiative that is transforming the College’s existing farm into a farm of the future. By incorporating the latest technologies aimed at improving productivity, while efficiently and sustainably using resources, the Smart Farm is creating a cutting-edge learning environment for students and life-long learners.

Learn more

What is the Smart Ag Innovation Centre?

To properly analyze data, plan for future growing seasons, and collaborate with students, industry partners, and producers, the College required a dedicated space in which stakeholders can meet and data can be processed. This space was created within the former President’s House and has been named the Olds College Smart Ag Innovation Centre (SAIC). The new facility includes a number of elements that are designed to contribute to the academic excellence of students, bolster applied research, decrease the environmental footprint of the Smart Farm, and be an industry leader in Smart Agriculture.

Learn More

Admitted Student Information

Program Dates: Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.

Class Registration: You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Technology Requirements: It is required that you come to Olds College with the following technology:

Students will use a variety of memory-intensive, Windows-only programs extensively in lectures and labs. A PC laptop running the latest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system (as of December 2020, Microsoft Windows 10. Mac and Chrome OS are not suitable. Minimum of 8GB RAM and 250GB (512 Gb recommended) available disk storage space is mandatory for this program. Laptops should have sufficient battery life to operate in the field for up to 2 hours.

As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:

Go to portal.office.com
Enter your Olds College email address and password
Once logged in, there is a button on the right that says “Install Office Apps”

This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer.

Materials & Supplies:

The following items are required:

Coveralls
Rubber boots
Steel toed work boots (CSA approved)
Safety glasses

There may be other necessary items (ie. cold weather attire) that may be required during your time at Olds College.

A copy of your valid driver’s license is necessary to operate Olds College equipment.

Information on required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.

Textbook Order Form

Other Important Information:

Additional Skills: Basic computer skills are recommended for all and it is certainly beneficial to have some prior experience with computers before you arrive at the College. A familiarity and comfort in use of Google Docs, word processing, spreadsheet and e-mailing software will be a definite asset.