Contact Information
Sheldon Schmiess, associate professor
Sheldon.Schmiess@ndscs.edu
701-671-2273
Tech Center 44
Delivery Methods
Face-to-Face: Wahpeton
The Ranch Management curriculum is designed to provide the student returning to the ranch or diversified livestock operation with the management and production skills necessary to be successful.
Students will have the opportunity to apply concepts learned through hands-on activities at the NDSCS Kosel Family Agriculture Land Lab and other classroom and laboratory activities. The Land Lab is a 90-acre demonstration farm operated by the Agriculture Department, students, and industry partners.
Classroom curriculum focuses on ranch management topics such as livestock production, feeds and feeding, livestock health, financial management, record keeping, commodity marketing, precision agriculture, crop production, plant science, and soil fertility. Courses incorporate current technologies enabling students to acquire the skills necessary to manage and operate today’s farms.
Spring semester classes conclude mid-April each year allowing students to return to the home farm or ranch to assist with spring activities. During the summer, students will complete a farm record keeping internship for a hypothetical farm similar to their home farm. They will be required to collect data from their home farm such as crop mix, seed, fertilizer, chemical costs, real estate taxes, crop yields, prices received for commodities, and land costs. When they return in the fall, this data will then be plugged into the hypothetical farm and analyzed using computerized software. Each student should then have a good understanding of what a typical year might look like on their home farm.
For students who decide to continue their education, the majority of program credits earned at NDSCS will transfer into a bachelor’s degree program.
NOTE: This program requires either an HP EliteBook or ZBOOK laptop or equivalent. Please refer to the NDSCS website for specifications. For further information, contact Craig Zimprich, department chair, at 701-671-2249.
Admission Requirements*
The applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent. Helpful courses to prepare for this program are mathematics, physical science, biology, agricultural education, computer sciences, and English. Courses that develop communication skills are important.
Please Note: Students are placed into English, math and reading courses based on ACT, ACCUPLACER or other nationally recognized tests. Please see www.NDSCS.edu/current-students/student-success/test-center for the NDSCS Course Placement Policy and testing information. Students may be on an extended plan of study pending their course placement.
*Program Admission Requirements are subject to revision. Please check the department or program website under Program Admission Requirements for current information.
Award
Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Agriculture with an emphasis in Ranch Management.