Crop Production

From Soil to Harvest. The Complete Picture.

The Crop Production program at YSA gives students the full spectrum of modern crop farming — from soil science and seeding to pest management, irrigation, and harvest. You won’t study this from a textbook. You’ll do it in the field.

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Program Overview

The science of agronomy meets the practice of running a crop enterprise.

Alberta’s crop industry is the backbone of the provincial economy, producing canola, wheat, barley, lentils, and specialty crops for markets around the world. Yet skilled crop producers — people who understand both the science of agronomy and the practice of operating a crop enterprise — are in critically short supply.

The YSA Crop Production program is built around hands-on experience with our 76-acre working farm. Students learn soil biology, nutrient management, and crop planning in Year 1. By Year 3, they are managing crop enterprises, analyzing yield data, and developing their own crop production SAE projects.

This program prepares students for direct entry into the crop production industry, post-secondary agricultural science programs, or entrepreneurial paths in their own farming operations.

What You’ll Learn

The full toolkit of a modern crop producer.

Soil science: structure, chemistry, fertility, and conservation
Crop planning, seeding rates, and variety selection
Integrated pest management (IPM) and disease scouting
Irrigation systems, scheduling, and water management
Fertilizer programs and nutrient cycling
Harvest operations and grain management
Precision agriculture tools: GPS, variable rate application, yield mapping
Crop enterprise budgeting and record-keeping
Reading and interpreting soil and tissue test results
Crop marketing fundamentals and contract basics

Course Pathway

A three-year progression from foundation to mastery.

Year 1 · Grade 10

Foundation

  • Introduction to Agriculture I
  • Plant Science & Horticulture I
  • Soil Science Fundamentals
  • Ag Safety & Effective Communications I
  • Crop Production Elective I (Seeding & Germination)

Year 2 · Grade 11

Specialization

  • Crop Production II (Nutrient Management & Pest Scouting)
  • Irrigation Management
  • Agricultural Business Fundamentals
  • SAE Project Development — Crop Enterprise
  • Precision Agriculture Technology I

Year 3 · Grade 12

Mastery

  • Advanced Crop Production (Harvest Systems & Grain Management)
  • Crop Enterprise Management Capstone
  • Precision Agriculture Technology II
  • SAE Project Completion & Presentation
  • Post-Secondary Transition & Industry Placement

Certifications & Credentials

Graduates leave with industry credentials that travel.

01

Alberta Pesticide Applicator Certificate (Grower Category)

02

CHEM Safety Training (Hazardous Materials)

03

Precision Agriculture certification (AFA PrecisionAg pathway)

04

Grain handling and storage safety certification

05

Heavy equipment safety (tractor and implements)

Career Pathways

Where this program leads.

Crop Production Farmer / Manager

Own and operate a crop farm or manage a large-scale production operation.

Agrologist / Crop Advisor

Provide technical crop management advice to farmers across the region.

Precision Agriculture Technologist

Apply GPS, drone, and data technology to optimize crop inputs and yields.

Grain Merchandiser

Buy, sell, and manage grain contracts for elevators, co-ops, or trading companies.

Crop Input Sales Representative

Sell seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products to producers.

Irrigation Technician / Designer

Design and maintain irrigation systems for crop production.

Agricultural Research Technician

Assist in crop trials and field research for seed companies and government.

Farm Equipment Operator / Manager

Operate and oversee the full machinery fleet for large crop operations.

Industry Connections

Built with the people you’ll be working alongside.

Crop Production at YSA is shaped by working agrologists, crop farmers, and ag-business professionals who help design the curriculum, mentor students, and open doors to placements.

Become an Industry Partner
  • Crop input supplier partnerships for hands-on product training
  • Cypress County Agricultural Service Board — field trip and guest speaker connections
  • Local elevator and grain company connections for marketing exposure
  • Industry mentors from the YSA Advisory Council: agrologists, crop farmers, and agribusiness professionals
  • Dual-credit pathway with Medicine Hat College agricultural programs

SAE Opportunities

Real projects. Real outcomes.

Every YSA student designs and runs a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. Here are five starting points for Crop Production students:

Start a small-plot canola or wheat trial, comparing variety performance.
Manage a dedicated crop enterprise on YSA farmland — seeding to harvest.
Design a soil conservation plan for a section of the YSA farm.
Build and manage an irrigation monitoring system using low-cost sensors.
Track and analyze input costs vs. yield outcomes across a crop season.

Related Programs

Pathways that pair well with Crop Production.

Pathway

Agribusiness & Farm Management

The business side of running a crop operation — budgets, marketing, contracts, and enterprise management.

Explore

Pathway

Environmental Science

Goes deeper on agronomy and soil health — conservation, water systems, and ecological stewardship.

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Pathway

Innovative Technologies & Precision Ag

Extends crop tech skills with drones, sensors, GPS, and data systems used on modern crop farms.

Explore

Apply Now

Ready to build a career in Crop Production?

Applications for Fall 2027 are open. Get in touch — or jump straight in.

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