New SUNY Adirondack degree pairs business and agriculture

Starting Fall 2018, students have the opportunity to begin a new SUNY Adirondack degree program that addresses the workforce needs of agriculture, one of New York’s largest industries.

The college’s Agricultural Business degree was developed in response to a growing demand in the community. Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties have more than 1,500 farms, earning up to $180 million in annual sales.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural sector jobs have been increasing at nearly 20 percent during the last five years.

The college developed the degree program with an industry-based agricultural advisory board, which included 10 regional farmers and representatives from 20 agricultural industry organizations.

The interdisciplinary degree is collaboration between the business and science divisions. Students will have opportunities to visit working farms in the region as soon as their first semester of classes.

The degree will prepare students for work in farm and food systems, with a focus on the economies of small farms, niche growers and specialty producers. Each student will complete an internship in agricultural business to reinforce classroom concepts with real-world applications.

The two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree will seamlessly transfer to SUNY Cobleskill for students looking to complete a bachelor’s degree.