The Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) annual Agriculture (AG) Field Day, held last Friday (9-22), attracted about 40 students who got a chance to field test what they learned in the classroom and learn about agricultural industry careers. Participants heard regenerative agriculture, crop pest management, and drone technology presentations. Each year’s program highlights current problems, issues, and solutions in the industry. Event partner University of Illinois Extension provides some of the speakers.
Students were treated to a drone demonstration this year, watching as the remote-controlled craft sailed over a nearby field. Drones are growing more common in the industry for tasks such as fungicide spraying because they can perform them efficiently. The students learned that as drone usage increases, so must the talent pool necessary to operate them.
Drones are becoming more prevalent in the agricultural industry because of their ability to perform tasks efficiently, such jobs like fungicide spraying. The world population is estimated to reach 9.6 billion by the year 2050. The increased population would result in extra food demand that only improved crop demands could meet. So, agricultural modernization becomes most important. Using drone technology can overcome the many problems regarding low crop production.
“Field Day is an opportunity to keep students motivated and open up doors for students to opportunities they didn’t know or to reinforce what they already know,” Mott said.
An opportunity to learn more about IVCC’s agriculture program happens next month during a Ag Open House on Oct. 20. from 9-11 a.m. at the Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre on IVCC’s main campus. Pre-register by Oct. 16 at https://www.ivcc.edu/agriculture/.
Participants will tour the ag facilities, explore programs, review scholarship opportunities, meet instructors, students, and university ag program reps—and collect some IVCC gear!