FULL-LENGTH COURSE
Principles of Agriculture
Principles of Agriculture is a foundations-level course that introduces students to the agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) industry. Students explore career pathways, develop professional and leadership skills, and build scientific literacy across plant science, animal science, soil science, natural resources, and food systems.
Featured Engagement Activities
Each Nucleus course features engagement-optimized activities, including real-world simulations, real technology tools, and collaborative group activities in a gamified classroom setting. Highlights of some of our engaging activities for the Principles of Agriculture course include:
The Stalk Market
Students manage a 500-acre corn farm for one growing season in this interactive simulator. They track commodity prices as they shift, respond to weather events, interpret market news, and decide when to sell, hold, or hedge their crop. Every decision hits their bottom line, giving students a real feel for how agricultural markets work.
Hazard in the Haystack
Students work through five safety challenges at Bright Roots Farm in this interactive simulator. They scan a worksite for hidden hazards, make emergency safety calls, catch incorrect PPE before it causes problems, match protective gear to specific dangers, and monitor a busy farm for ongoing risks. Covers OSHA fundamentals, PPE selection, and practical safety decision-making.
Food Safety Inspector
Students move through a virtual food processing facility in this interactive simulator, following a product from receiving dock to shipping. At each station they identify violations, classify them by food safety principle (Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill), and set corrective actions. They work through temperature danger zone checks, cross-contamination scenarios, and sanitation protocol evaluations along the way.
Farm Financial Analyzer
Students work with the financial records for an ag enterprise across a full production year in this interactive simulator. They build income statements and balance sheets, develop a budget for the following year, then analyze performance to find where the operation is losing money and where it can improve. Row crop, cow-calf, and greenhouse scenarios each present a different financial picture.
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PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE
Course Overview
In this 22-module course, students explore career pathways, develop professional and leadership skills, and build scientific literacy across plant science, animal science, soil science, natural resources, and food systems.
SECTION I
Agriculture, Careers & Safety
In section I, students are introduced to the agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) industry, covering the following topics:
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Intro to Agriculture
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Agriculture's Past & Future
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Agricultural Economics
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Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)
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FFA & Leadership Development
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Exploring AFNR Careers
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Agricultural Safety
SECTION II
Agriscience & Production
In section II, students explore how science, technology, and stewardship shape modern agriculture, from research and conservation to soil, plants, animals, and aquaculture.
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Agricultural Research
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Natural Resources & Conservation
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Soil Science Fundamentals
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Plant Science Foundations
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Crop Production
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Agricultural Technology
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Animal Science Foundations
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Animal Care
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Aquaculture
SECTION III
Agribusiness & Food Systems
In section III, students examine how food moves from production to consumers through science, business, technology, policy, and sustainability, while exploring the systems that shape modern agribusiness and food systems.
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Food Science & Safety
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Genetics & Biotechnology
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Agricultural Mechanics
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Agribusiness Management
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Agricultural Policy & Advocacy
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Sustainability & Systems Thinking
Aligns to State Standards, Meets Grant Objectives
Our course curriculum is aligned to state standards and meets grant objectives. To learn more, you can view our Marketing Foundations course syllabus.