Is This Program for You?

The Agronomy Technician program is designed for individuals who are passionate about crop production and ready to build practical skills that support today’s farming operations. If you’re interested in understanding how soils, plants, and management practices come together to drive productivity—and you enjoy hands-on work in the field—this program is an excellent fit. Ideal students are those with a strong connection to agriculture, a desire to support the success of farms in Southwest Wisconsin, and a commitment to improving the sustainability and efficiency of crop production.

Students entering the Agronomy Technician program should:

• Have an interest in learning the fundamentals of soil science, crop growth, and field management.
• Be eager to work with modern agronomy tools, including soil sampling equipment, scouting techniques, and basic field mapping technologies.
• Enjoy hands-on learning experiences, including work on our 80 acres of cropland and participation in real-world field labs.
• Be committed to supporting agronomic services that benefit farmers and rural communities.
• Be motivated to help improve crop performance, resource management, and overall farm productivity.

Program Basics

• Length: One-year technical diploma
• Format: Combines classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork on 80 acres of cropland
• Focus Areas: Soil science, crop management, pest management, and sustainable agriculture practices
• Career Outlook: Graduates will be prepared for careers as agronomy technicians, crop scouts, farm managers, or pesticide applicators, with opportunities to work in agricultural cooperatives, private farms, or agribusiness companies
• Location: Southwest Tech, situated in the heart of Wisconsin's agricultural region, providing real-world learning in a rural setting

Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26

Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

Based on Wisconsin Residents.

Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

Admission and Program Requirements

• Submit Application
  
Admissions Preference Policy
Most programs admit students as applications are completed. For certain high-enrollment programs with limited space, applications are reviewed in order of residency and review dates. Programs currently in this category include Radiography, Electrical Power Distribution, Midwifery, Cosmetology, and Nail Technician. Learn more about our Admissions and Wait List Policy.

Academic Preparedness Requirements

Log in to your MySWTC account, go to My Profile → Document Center → All Programs to complete the following:


• Send your transcripts and scores to Southwest Tech: While not required, sending your transcripts and test scores helps us make sure your classes are the right fit. We consider any previous college credit you’ve earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit your high school transcripts, college transcripts, and test scores by emailing admissions@swtc.edu, or mailing them to Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
• Career Assessment Plan
  Start your Student Success Plan by exploring your career interests, talking through your program choice, and confirming your path feels like the right fit. This step can be completed either by setting up a One-on-One Career Assessment Meeting with a recruiter or as part of your Student Success Plan Meeting with an advisor. Schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.
• Academic Map + Supports & Services Plan
  Continue building your Student Success Plan by planning your courses, reviewing funding options, and connecting with resources. To complete this step, schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students are expected to be able to:

• Analyze opportunities in agriculture
• Apply relevant technologies in agronomy
• Demonstrate professionalism skills within the agriculture career areas
• Apply agronomic principles and practices.

Related Degrees

• Agribusiness Science & Technology – Agribusiness Management
• Precision Agronomy
• Animal Science
• Dairy and Livestock Technician

Graduates obtain positions in a wide variety of specialty areas, and there is a vast amount of potential for those who have mid-management or upper-management career aspirations. The demand in this field is expected to remain high for several years in such jobs as:

• Crop Scout
• Soil Sampling Technician
• Agronomy operations assistant
• Seed technician
• Custom applicator

Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

Credit for Prior Learning

Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

Agronomy Technician Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
10-006-197	Agribusiness Experiential Learning
10-103-106	Beginning Microsoft Excel
	Any Microsoft MOUS certification (even an old certification) will also be considered for CPL
10-801-136	English Composition I
	CLEP Test - College Composition
10-801-198	Speech