Updated April 2025

Ag 101 is designed to give you a good feel for farmers and the agriculture business and industry. The modules provide more than four (4) hours of training with a depth of resources linked within each lesson and downloadable PDF files that reinforce the information and help you dive deeper into the lessons most relevant to your interests. 

Getting to Know Farmers

We open the Grounded in Ag experience by asking people to examine perceptions of farmers and agriculture as we get perspectives from eight (8) farmers around the country. The ability to understand and connect with folks at the heart of the industry can have a major impact on the ease with which you work. This conversation is intended to challenge notions of what farmers are like and ask people to reflect on their available sources to construct these mental images. 

Through the diverse stories shared by the panelists, ranging from urban specialty growers to traditional dairy farmers and large-scale crop producers, we give students a rich understanding of the varied experiences within the agricultural community. Our speakers discuss the multifaceted nature of farming, encouraging a broader appreciation for the multitude of ways in which individuals engage in agricultural practices.

Getting to Know Farmers module includes (video watch time 2 hrs 25 min.)

• Meeting & Getting to Know Farmers 
• Understanding the Demographics
• Family Farms: Similarities & Differences
• Communities & Sense of Humble Pride
• Tips From Farmers for Newcomers

The Business of Agriculture

In this module, we focus on the business of agriculture, expanding beyond individual farms to explore the marketplace and the businesses that support them. The course will explore the intersection of technology, equipment, market forces, and the economics of agriculture.

As people often associate agriculture solely with farming, this module takes a look at the broader business aspects, emphasizing the importance of financial sustainability for farmers. Additionally, we will explore industry associations and the collaborative nature of the agricultural community, and provide clear and accessible explanations of complex concepts, thus enabling a deeper understanding of the agriculture industry.

During this course, each lesson is presented by a farmer(s) or expert as they take you through the various topics we've learned are most important for folks to understand as they begin working in ag and ag adjacent roles.

The Business of Agriculture (video watch time 2 hrs)

• The Markets & Cash Flow
• Mental Health
• Distributor, Retailer & Farmer Sales
• Independent Consultants
• Let’s Talk About Equipment
• Technology & Data in Agriculture
• The Basics of Pesticides & Regulatory
• Food & Feed Safety
• Understanding Farm Organizations
• What do people get wrong? (includes perspectives from experts in this module as well as experts in the crops and livestock courses) 

Because Ag 101 is a building block that is important to cover for all, it's included in the full range of product offerings we have. 

Our Sustainability in Agriculture course can now be found as a separate offering. It is still included in our foundational courses, but now we are also able to offer it separately for those who need to focus specifically on how agriculture and sustainability intersect. You can find out more about Sustainability in Agriculture here.