INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The future of agriculture in Indiana is being further strengthened by a new  course aimed at closing any skills gap on the farm and making sure enough young people are coming up through the ranks.

Ivy Tech Corporate College, beginning Jan. 19, is offering a new course of study called “Next Generation Farming.” The 21-week course is available online and contains a comprehensive curriculum designed to serve as a springboard for a successful career in livestock, poultry and agricultural operations, according to Ivy Tech officials.

Creation of the course stems from a new strategic alliance among Ivy Tech, the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and Indiana Corn Marketing Council. One of the primary goals of the class is a higher-skilled, more stable workforce.

“Employers will be rewarded with better employees who understand the big picture, contribute more effectively and still stay on the job longer,” said Andy Tauer, director of Livestock for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council.

The cost of the course is $2,187.50 per person, but a limited number of scholarships to help offset the cost are available.

Training will also be provided in areas such as labor management practices, how to write a business plan and public relations, officials said.

In addition, students will become familiar with topics such as writing a contract, animal nutrition, husbandry, the role of various regulatory agencies, biosecurity, waste management, guided online facilities visits and the required information needed to pass the Indiana category 14 fertilizer/applicator certification exam.

Information during the seven-module course will be delivered through presentations, discussions, activities and exams.

“Together, the curriculum, materials and guidance are all designed to better attain a path to success that benefits the worker, farmer, owner and, ultimately, the community and state,” said Mike Picknell, Land Program manager for Ivy Tech Corporate College.

The class is also for existing farmers looking to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully add livestock, poultry or aquaculture to their operations, and for their employees to gain more knowledge on the best practices in the livestock industry.

Carl Kissell, chair of the ISA’s Demand Committee, said the course is also good for soybean growers because livestock is the biggest user of soybeans and having more successful livestock operations adds to the future stability of the soybean market. 

“Our organization is interested in doing things that promote the use of soybeans and we’re looking for ways we can help livestock operations improve and offer them resources so they’re better equipped,” he said.

The deadline to register is Jan. 16. Registration can be done online at www.ivytech.edu/corporatecollege/agriculture

Two courses will be offered throughout the year and successful completion of a class earns participants 3 credit hours within Ivy Tech’s agriculture program, officials said. Six scholarships are being provided by the ISA and more information about these and whether an applicant qualifies can be obtained at www.indianasoybean.com/livestock

Applicants can also find out if they quality for a scholarship by logging onto www.incorn.org/livestock

With 31 campuses and more than 100 learning facilities statewide, Ivy Tech Corporate College bills itself as a premier provider of workforce training solutions for businesses, organizations, industry and individuals. Andy Dietrick, a spokesman for Indiana Farm Bureau, said already farmers are among the most educated in the workforce but have to keep up with new developments in agriculture to remain successful.

“You really do have to stay in the classroom your whole farming career,” said Dietrick, who feels Ivy Tech expanding its reach into agriculture gives more young people the opportunity to pursue careers – and helps an industry that could use an influx of young, talented blood.

Students can start at Ivy Tech and work their way up to bigger universities such as Purdue to further their pursuits in agriculture. “It’s like any industry. You have to keep the pipeline filled with people capable of doing the job,” said Dietrick.