Agricultural Engineer Program

Lesson 1 • Safety, Standards, and Professional Ethics

This module covers occupational safety principles, equipment standards, and ethical obligations in agricultural engineering practice. It establishes a compliance mindset for all subsequent work.

Lesson 2 • Scope and History of the Discipline

This module traces evolution from manual farming to mechanized and precision agriculture. It contextualizes engineering contributions across crop, livestock, and resource systems.

Lesson 3 • Core Engineering Sciences Review

This module reviews physics, chemistry, and mathematics as applied to agricultural contexts. It builds quantitative fluency needed for subsequent technical chapters.

Lesson 4 • Biological Systems and Agriculture

This module introduces plant physiology, soil biology, and animal science as engineering inputs. It links biological variability to design constraints and system tolerances.

Lesson 1 • Irrigation System Design

This module designs surface, sprinkler, and drip irrigation systems matched to crop water demand. It integrates soil properties and climate data into system sizing and scheduling.

Lesson 2 • Erosion Control and Soil Conservation

This module quantifies erosion risk using predictive models and designs structural and vegetative controls. It connects conservation practices to regulatory compliance and long-term productivity.

Lesson 3 • Drainage System Design

This module designs subsurface and surface drainage networks to manage excess soil water. It applies drainage coefficients and pipe sizing to field-scale layouts.

Lesson 4 • Hydrology and Watershed Analysis

This module applies hydrological principles to agricultural watersheds for runoff estimation and flood risk. It connects precipitation data to drainage and retention design inputs.

Lesson 1 • Harvesting and Post-Harvest Equipment

This module analyzes combine harvester systems, grain loss measurement, and post-harvest handling machinery. It addresses equipment adjustment for crop type and field conditions.

Lesson 2 • Machinery Management and Economics

This module applies cost analysis, replacement scheduling, and field capacity models to machinery fleets. It enables data-driven decisions on ownership versus custom hire.

Lesson 3 • Planting and Seeding Machinery

This module covers seed metering mechanisms, row spacing, and depth control for precision planting. It connects machine calibration to stand establishment and yield outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Tillage Equipment and Soil Engagement

This module examines primary and secondary tillage tools, soil-tool interaction forces, and draft requirements. It links tillage selection to soil condition, crop system, and energy efficiency.

Lesson 1 • Structural Systems for Farm Buildings

This module designs post-frame, steel, and concrete structural systems common in agricultural construction. It applies beam, column, and foundation sizing to typical farm building configurations.

Lesson 2 • Controlled Environment Agriculture

This module designs greenhouse and indoor growing structures with integrated climate, lighting, and irrigation control. It connects environmental parameter management to crop productivity targets.

Lesson 3 • Ventilation and Thermal Environment

This module designs natural and mechanical ventilation systems to control temperature and humidity in livestock and storage facilities. It applies heat and moisture balance equations to system sizing.

Lesson 4 • Agricultural Building Materials and Loads

This module identifies structural materials and calculates dead, live, wind, and snow loads for farm buildings. It provides load analysis foundation for all subsequent structural design work.

Lesson 1 • Remote Sensing for Crop Monitoring

This module applies satellite and UAV imagery to assess crop health, biomass, and stress indicators. It connects spectral indices to agronomic decisions and variable-rate prescriptions.

Lesson 2 • Geospatial Data and GPS Systems

This module explains GPS accuracy, coordinate systems, and GIS data layers for agricultural mapping. It establishes spatial data literacy required for all precision management applications.

Lesson 3 • Variable-Rate Technology and Prescriptions

This module creates variable-rate application prescriptions for seed, fertilizer, and crop protection inputs. It integrates agronomic data layers with controller and implement technology.

Lesson 4 • IoT Sensors and Farm Data Networks

This module deploys in-field sensor networks for real-time monitoring of soil moisture, weather, and equipment. It addresses data communication protocols, storage, and integration with farm management platforms.

Lesson 1 • Constructed Wetlands and Vegetative Filters

This module designs constructed wetlands and riparian buffers as edge-of-field water quality treatment systems. It applies hydraulic loading and pollutant removal efficiency models to system sizing.

Lesson 2 • Manure Storage and Treatment Systems

This module designs liquid and solid manure storage structures sized to regulatory setback and capacity requirements. It evaluates treatment options including anaerobic digestion and composting.

Lesson 3 • Environmental Monitoring and Compliance

This module implements water quality monitoring programs and interprets data against environmental benchmarks. It connects monitoring results to adaptive management and regulatory reporting obligations.

Lesson 4 • Pesticide and Agrochemical Management

This module evaluates pesticide fate, transport, and risk in agricultural watersheds. It designs containment, mixing, and disposal systems to minimize environmental contamination.

Lesson 1 • Conveying and Handling Systems

This module selects and sizes belt conveyors, bucket elevators, and augers for grain handling facilities. It integrates capacity, power, and safety requirements into system layout.

Lesson 2 • Food Safety and Quality Engineering

This module implements hazard analysis and critical control point systems within food facility design. It addresses sanitary design principles, traceability, and food hygiene standards compliance.

Lesson 3 • Grain Drying Principles and Systems

This module applies psychrometric principles and grain equilibrium moisture content to dryer design and operation. It connects drying rate, energy consumption, and grain quality outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Grain Storage Structure Design

This module designs flat storage and bin systems with structural integrity, aeration, and monitoring provisions. It applies grain pressure theory to wall and floor load calculations.

Lesson 1 • Feasibility Studies and Economic Analysis

This module conducts technical and financial feasibility assessments for agricultural engineering investments. It applies net present value, payback period, and sensitivity analysis to project evaluation.

Lesson 2 • Capstone Project Design and Delivery

This module integrates all program competencies into a comprehensive agricultural engineering design project. Students present complete designs with technical, economic, and environmental justifications.

Lesson 3 • Integrated Farm Systems Analysis

This module models interactions among crop, water, machinery, and infrastructure systems at the farm scale. It applies systems thinking to identify bottlenecks, trade-offs, and optimization opportunities.

Lesson 4 • Project Planning and Scheduling

This module applies work breakdown structures, Gantt charts, and critical path methods to agricultural projects. It integrates resource allocation and risk management into project schedules.