Agricultural Education
Agricultural Education, vocational education in the production of crops, livestock, and poultry and in related operations. This education includes training in such areas as farm-business management, soil management, processing and marketing of farm products, supply of farm goods and services, and farm equipment repair. In the United States, agricultural education is available through high schools, colleges and universities, youth groups such as the FFA and 4-H Clubs, and a variety of programs for working farmers.
The federal government supports agricultural and other vocational education below the bachelor's degree level through the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 and later laws. Full-time students in rural high schools can combine agricultural subjects with academic subjects in their programs of study. The vocational agriculture programs, supervised by graduates of agricultural colleges, include both classroom instruction and farming projects outside of school. Many community colleges also offer vocational agriculture programs.
Each state has at least one land-grant college or university—an institution that teaches agriculture and engineering and also other subjects. These schools are maintained through state and federal funds. They were established through the Land-Grant College Act of 1862, called the Morrill Act after its sponsor, Justin S. Morrill.
Agricultural education is also offered in many non-land-grant colleges and universities, both public and private.
The Hatch Act of 1887 provided federal funds to establish agricultural experiment stations in each state. The Smith-Lever Agricultural Extension Act of 1914 provided on a national basis an educational program for farmers. An extension service disseminates agricultural information through county extension agents. The service is operated jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, land-grant colleges and universities, and county governments.
In Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada distributes information on new farming methods and maintains experimental farms and research institutions throughout the country.