safety, tractor operation and design, and more. Students also receive hands-on simulator training, allowing them to practice skills in a controlled environment. UP AND COMING A new certificate program — Heavy Equipment Techniques — Agriculture Equipment Operation and Maintenance — is expected to launch at Conestoga College in the 2023-2024 academic year. Spurred by the labour shortage in agriculture, the college completed a two-year Agriculture Equipment Operator pilot program at the Brantford Airport campus in 2022. It was deemed a success, says Adam Davies, associate chair of workforce development and partnerships in trades. Plans are underway to include both in-class courses and fieldsite work during planting and harvest in the full-time program. “It has really been a community project to get the program to this stage,” says Davies. “The community in Brant County and Brantford is very behind this idea, and we’re looking to benefit the local community with the students that will come out.” GRADUATE PROGRAMS For students who have a diploma or degree, or equivalent experience, Fanshawe College offers a 36-week Agri-Business Management graduate certificate in both London and Simcoe. The program is geared toward those entering the supervisory level in an agricultural business or organization. Courses cover sales, marketing, human resources, occupational health and safety and finance, safe handling and application of pesticides, and precision ag technology. Students who have studied for two years in a university-level undergraduate program or have a diploma can apply to the Sustainable Agriculture graduate certificate program at Fleming College in Lindsay. According to the college, the program was designed for new farmers seeking applied learning in sustainable, ecological or natural farming. It involves two semesters of courses and one summer of an on-farm co-op position. Similar to Fanshawe, Lambton College also offers a graduate certificate in Agri-Business Management at the Sarnia campus. It is a two-year program available to students with a university degree in agri-business, economics, science, environment, or other fields of study. Courses are focused on business topics as well as some agricultural areas such as field crops, greenhouse operations, livestock production and machinery and farm safety. The fourth term can either be a co-op work term or a work-integrated learning project. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 29 DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 Business planning courses were a highlight for DeJong because she learned how to write a viable business plan for her family’s farm store and got experience pitching it to a panel of business owners and bankers. An Expert Team of Agronomic Advisors, Built to Support Soybean Producers Talk to a Representative Today Cassidy Reaney 613 894-5338 Andrew Hodges 819 208-0787 Jovan Dozet 437 286-7808
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