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Farm Operation Overview

Farming is dedicated work that stems from family tradition. If you’ve ever worked on a farm you know first-hand what it’s like to be devoted to something bigger that truly shows you the fruits of your labor. CVTC created a specialized Farm Operation program that caters to farmers who need more education and training but still want to work on the farm while taking only a couple classes. CVTC’s Farm Operation program offers a convenient, flexible schedule catered to the farm life.

You’ll learn a broad array of training necessary for a successful career in farming. Classes will start in October after the harvest season and will end in March before the planting season begins. You’ll only take three classes a year for two years, with hands-on, part-time training at numerous regional farms, taught by instructors with real farm and industry work experience. Students will learn about livestock production, crops and soils, and farm financial management, with classes tailored to meet the student needs with a combination of group training and individualized instruction.

Throughout this program you’ll learn about:

  • Artificial Insemination
  • Forage Analysis
  • Ration Formulation
  • Soil Fertility Analysis
  • Soil Amendment Recommendation
  • Crop Production Training
  • Financial Analysis & Planning
  • Recordkeeping

Career Opportunities

Calf Raiser

Equipment Service Technician

Farm Worker

General Labor Operations Worker

Just the Facts

Farm Operation
26 Credit Technical Diploma

Length of Program //
Two Semesters (Completed Over Two Years)

Delivery Method //

Program Location //
Eau Claire

Program Location //
August

Start Months //
August

Start Dates //
August

 

Non-Traditional Occupation

Estimated Program Cost 

Term 1

$

2,125

Term 2

$

2,125

 Estimated Total: $4,250

  Earn credit for prior learning! Do you have previous educational or work experience in the field? You could be eligible to receive credit for prior learning. Explore your options today!

 

Program Courses

These are a few of the courses you can take in the Farm Operation program.

Crop Production and Soil Fertility
This class takes a mix of the basic science and growth stages of a plant and advances through the growth and plant needs throughout the growing season. Below the surface of the plants, students learn how to maintain soil and keep soil fertile throughout the year to minimize growing costs per acre while maximizing the return on investment.

Farm Business Financial Management
This course is intended to implement proper farm business management principles including but not limited to: Balance sheet formation and interpretation, income statement formulation and interpretation, statements of cash flow formation and interpretation, benchmarking farm data interpretation, insurance products and their use on the farm, crop and livestock budgets as pertinent to current year, and other agriculture related topics as seen relevant at the current time. Farm Operation students will be allotted 10 hours of on farm time to assist with completion of coursework. Tours, field trips, seminar and workshops will also be offered during the term of the course work.

Livestock Reproduction and Nutrition
This course covers both livestock reproduction and nutrition and how they are tied together. For reproduction, students will learn about artificial insemination, and emerging technologies/strategies for controlling the reproductive function of farm animals. For Nutrition, the main focus of the course covers principles of ruminant nutrition with dairy cows and replacement heifers.

Farm Operation Outcomes

CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking where they are working, whether it is in their degree field, and several other questions related to employment. Below are the program outcomes and job data.

 

$28K*
Yearly Salary

Farm Operation professionals make an average starting salary of $28,007.

 

750
Regional Jobs

There are 750 job openings in the CVTC district for the Farm Operation industry.

 

Transfer
Credits to Other Institutions

Transfer your CVTC credits to another institution to continue your education. Explore transfer agreements.

 
* This wage is not specific to CVTC graduates. Wage estimates are based on entry-level positions and are gathered from Lightcast which is an economic modeling software that blends historical and projected industry and occupation trends within CVTC's 11-county district. Wage estimates are based on Occupational Employment Statistics and the American Community Survey.

Related Programs & Certificates

Whether you're looking to continue your learning to another program or to gain continuing education credit, CVTC offers a variety of learning opportunities for students.
 

Degrees & Diplomas

Agricultural Service Technician, Technical Diploma

Agronomy Management, Associate Degree

Animal Science Management, Associate Degree

Farm Business & Production Management, Technical Diploma

Landscape, Plant & Turf Management, Associate Degree

Landscape, Plant & Turf Technician, Technical Diploma

Continue Your Learning

CVTC can help you achieve your learning goals whether you are looking to advance your career or enrich your personal life.

// Explore Continuing Ed Opportunities

  Unsure of which program you'd like to go into? Learn more about our Career Assessment to help narrow down your options.