+Agricultural Business

SUNY Adirondack offers an associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Agricultural Business, at least half of which can be completed online. Agriculture is one of the leading industries in New York, contributing more than $46 billion dollars to our economy.  As our farms and farmers mature, a new and creative workforce is urgently needed to support traditional agriculture and our emerging farm-to-table business sector.

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This degree program prepares students for leadership roles in the field of farm and food systems. Students will study a combination of business and science topics to support their success in the rapidly expanding economies of small farms, niche growers and specialty producers. In addition, each student will complete an internship in agricultural business to reinforce classroom concepts with real-world applications. Graduates will be prepared to start an agricultural business, manage a workforce in an agriculture-related field or transfer to a four-year program in a compatible field. As a student, you can expect to:

  • Interact with industry professionals through experiential coursework;
  • Connect with like-minded students in our culinary program;
  • Seamlessly transfer to SUNY Cobleskill;
  • Work in our Campus Organic Market Garden;
  • Prepare for future jobs by developing a strong grounding in business and entrepreneurship;
  • Participate in greening our campus with the Green Communities Club

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Degree requirements

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WHAT KIND OF JOB CAN I GET WITH A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS?

This program prepares students for further education and eventual careers in the fields of:

  • Farm Manager
  • Farm Business Owner
  • Value-Added Production Manager
  • Farm Service Provider
  • Food-Hub Manager
  • Not-For-Profit Farm Support Agencies
  • Local Food Coordinator
  • Sustainable Food Educator

SUNY Adirondack offers small class sizes and access to dedicated faculty who have years of experience in their fields. The college is located in a rapidly expanding agricultural region of upstate New York, with a diverse mixture of traditional and organic dairy, meat and vegetable farms, plus many farm-to-table restaurants.  

Agriculture, food and related industries contributed $992 billion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015.

 

PROGRAM FEATURES:

  • Students are able to take a variety of classes that not only meet program requirements but also satisfy their other interests.
  • Advisors, instructors and local farmers will work closely with students to achieve their goals. 
  • Through a partnership with SUNY Cobleskill, students will be able to seamlessly transfer into a four-year degree in agricultural business.

 

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to initiate, develop and expand an agricultural business.
  2. Understand the functional management tasks of planning organizing, leading and controlling.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and implementation of marketing research.
  4. Understand how soils act as the foundation of agriculture and how they are affected by management decisions.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues, opportunities and methods in food production agriculture and agriculture businesses.
  6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of small business finances.
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of basic business and management principles as they relate to the agriculture industry.
  8. Demonstrate a basic understanding of business law.