Regents Give SDSU Green Light to Develop New Ag Major

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Board of Regents has approved a request from South Dakota State University to develop plans for an undergraduate agricultural degree that officials say isn't offered anywhere else in the country.

The regents gave SDSU the green light Tuesday to start developing plans for an undergraduate degree in precision agriculture.

University officials say the program would prepare students for careers involving diverse work in agronomy, agricultural machinery management and data sciences.

In their planning request, SDSU officials say precision agriculture is a "quickly growing field," but add that no other university currently offers the major.

SDSU officials will return to the regents later for official approval of the B.S. degree in precision agriculture.

If approved, the university estimates it will graduate about a dozen students a year.

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