By Scout Nelson
Agriculture continues to change with new technology, research, and sustainable practices. At the University of Minnesota, students are preparing for the future of farming through hands-on agronomy education. By combining their main areas of study with an agronomy minor, students gain knowledge about crops, soil, plant health, and food systems.
The program helps students connect classroom learning with real-world agricultural challenges. Simon Yang, Agricultural Communication & Marketing, BS '26, highlighted how students are building stronger connections with agriculture through innovative learning opportunities and practical experiences.
The University of Minnesota’s College of Food Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) provides students with access to laboratories, greenhouse activities, field research, and guidance from experienced faculty. These opportunities help students understand how science can improve crop production and support global food needs.
Students such as Breckin Anderson, Kristen Raunch, Zoey Foss, and Emily Day are using agronomy studies to prepare for careers in agriculture. Anderson focuses on connecting farmers and agricultural experts across generations. He believes agronomy can help people find better ways to produce food.
Raunch studies food science and uses agronomy to understand how soil and plant systems affect food production. She enjoys laboratory work and learning about the connection between agriculture and microorganisms.
Foss explores how agriculture supports society and hopes to improve farming systems worldwide. She values greenhouse experiments and plant-based research that strengthen her knowledge.
Day focuses on sustainable crop improvements and wants to develop plants that can handle difficult environmental conditions. Her goal is to support future plant breeding efforts.
Photo Credit: university-of-minnesota
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Education, Sustainable Agriculture