The agriculture program at Northeast Community College in Norfolk continues to expand. With more than 300 students enrolled in 11 ag-related programs, the college added precision to its fall curriculum. Jeff Siegfried was hired as an instructor for the new program.

TEACHING PRECISION: Precision-ag instructor Jeff Siegfried demonstrates a planting operation on one of Northeast Community College's new teaching tools, an Ag Leader InCommand 1200 display, installed in the college's Kubota RTV.

"The broad focus of this program is precision agriculture," says Siegfried, who has a bachelor’s and master’s in soil and crop sciences from Colorado State University. "More explicitly, the scope is site-specific crop management, in which agronomic practices are optimized to match the variable requirements of each field." With huge gains in technology in agriculture over the past decade, this program looks to the future of farming.

"I hope that the students not only develop a broad aptitude for precision agriculture practices and technology, but also that they discover an area they are most interested in to concentrate their efforts and leverage their unique talents," says Siegfried.

The new program offers a two-year associate of applied science degree that focuses on the development and utilization of technologies and data in decision-making on the farm. "The students learn essential agronomy along with precision-agriculture hardware and software to enhance their understanding of both," says Siegfried. "I believe the future of precision agriculture is remote sensing, which allows us to collect data without contacting the crops or soil," he explains. "Remote sensing techniques can be implemented in many ways, but unmanned aircraft systems are one platform gaining popularity. UASs provide a highly detailed view of the crop, which helps to increase production efficiency."

For Siegfried, the development of this new program at Northeast allows him to explore the possibilities and to engage students in technologies that are being employed in the field already. "We have some of the latest precision agriculture technology to work with, and local businesses are very willing to help with learning opportunities for the students," he says. "The most rewarding experience is when it is clear that the students have learned an important concept. Overall, it's exciting to have a position where I'm able to teach within my chosen discipline."

Siegfried applauds the college's investment to help make the precision-agriculture program exceptional. Graduates from the program will be skilled to work as technicians and ag producers, well-versed in using guidance systems, data collection tools and variable-rate application systems, and understanding how these technologies work together to improve efficiencies.

You can learn more about Northeast's precision agriculture program online at northeast.edu, or by calling Siegfried at 402-844-7198.