Farm and Industry Short Course

Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Management

Dairy Production and Nutrition

• Focus: Daily operations, nutrition, housing and cow comfort 
• Why it’s critical: Forms the foundation of efficient milk production and overall herd performance

Dairy Reproduction and Animal Handling

• Focus: Estrous cycles, synchronization, AI and reproductive efficiency 
• Why it’s critical: Reproduction drives herd turnover, genetics and long-term profitability

Herd Health Management

• Focus: Disease prevention, biosecurity, treatment protocols 
• Why it’s critical: Healthy cows are essential for productivity, animal welfare and cost control

Crop and Forage Production (Agronomy)

• Focus: Soil health, fertility, cropping systems and forage quality 
• Why it’s critical: Feed is the largest cost and strong agronomy directly impacts profitability

Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Management

• Focus: Financials, recordkeeping, decision-making and markets 
• Why it’s critical: Farming is a business and profitability depends on financial understanding and management

Dairy Evaluation and Genetics

• Focus: Conformation, linear traits and breeding decisions 
• Why it’s critical: Genetic decisions influence herd longevity, efficiency and future performance

Dairy Industries

• Focus: Farm tours, guest speakers and networking 
• Why it’s critical: Connects classroom learning to real-world operations and career opportunities

Students also have the opportunity to participate in:

• Ag Forward Program 
• Artificial Insemination Training
• DPW Mentorship program and PDPW Business Conference 
• Special seminars with topics ranging from dairy reproduction to cover crops and agronomy
• Campus activities, including trips or events sponsored by the UWRF Dairy Club

Agronomy Specialty – Potential Expansion Courses
 

Advanced Soil Health and Nutrient Management

• Move beyond basics into manure management, variable rate tech and sustainability

Precision Agriculture and Data Management

• GPS, yield mapping, input optimization and modern decision tools

Forage Systems and Feed Efficiency

• Connecting crops directly to ration performance and milk production

Conservation and Environmental Stewardship

• Regulations, water quality, carbon and sustainability programs

Crop Marketing and Risk Management

• Grain markets, contracting and input cost strategies

Beef Specialty – Beyond Dairy Potential Expansion Courses
 

Beef Production Systems

• Cow-calf, backgrounding, finishing and understanding the full pipeline

Beef Nutrition and Feedlot Management

• Rations, gain efficiency and cost of gain

Genetics and Crossbreeding Strategies

• Terminal vs maternal traits and heterosis

Meat Science and Carcass Evaluation

• Quality grades, yield and value-based marketing

Direct Marketing and Niche Beef Markets

• Freezer beef, branding and consumer trends

Beef Health and Handling

• Processing, vaccination protocols and low-stress handling

Second-Year FISC – Business Specialty Potential Expansion
 

Advanced Farm Financial Management

• Focus: Balance sheets, income statements, cash flow and benchmarking
• Why it’s critical: Enables informed, data-driven decisions that improve profitability and long-term stability

Agricultural Lending and Capital Planning

• Focus: Loan structures, credit analysis, lender relationships and capital investment
• Why it’s critical: Prepares students to manage debt, expansion and financial risk

Risk Management and Insurance

• Focus: Insurance tools, liability, price risk and crop/livestock coverage
• Why it’s critical: Protects operations from financial shocks and uncertainty

Farm Transition and Succession Planning

• Focus: Estate planning, generational transfer and business structures
• Why it’s critical: Ensures continuity and long-term viability of family operations

Human Resource Management in Agriculture

• Focus: Hiring, labor law, training, retention and communication
• Why it’s critical: Effective labor management improves efficiency and workplace culture

Agricultural Law and Regulation

• Focus: Contracts, environmental compliance and labor regulations
• Why it’s critical: Helps producers operate within legal frameworks and avoid risk

Marketing and Price Risk Management

• Focus: Milk pricing, futures markets, contracts and input purchasing strategies
• Why it’s critical: Managing volatility is key to protecting margins

Technology and Data in Farm Management

• Focus: Software systems, data analysis and precision ag economics
• Why it’s critical: Data-driven decisions improve efficiency and competitiveness

Enterprise Analysis and Strategic Planning

• Focus: Enterprise budgets, cost of production and expansion planning
• Why it’s critical: Guides resource allocation and long-term business growth

Communication and Professional Development

• Focus: Leadership, negotiation and working with advisors
• Why it’s critical: Strong communication drives better decisions and relationships

Agricultural Tax Planning and Strategy

• Focus: Farm tax structures, depreciation, income averaging and capital gains
• Why it’s critical: Tax management directly impacts profitability and long-term financial planning

Agricultural Policy, Government Programs and Advocacy

• Focus: Farm bill programs, FSA/NRCS involvement, subsidies, compliance and policy process
• Why it’s critical: Understanding government programs and policy helps producers access resources, remain compliant and advocate for their operation and industry  
    

* Tuition/Fees will vary depending on residency status. Please visit Student Billing for more information.

Click "Apply Now" button at the top of this page. You can also view the short video posted to help explain the process.

A high school diploma or equivalent. Students do not have to be from a farm.

• If you're enrolled in high school when you apply, then we can work with your unofficial transcript.
• If you've already graduated high school when you apply, we'll need your final official transcript.

Follow your high school's procedure for sending your official final high school transcript. Transcripts must indicate your graduation day, month and year, include all course grades and your final GPA. Electronic transcripts are preferred and must be sent through an official transcript service to admissions@uwrf.edu. Mailed transcripts can be sent to UWRF Admissions, 410 S. 3rd St., River Falls, WI 54022. To be considered official, the transcript must come directly from your school.

The first year is very dairy farm-focused. There will be some education in agronomy, business and other areas but dairy is the key focus. Students who are interested in dairy ownership, dairy herd management or are working with a herd will be best served by this program.   

As we launch the FISC program at UW-River Falls, we are focusing on dairy. We may expand the offerings in the future.