What is AgPAQ?

If you will be a junior or senior in the College of Agriculture and want a learning experience that prepares you for the opportunities and challenges of modern agriculture, then AgPAQ is for you!

AgPAQ is a unique learning community for agriculture science students at Iowa State University in which students enroll in a "cluster" of four courses simultaneously. Students in the cluster are divided into 3- to 4- person consulting teams. The teams work with a real client and precision agriculture tools to address the client's needs by preparing a complete crop and soil management plan. The plan addresses management concerns relevant to nutrients, soil loss and residue management, genotype selection, planting dates and rates, weed and other pest control, profits, and the costs and benefits of the recommendations.

What courses will I take?

The AgPAQ learning community consists of the following four courses.

Agron 356 - Site-Specific Crop and Soil Management - 4 credits

Econ 330 - Farm Business Management - 3 credits

Engl 309 - Report and Proposal Writing - 3 credits

In each course you will address the problems of the same client, an area farmer, and learn how to take an interdisciplinary approach to your client's problems.

You will enroll in all 10 credits.

Agron 356 can be used as a 300-level course for an Agronomy minor.

Engl 309 will meet the 300-level English requirement in most agriculture majors. Check with your adviser to confirm that it will count toward the requirements for your major.

Click here for course descriptions.

Click here for the schedule of courses.

What are the goals of the AgPAQ learning community?

To create an upper-division student experience that mirrors the realities of the workplace.

To increase students' abilities to analyze and solve complex problems similar to those faced in a career setting.

To improve students' oral, written, and visual communication skills.

What course prerequisites are needed to participate in AgPAQ?

Agron 154, Econ 101 and English 105 are required.

Acct 284, Agron 114 and Agron 354 are highly recommended.
You should take one or more of these courses before signing up for the AgPAQ learning community.

Who do I contact for more information?

Click here for information on course instructors.

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Designed by Dr. Lance R. Gibson
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Revised: February 16, 2007