Syngenta Thrive

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Farmers are a keystone in a sustainable agricultural ecosystem. Their financial health must be protected as they adapt farming systems to regenerate and steward natural resources. Crop protection technologies provide a sturdy base for their ongoing work to advance sustainable farming, without sacrificing their financial well-being.

“We’re on the cusp of a new era in agriculture,” says Val Dolcini, Syngenta head of business sustainability and government affairs.

Energy production, transportation and agricultural production are the top carbon-emitting industries. Each has economic and environmental incentives to reduce its carbon footprint. Agriculture is uniquely positioned to tackle the problem from two sides. Transitioning from conventional practices to a regenerative farming system can result in less carbon being emitted and more carbon being pulled from the atmosphere and banked in the soil.

Consumers Want Change

Consumers are increasingly considering their own carbon footprint and those of the companies they do business with. Every day, most people worldwide use the goods produced from the energy, transportation and agriculture industries. Examining the impact of food on the carbon footprint is low-hanging fruit for carbon-conscious consumers.

Shifting from driving a car to taking public transportation or installing home solar panels are decisions and actions that take substantial time and effort to achieve. On the other hand, buying food that is produced using sustainable, carbon-fixing farming practices provides consumers with instant satisfaction that they’re doing their part.

Food companies recognize the growing demand and have begun sourcing more regeneratively produced agricultural products — even paying premiums for verified practices. According to Dolcini, this provides bonus financial motivation for producers to continue adopting and advancing sustainable production practices. The diverse and powerful crop protection tools available to the modern producer play a significant part in making those moves possible.

Adopting a Sustainable Standard

Cover crops, no-till, strip-till and other minimum-tillage systems are typically the first sustainable practices farmers adopt. According to the Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture Standard (SOA), each of these systems contribute to soil health, water quality, greenhouse gas reduction and improvement of biodiversity and habitat. Syngenta developed the Standard to help growers assess and advance the regenerative farming practices they use and is available via the Cropwise Sustainability App in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

“Implementing these practices without herbicides that offer excellent broad-spectrum control at the soil and foliar level would be very difficult,” says Mark White, Syngenta herbicide regulatory team lead.

When tillage is reduced or eliminated altogether, herbicides are needed more than ever to control weeds and protect yields. Herbicides are a valuable partner when using cover crops, too. Cover crops help build aggregate soil structure — among other significant agronomic benefits — which can help adapt soils more quickly to no-till systems and potentially reduce transition yield losses. If a grower can’t effectively terminate a cover crop, though, it can quickly become a detriment to the cash crop and farm profits/

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Farmers have always been stewards of the land. They’ve laid a great foundation to meet the sustainability priorities we see today, and Syngenta is well positioned to help through our products, technologies, research, initiatives and programs.

Val Dolcini Head of Business Sustainability and Government Affairs, Syngenta

Power of Herbicides

There are many effective and diverse herbicides in the Syngenta portfolio to assist farmers no matter their chosen farming system. Atrazine, however, has long endured as one of the most valuable, effective and affordable tools used in reduced-tillage systems. It’s provided more than 60 years of reliable pre- and post-emergence control of a broad spectrum of broadleaf and grassy weeds. Atrazine is a flexible product that can be used in almost any cropping tillage system, which is why, according to White, it has had such a significant impact in the regenerative farming movement.

Studies have shown the use of atrazine helped drive the rate of adoption of conservation tillage practices in field corn, sweet corn, sugar cane and sorghum. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the herbicide is used on more than half the planted acres of each crop in the U.S.

“The flexibility and effectiveness of atrazine set it apart,” White says. “It’s one of our oldest legacy products and is still one of the most used herbicides in the United States and around the world.”

Despite decades of consistent use, very little atrazine weed resistance has developed as compared to other herbicides. Herbicide-resistant weeds pose a significant threat to no-till systems. When herbicides don’t work, tillage may be the easy way out. It will kill the weeds, but it also significantly sets back years of soil building work.

More diverse crop rotations and using atrazine can help avoid resistant weed problems and keep tillage equipment parked. Another mark in the good news category is that atrazine is not only effective, but also affordable. It would cost $30-$50 per acre to replace atrazine with the combination of herbicides needed to do the same job, according to White.

Reduce, Reuse, Regenerate

Regenerative farming practices have built momentum in recent decades. Unlike early adopters of these practices, today’s farmers have access to experienced peers, research and improving technology. They also have a better understanding of how regenerative farming builds soil in a way that protects the environment and helps buffer against weather extremes.

Reducing tillage and keeping a living root in the soil as much as possible with cover crops and strategic crop rotations transform soils, greatly improving function. Healthy soils are high in organic matter — made up of carbon pulled from the atmosphere — and rife with pore space held open by soil aggregates.

High-functioning soils with high organic matter store more water and take it in quickly. According to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, every 1% increase in organic matter will help soils hold up to 20,000 gallons more water per acre. Also, no-till management can increase the speed at which water enters the soil profile, with cover crops having the potential to dramatically increase infiltration rates.

Soils with high water infiltration rates and high water-holding capacity reduce runoff, minimizing erosion and protecting water quality. According to Ohio State University Extension, sediment is the top agricultural pollutant. Runoff from no-till and cover-crop-protected fields is most often clear and clean. High water infiltration rates and high water-holding capacities also allow farmers to take full advantage of intense — and too often sparse — rainfall.

Past crop and cover crop residue shield the soil from the sun, protecting the collected water from evaporation. Together, these factors make more moisture available to growing crops for longer, allowing them to better withstand periods of drought.

Macro and microorganisms thrive within organic matter and living roots. They cycle nutrients from cover crops and crop residue to be used by the current crop. An active soil and the use of cover crops with nitrogen-fixing legumes can reduce application rates of synthetic fertilizers. The benefits to environment and farmer alike go on and on.

Sustainable Agricultural Technology

“Sustainability is a big circle,” White says. No-till and cover crops sequester carbon, prevent erosion and provide many other benefits. Getting economic yields in these systems is contingent on good agronomic practices, including weed control. Access to cost-effective herbicides for controlling weeds and terminating cover crops increases profit margins ― and profitable farmers remain in business and continue to use and advance sustainable farming practices.

“Farmers have always been stewards of the land,” Dolcini says. “They’ve laid a great foundation to meet the sustainability priorities we see today, and Syngenta is well positioned to help through our products, technologies, research, initiatives and programs.”

Syngenta has a goal of delivering two sustainable agricultural technology breakthroughs per year through 2025. A roughly $2 billion investment will help achieve those goals. In addition, Syngenta is committed to enhancing biodiversity and soil health on more than 7 million acres worldwide by providing technologies, services and training to farmers.

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The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) inspires growers to aim for higher corn yields with the National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC), its longest-running program. The NCYC motivates growers to advance their skills with each growing season by earning the highest yield of one continuous hybrid on a 10-acre plot.

The contest rewards the skill and know-how of growers, but the takeaway is greater than trophies and recognition. “Because of the contest, farmers learn from themselves and each other,” says Linda Lambur, manager of the NCYC. “They try new practices, techniques, equipment and products while learning from and teaching each other.”

In this way, the NCYC provides valuable lessons to every participant while encouraging innovative collaboration through competition. “It is a contest, and a love of competition is a part of the farmer’s spirit,” says Lambur. “They’re all helping each other because everybody’s in it for a reason: to learn, to help, to grow.”

The NCGA introduced the contest to boost engagement among the state corn grower associations. In its first year, only 20 growers from four states entered the contest. Now, thousands of growers from across the country participate, with entries from nearly every state in the U.S.

Participation in the contest is a source of pride, and winners are recognized as industry leaders with successful corn yield plans — including seed selection and crop protection programs. “Yield contest winners are great role models because other farmers look to them for innovative ways to break through their own yield ceilings,” says Shawn Hock, corn herbicide product marketing lead for Syngenta.

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A love of competition is a part of the farmer’s spirit. They’re all helping each other because everybody’s in it for a reason: to learn, to help, to grow.

Linda Lambur NCGA President

Find More Corn Bushels

Top corn producers manage factors like planting date, plant density, plant nutrition, genetics and pest management. Choosing the highest quality crop protection solutions can push growers to increase yield.

“To raise the highest yields possible, variables that can be controlled should be closely managed,” says Hock. “Acuron® really sets itself apart from other herbicides because of its unique combination for superior crop safety and broad-spectrum, long-lasting residual control. That’s what gives Acuron users the edge when raising high yields.”1

The combination of industry-leading inputs and excellent agronomic practices allows contest winners to achieve yields that once seemed impossible. “In 2022, the national corn yield was about 173 bushels per acre,” says Hock. “The average national contest winner in 2022 was over 340 bushels per acre.”

Syngenta supports the NCGA’s efforts to drive corn growers to push the boundaries of possible yields. Acuron helps growers accomplish that by providing greater consistency, enhanced weed control, built-in burndown and long-lasting residual. “It’s unique in the marketplace because of its combination of proven crop safety and residual weed control,” says Hock. “When you put those two things together, that unlocks more yield potential.”

In addition to higher yields, growers who register for the Find More Bushels program benefit from perks throughout the season, including a welcome gift and, for NCGA members entering the contest, a chance to win a trip to Commodity Classic, where winners will be honored at the NCGA reception.

Look Ahead to 2024

Reliable products and collaboration can help growers achieve the highest yields possible. The 2023 NCYC winners, who will be announced in December, are a testament to that. “We are looking forward to celebrating growers that are continuing to advance new management practices to continue raising the yield bar,” says Hock.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the NCYC. Participants can enter the contest in May 2024 by visiting https://ncga.com/ and preparing their entries with their NCGA membership numbers. New members can reach out to the NCGA directly. Growers planning to find more bushels with Acuron can register online for the program in the spring of 2024.

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Many factors motivate farmers to achieve higher yields. Some growers want to fulfill their family’s legacy, while others aspire to stay profitable and reap the benefits of their hard work. But sometimes, good old-fashioned friendly competition is the incentive farmers need to produce higher-yielding soybeans.

Each year, the North Carolina Soybean Yield Contest gives participating growers the drive to earn top-producer bragging rights. It also provides fascinating data that can enable all soybean growers to boost their crops’ productivity.

Rachel Vann, Ph.D., assistant professor and soybean Extension specialist in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University (NCSU), is one of the researchers gathering essential intel on soybean yield and a contest administrator. “Since we collect so much management information through the contest, we are able to identify trends that will benefit all growers,” she says.

Joining Vann as a longtime contest administrator is Jim Dunphy, Ph.D., retired Extension soybean expert and professor emeritus of soybean production & management at NCSU. This annual endeavor is a group effort with North Carolina Cooperative Extension Agents measuring yield contest entries at the local level and the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association (NCSPA) providing prizes for the winners.

Any grower in North Carolina with three or more contiguous acres of soybeans is eligible to enter the contest. There are several prize categories, and cash winnings range from $100 for a regional yield award to $1,000 for the top state champion.

When entering the contest, growers are asked to provide their production practices associated with the entered acres, which is the data Vann and her team use to help determine what best practices provide the highest yields.

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The idea of using producer-derived data to leverage something already going on provides a broader educational value. Almost as valuable as seeing what works is understanding what doesn’t when it comes to strongly predicting high yield. By focusing on the most important variables, we can take a deeper dive into what truly impacts yields.

Rachel Vann, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Soybean Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University

High Yield Predictors

Maximizing the value of contest data is an ongoing goal for Vann. “When I came to this position five years ago, we had a large database of information for reference,” she says. “But there had not been any effort to dive into that database to get what educational value could be gleaned for the broader grower base.”

Vann and her colleague, Katherine Drake-Stowe, now the director of the U.S. Soybean Research Collaborative, decided to undertake this challenge by reviewing 18 years of yield contest data from 877 entries.

“We wanted to identify those production practices that were strong and consistent predictors of high yield in North Carolina soybeans,” Vann says. “We looked at 12 to 15 management practices and conducted a statistical analysis to determine which practices had the strongest impact on yield.”

The most impactful practices noted in her team’s report are as follows:

  • Maturity group. The contest data shows that planting an earlier-maturing variety (<MG5), especially in high-yielding environments, increases soybean yields. However, Vann advises against taking a blanket approach when selecting maturity groups because of North Carolina’s rotational complexity, soil type variability and inconsistent annual weather patterns, which oftentimes necessitate growers selecting a wide range of maturity groups. Nonetheless, using earlier maturing varieties optimizes yield in situations with optimal production capacity and limited stress.
  • Foliar fungicides. The data clearly shows that the use of foliar fungicides can increase soybean yields because they reduce yield loss from diseases. At the beginning of the period in this analysis (around 2002) there was very little use of fungicides to control foliar disease in North Carolina soybean production. This information shows that foliar diseases need to be aggressively managed to prevent yield loss in North Carolina, and that can be done through selecting resistant varieties, scouting for foliar diseases and rotating fungicides with different chemical modes of action.
  • Planting date. While the exact timing varies by region across the state, the contest data shows that earlier planting dates consistently increase soybean yields. “Our data verifies that planting earlier, before mid-May, is an important practice, particularly in high-yielding situations,” Vann says.
  • Herbicide use. The data also shows that more frequent herbicide applications resulted in higher soybean yields. The report adds that a robust, “multifaceted approach to chemical weed management is often necessary to protect soybean yield.”

Vann states that while some production practices won’t be relevant to every farmer across the country, the data collection and subsequent evaluation may be something all can contemplate.

“The idea of using producer-derived data to leverage something already going on provides a broader educational value,” she says. “Almost as valuable as seeing what works is understanding what doesn’t when it comes to strongly predicting high yield. By focusing on the most important variables, we can take a deeper dive into what truly impacts yields.”

Additional Resources for Achieving High Yields

Check out these links for more information on the North Carolina Soybean Yield Contest and Vann’s research and data analysis.

Find out how increasing yields with the right crop protection input can maximize your return on investment — whether you grow corn, soybeans or both.

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When you’re a grower, you know challenges are a part of life — especially when you’ve been in the profession for decades. From drought-stricken seasons to uncertain economic times, two row crop growers from different regions of the country have seen it all.

Davie Stephens from Clinton, Kentucky grows corn and soybeans in Western Kentucky and Northwest Tennessee. He graduated college from the University of Kentucky with a degree in agricultural economics. After graduation, he returned to Western Kentucky where he purchased his first farm and learned firsthand how to succeed as a grower. Thirty-five years later, he makes passing along his knowledge to others a top priority.

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I started with Trivapro the year it came out, and I’ve used it every year on every acre since. You get better plant health; and yield-wise, you can always see a 10-to-15-bushel-per-acre bump on corn.

Arlis Eitzmann Seed Manager at Aurora Co-op and Nebraska Grower

“I have always enjoyed getting involved with the community, whether I’m serving on the fair board or talking with young farmers,” says Stephens, who is also a member of the Kentucky Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association. “That’s something that has been important to me in my career — having conversations with different farmers on how to move agriculture forward for future generations.”

Nebraska native Arlis Eitzmann shares Stephens’ lifelong passion for agriculture. Currently living and working in Byron as a seed manager for Aurora Co-op, Eitzmann also grows corn on his own farm. Even before he started his profession as a seed salesman and raised hogs in the 1980s, farming was in his blood.

“I like to see things grow and watch the seed work, knowing that I have made the right recommendations for my customers’ crops and my own,” says Eitzmann. “It’s a pretty good life.”

A Seasoned Staple

As experienced growers, both Stephens and Eitzmann are constantly looking for innovative ways to improve their operations. But once they find a product that performs well, they’re hooked. Trivapro® corn fungicide is one of those products. Since its launch in 2016, Trivapro has helped safeguard growers’ yield potential and plant health from disease and stressful environmental conditions.

“I started with Trivapro the year it came out, and I’ve used it every year on every acre since,” says Eitzmann. “You get better plant health; and yield-wise, you can always see a 10-to-15-bushel-per-acre bump on corn.”

As a Syngenta Cleaner & Greener fungicide, Trivapro contains SOLATENOL®  technology. In addition to offering powerful disease control, this unique active ingredient boosts plant health by helping improve light absorption, water conservation and harvest efficiency for even greater potential yield gain and return on investment. Even in drought-ridden seasons like this one, Trivapro has become a necessary investment for these two growers to help protect yield potential.

“We experienced a drought in 2022, and we decided to do a test of Trivapro to monitor how healthy it kept the plants,” says Stephens. “The stalk health really caught my eye more than anything, and when the guys were in the combine harvesting those fields, they were really impressed with the way they yielded.”

In fact, years of data show that Trivapro works harder and lasts longer to help growers yield stronger with reliable results. In both wet and dry conditions, Trivapro delivers an average yield increase of 17.2 bushels per acre (bu/A) in wet seasons and 14.1 bu/A in drought over an untreated check.1 This consistency of high performance is what won over Stephens.

“Trivapro is just a great chemistry,” says Stephens. “It’s nice to go to bed at night, knowing you’ve got that longevity and that Trivapro is doing its due diligence.”

Moving Farming Forward

With decades of combined experience behind them and more seasons on the horizon, Stephens and Eitzmann have a lot to give to the next generation of growers, but acknowledge they still benefit from a steady stream of know-how and support from their fellow farmers — especially during challenging times.

“I always tell younger farmers to hang on and things will get better,” says Eitzmann.

Stephens agrees and counsels his less experienced counterparts to “take advice from people who have gone through different things, whether it’s something with the crop, droughts or high interest rates. The farm doesn’t exist without good community involvement — farmers helping farmers.”

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1Syngenta on-farm, large strip trials. 2020 trial locations: IA (2), IL (33), IN (6), NE (6), OH (13), WI (11) and SD (26). 2021 trial locations: IL (35), IN (9), WI (7) and SD (13).

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Farmers expect clean fields when they invest in a herbicide program. Still, nearly 40% of growers say Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are difficult to control with current preemergence corn herbicides.1 This challenge — and its potential impact on yield — led to the development of Storen™ corn herbicide, recently registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Storen is specifically designed for growers looking for next-level performance. It helps prevent or eliminate weeds through its powerful combination of four active ingredients that deliver maximum residual and long-lasting, consistent performance.

The formulation of the key active ingredients in Storen — bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone — provides residual that could last up to three weeks longer than other leading corn herbicides.2 This control can lead to clean rows and clear results by reducing weed escapes, resprays, weed interference and weed seed produced for future years.

Labeled for preemergence and post-emergence in field and seed corn, Storen controls* up to 74 weed species, including stubborn Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, kochia, common lambsquarters, morning glory, giant ragweed, common ragweed and annual grasses.

Contact your local Syngenta rep to see Storen in field trials. For more information about Storen, visit StorenWontQuit.com.

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1Syngenta market research, 2022. n=302.

2Storen length-of-control advantage based on 2022 Syngenta and university replicated trials comparing Storen to Resicore® and TriVolt™. Data source: 2022; HBI008A4-2022US. Weeks delivering 90% weed control.

*Control or partial control. See label for details.

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Chad and Darin Ratermann of Ratermann Brothers’ Grain and Livestock were young when they took over the family farming operation after their dad passed away; Chad was only 24 and Darin was only 18. Their operation is in Bartelso, Illinois, where they grow wheat, corn and soybeans. They also finish hogs and feed Holstein steers for market.

While starting so young was challenging, the support of their friends and neighbors helped them build a strong business. “We had a lot of good people that put trust in us which gave us different opportunities to grow,” says Chad Ratermann. “Early on, Syngenta became one of those partners for us.”

Every day, Syngenta employees work hard to earn the right to call themselves trusted partners, so it isn’t surprising that Craig Abell, national executive agronomist with Syngenta, did just that with the Ratermanns. Abell works closely with the Ratermanns to get them the most out of every acre in their operation.

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I’m impressed by how reliable Syngenta’s products and services are. Craig Abell and the dealers always take care of us and get products to us in a timely manner. It’s a good fit for our operation.

Chad Ratermann Ratermann Brothers’ Grain and Livestock

Abell and Chad first met at the National Farm Machinery Show where Abell built a management program for the Ratermanns’ operation of crop protection products from Syngenta. “Now, we always use Syngenta’s fungicide and insecticide programs on our soybeans,” Chad says. “I’m impressed by how reliable Syngenta’s products and services are. Craig Abell and the dealers always take care of us and get products to us in a timely manner. It’s a good fit for our operation.”

Chad credits his close partnership with Abell as a key part of his success. “When it’s time to order seeds, he usually rides with me in the combine and we discuss hybrids,” he says. “We speak a couple times a month on different topics in the industry and he’s really helpful with placing the seed orders. He’s just a good person to talk to, and it seems like he’s got a lot of the same interests as we do.”

Chad finds the confidence Syngenta has in their own products reassuring. He participates in the AgriClime™ program, which helps growers offset the risk of bad weather. “That’s telling me that they’re confident enough in their product that they can offer a weather protection program,” he says.

A strong, broad seed portfolio is important for the Ratermanns as they have acres in various counties, each with their own unique challenges. “We cover a pretty wide variety of different soil types, regions and weather patterns in the area we farm in,” Chad says. “We’ve always had very good yield results with Syngenta seeds. I’m not scared to put them up against any other hybrid or any other variety that I plant. I know I’m going to get an equal or better result out of it.”

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Chad is most impressed with the performance of Enogen® corn hybrids. He has consistently grown Enogen corn for cattle feed and fuel production. “We put it in our livestock silage and our high-moisture corn for our feeding feedlots,” he says. “Enogen corn gives a better feed efficiency in the cattle.”

Aside from their business relationship, Chad and Abell have developed a solid friendship. This past February at the Syngenta-sponsored Championship Tractor Pull at the National Farm Machinery Show, the Ratermanns competed in the 9,500lb limited pro stock tractor category. With Darin in the driver’s seat of their tractor, Full Boar, the brothers took home first place. Abell insisted on congratulating his friend on the track and helped present the first-place trophy. “That was a moment I’ll never forget, and it meant a lot to us,” Chad says.

Ratermann continues working closely with Abell and trusting Syngenta products. “We gained a real good relationship meeting Craig. I always feel like it’s a good quality product going in the ground.”

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Choosing which agricultural college to attend is one major step toward a career in ag. Students seeking top agricultural programs know they want to feed the world, solve problems or steward the environment; but deciding among the many strong ag programs in the U.S. can be daunting. Knowing what to look for can help students navigate the boundless options and find the right fit for their aspirations.

What Makes a Great Agricultural School?

Many top agricultural schools are land-grant universities, meaning they were established to broaden access to higher education and advance agriculture. Beyond that, their purpose is for their graduates to serve their communities.

To support that mission, many leading schools invest heavily in hands-on learning, research opportunities, accomplished faculty, modern facilities and a wide range of degree programs. Based on 2026 rankings from Niche, this list highlights the traditional top ag universities in the U.S., based on Department of Education data, research investments and other factors. But don’t stop there — there’s much more to discover. We compiled experiential learning programs, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and more standout curriculums.

Top Agriculture Colleges and Schools in the U.S.

1. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

The only land-grant institution in the Ivy League, Cornell University is home to a world-class College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which offers 21 undergraduate majors and more than 40 minors focusing on agricultural, life, environmental and social sciences. Students can pursue a variety of traditional and emerging career tracks.

2. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Texas A&M University is the largest college of agriculture and life sciences in the country by student enrollment. It’s home to 15 departments led by accomplished faculty in fields such as agricultural economics, leadership, communications, engineering, plant pathology and soil sciences. Undergraduates can choose from 30 majors, numerous minors and certificates.

3. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Despite having one of the largest student bodies of universities on this list, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida boasts the lowest student-to-faculty ratio on this list at 11:1. The student experience is highly customizable. Students can explore more than 50 specializations with an online quiz or enrich their experience by participating in any of more than 45 student organizations.

4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois

Students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences make an impact in and beyond Illinois through internships, volunteer opportunities and more than 400 study abroad programs. Over 80% of students participate in experiential learning throughout their pursuit of a degree.1 The college awards $4.3 million annually in scholarships.2

5. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas

The Kansas State University College of Agriculture reports that 97% of last year’s graduates are employed or pursuing further education.3 Programs range from traditional crop and livestock management programs to degrees in agricultural economics, food science, horticulture and more. Most majors offer opportunities for undergraduate research where students work hand-in-hand with faculty and staff mentors.

Other Standout Agricultural Programs Worth Considering

For students interested in studying closer to home or institutions that align with their interests and learning style, other quality universities may offer a better fit. Many agricultural programs excel in multiple categories.

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Really great ag schools allow experiential learning and experiences for their students. Schools that have unique student organizations and opportunities are preparing those students for successful careers.

Kaci Rice Talent Program Manager at Syngenta

“Really great ag schools allow experiential learning and experiences for their students,” says Kaci Rice, talent program manager for Syngenta. “Schools that have unique student organizations and opportunities are preparing those students for successful careers.” That includes internships with agribusiness companies like Syngenta, where summer internships are professional experiences with real projects that impact the business — connecting educational learning with hands-on experience.

Strong Research Universities

Schools focused on research allow students at all levels, including undergraduates, to work with professors at leading research laboratories. Student employees gain practical experience working with technology, managing details for accuracy and solving problems. Rice notes these skills translate well to careers.

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University is a Research I university, meaning it makes significant investments in cutting-edge facilities run by industry-leading faculty. The university supports over 60 projects across 70 commodities and 19,000 acres across the state. In addition to on-campus research, NC State staff and students operate in 18 research stations throughout the state.

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Multidisciplinary research within the College of Agriculture at Purdue University addresses major challenges in agriculture and life sciences. A total of 38 centers, labs, institutes and programs bring research faculty and other partners together to meet specific research needs. On campus, 18 research facilities and services, including The Student Farm run by several student groups, provide access to resources needed to conduct that research.

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Collaborative research at the Texas Tech University Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources encourages students to work alongside faculty. Eight research centers and $19.6 million in research support extend funded research opportunities even to undergraduates.4 Globally, collaboration includes research sites on six continents.

University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

As Idaho’s only Research I university, the University of Idaho encourages students to gain in-depth experience at research locations. The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences supports the largest research dairy in the U.S.; a working research ranch; crop research on barley, mustards, potatoes and wheat; the Aquaculture Research Institute; and more.

Schools Known for Hands-on Learning

For those who learn best by getting their hands dirty, look for college programs that encourage time in the lab or curriculums that prioritize projects over papers. Rice says these classes and experiences make great interview points during their job search.

University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

To graduate, all University of Georgia students must engage in hands-on, experiential learning either domestically or abroad. Though this became a university-wide requirement in 2016, it has always been a priority for the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences. Opportunities to fulfill this requirement include work in the field or lab, internships, service-learning, study abroad, and more.

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Iowa State University actively encourages students to get real-world experience. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences supports students in finding internships, studying abroad and starting their own businesses. Iowa State manages 15 research and demonstration farms throughout the state, and opportunities include a farm management course where students work together to manage a crop and livestock farm.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California

“Learn by Doing” graces the shield of the Cal Poly logo, representing the school’s core philosophy. The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences employs that approach through research and experience labs on ranches and in orchards, vineyards and forests. Student-run enterprises also provide hands-on, real-world experience.

Schools With Broad Agricultural Degree Options

For students who know they want to be involved in agriculture but don’t know exactly where they fit, universities with an abundance of majors can help them find the right path. Additionally, programs with broad majors and flexible specialization could be good solutions for these students. Rice adds that schools rich in science and technology majors provide education that transfers well to careers in agricultural research and development.

University of California Davis, Davis, California

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California Davis, or UC Davis, offers undergraduates 27 majors in 14 departments, as well as an exploratory/undeclared option, plus 40 minors, all within a top-tier research university. The college expects many students to be unsure about their career path when they start college, and programs are designed to help guide them to the right fit.

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University combines 16 majors and 18 minors in the Ferguson College of Agriculture to offer more than 50 study options for undergraduates. It also offers more than 30 graduate degrees. To help students find their place in agriculture, Oklahoma State emphasizes learning both within and outside of their majors alongside experiential learning.

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

Academic programs within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech balance specialization with the fundamentals for ongoing professional growth. Students can choose among associate, bachelor’s and advanced degree programs; freshmen can enter with the designation of “Exploring Life Sciences” for a broad foundation before selecting a major. The university also prioritizes research, hands-on learning and service.

Leading HBCUs for Agriculture Degrees

Since the early 19th century, HBCUs have provided distinct opportunities for students of color.

Many HBCUs were founded as agricultural and engineering institutions but later expanded their academic disciplines. Today, several HBCUs with strong agricultural programs attract students looking to pursue their education in a diverse environment. Based on Niche’s 2026 rankings, we compiled five leading HBCUs for agricultural sciences in the U.S.

1. Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi

Alcorn State University is the oldest public historically Black land-grant institution. Alcorn State has a focus on professional development and experiential learning opportunities. Students have access to greenhouses, orchards, vineyards, swine research, Mississippi River research and state-of-the-art laboratories.

2. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Florida

The National Science Foundation recognized Florida A&M as the top HBCU for research and development. The land-grant arm of the university, the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, is home to three specialized research centers in the areas of viticulture and small fruit, water resources, and biological control. Students have opportunities to make respected contributions to agricultural research and gain real-world experience along with their education.

3. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama

The founders of Tuskegee University envisioned an institution focused on hands-on agricultural education and the use of science to improve life for farmers and communities. The College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences offers nine undergraduate degree programs, numerous graduate degrees and several interdisciplinary doctorate programs, all aimed at preparing students for careers in the agriculture and food value chain.

4. North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina

The largest HBCU in the U.S., North Carolina A&T focuses on excellence in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). That includes its College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, also the largest agricultural college by student body size among HBCUs. Its working 581-acre University Farm allows students to gain experience supporting current industry research as they pursue degrees in nine undergraduate and three graduate degree programs.

5. Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A&M’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources emphasizes academics, research and extension, following the land-grant tradition. It was the second public university established in Texas, located in a rural area beyond suburban Houston. Degree programs encourage students to earn a well-rounded education with hands-on experience in the food lab, meat lab or on the farm.

Agriculture Degrees and Specializations Offered at Top Schools

The specifics of programs and degrees vary between institutions, but students attending agricultural colleges usually earn Bachelor of Science degrees in their programs. Most schools offer degrees in the following categories, each leading to a broad range of jobs. For more specifics or areas not covered here, students can use tools like the National FFA Organization’s Ag Explorer.

Agronomy, Crop Science and Plant Science Programs

These studies focus on plants. Learn how they grow, how to protect and improve yields, how to manage pests, and more. Potential career paths include — but are not limited to — advising farmers on crop management, breeding plants or understanding disease threats to develop solutions.

Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics

In agriculture, like any business, dollars and cents matter. Degrees and specializations in this area lead to careers in ag financing, sales, business management, market analysis and more.

Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

Engineering is for students fascinated by how things work. Degrees in engineering prepare them to build and improve farm machinery, buildings, crop handling systems, precision agriculture tools and much more.

Animal Science

For more than just aspiring veterinarians, degrees in animal science also prepare students to become animal nutritionists, meat scientists, geneticists and others who support animal agriculture. Some schools include specializations for companion animals as well.

Biotechnology

Delve into the cellular and molecular level of plants and animals in this field. Degrees in this area tend to lead toward the research and development of solutions to challenging problems, like how to alter plants to better manage stress or curate soil microbes as effective crop protection products.

Food and Nutrition Science

Feeding the world is more than just growing crops and raising animals — it’s processing those raw ingredients into accessible food. These degrees apply science to making the food supply safe, nutritious and sustainable as it moves from farms to plates, and leads to jobs at food companies throughout the supply chain.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

For those interested in understanding and improving soil, water and ecosystems, degrees in natural resources lead to careers in conservation management, soil health improvement, water quality protection and more. These programs often focus on long-term sustainability of agriculture, balancing nature and human needs.

What Should Students Look For in an Agricultural Program?

Universities tout their reputations, academics, rankings, research, opportunities, athletics, alumni, campus life and more. All those factors matter.

In addition, Rice encourages students to consider how a school will help them prepare for opportunities after graduation. She offers a few less-obvious characteristics that set an agricultural program apart.

Industry-Focused Career Services

“Schools with an active career services department or office help students find internships and jobs,” Rice says. “They form relationships with companies that hire new graduates.”

She believes career fairs are important, but they can be really big and intimidating.

“I’ve seen a shift in career services also allowing companies to sign up for classroom visits or tours, allowing them to interact with students in a more intimate setting,” she says.

Active Student Organizations

Rice sees value in all types of campus involvement and leadership. She recommends students get involved in an organization within their major, as well as in broader industry organizations.

“At Syngenta, we support Agriculture Future of America and MANNRS, which is Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences,” she says. “Those partnerships allow companies like us to connect with students who attend key organizational events.”

Unique Partnerships With Industry

As part of local, regional and global communities, universities build special partnerships that can benefit students in their job and internship searches. Finding and participating in these programs offer students deeper access to opportunities.

For example, Rice says Syngenta, with headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, participates in NC State’s Accelerate to Industry event, where company representatives listen to research talks from students working toward their master and doctorate degrees. Several regional companies, including Syngenta, sponsor SciTech Week at North Carolina A&T. And Syngenta offers internships to HBCU students through the North Carolina Governor’s Program.

“We are expanding our relationship with Southern University and A&M College, an HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, because they are really close to our St. Gabriel facility,” Rice says. “We go to their career fair and we are working with their MANNRS chapter.”

Similar relationships, unique to the community, exist through agricultural programs throughout the country. The possibilities for a strong agricultural education are endless.

1 https://aces.illinois.edu/
2 https://aces.illinois.edu/
3 https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/02/post-graduation-outcome-success-report.html
4 https://www.depts.ttu.edu/agriculturalsciences/

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The theme of this year’s Soil and Water Conservation Society conference — which took place from August 6 to 9 in Des Moines, Iowa — was, “Healthy Land, Clean Water: Cultivating a Legacy of Conservation.”

Syngenta proudly sponsors the conference each year, sharing the belief that the key to sustainable farming is building partnerships, initiatives and practices that encourage the local ecosystems and hardy working lands.

Farmers already have a heavy load on their shoulders. They’re the backbone of our food production system and the lifeline of our society. Among the many challenges they face is preserving and revitalizing the country’s land and waterways. Sustainable farming practices ensure future generations continue producing food for tables around the world.

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To us, healthy land is both productive and resilient. To ensure that our soil and water remain healthy for the next generation, we continue identifying solutions that help growers retain, or even exceed, current yields.

Dayna Gross Manager of programs and partnerships for North America Sustainability, Syngenta

Dayna Gross, manager of programs and partnerships for North America Sustainability at Syngenta, pairs her passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation with decades of experience. “To us, healthy land is both productive and resilient,” she says. “To ensure that our soil and water remain healthy for the next generation, we continue identifying solutions that help growers retain, or even exceed, current yields.”

Sustainable practices help keep farmers profitable while meeting society’s needs.

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“In my role, I have a front row seat to see how Syngenta puts the ideals of preserving the environment into practice,” Gross says. This includes supporting a Pheasants Forever program incentivizing growers to convert portions of land into habitats for birds and pollinators. “We’ve used a similar concept for other projects and partnered with the J.R. Simplot Company to turn marginal acres into beneficial insect habitats near potato fields,” Gross says. “And, in collaboration with the Sand County Foundation, we support a conservation payment program that helps growers improve the water quality within their watershed.”

To learn more about conversation practices and partnerships, and to access educational resources, please visit www.BeeHealth.org.

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A partnership between Syngenta, the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the California Rice Commission (CRC) was forged to address the decline of California’s native fish by working to restore their habitats. Most of these species use floodplains in the Central Valley as a habitat during their outmigration. The partnership project focuses on the floodplains of the Sacramento River within the Sutter and Yolo Bypasses. These bypasses can be used to farm rice in the summer, and for flood control and ecosystems in the winter.

“Syngenta is pleased to have supported this project from its early stages. We have worked with the California rice industry for many years, and this was an outgrowth of our longstanding relationship and shared focus on environmental performance,” says Ben Sacher, lead, state affairs at Syngenta. “This project changes the narrative around the role that productive agriculture has in achieving environmental outcomes. It creates a positive impact on the salmon, and a new opportunity for the rice industry to deliver environmental benefits alongside its crop. This is a powerful example of how agricultural groups, non-profits and companies like Syngenta can work on important challenges.”

Q. What happened to the salmon habitats in California?

A. Andrew L. Rypel, Ph.D., Professor, Peter B. Moyle & California Trout Endowed Chair, Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis: Salmon are declining for a host of reasons — dams, fishing, water extraction, loss of wetlands, to name a few. We are collaborating to get more salmon on the landscape as the loss of salmon is bad for everyone. Forest ecosystems in the spawning grounds get shut off from marine-derived nitrogen that salmon brings. Indigenous communities lose nutritious food and a sacred animal from the landscape. California fishing communities lose a source of revenue, and businesses, including farms, get mired in environmental regulations. Our work shows how winter-flooded rice fields can be used to expand habitats to juvenile salmon; rice growers are a major part of the solution to save salmon. Ninety-five percent of the historical floodplain was eliminated in California, yet there are 500,000 acres of rice fields. We are thinking creatively to use these lands to mimic the historical floodplains. This project shows how farms, ecosystems and flood control work together for a common good.

A. Paul Buttner, Manager of Environmental Affairs, California Rice Commission (CRC): Growth rates of baby salmon placed into winter-flooded rice fields are proven notable due to significant amounts of zooplankton, the natural food source baby salmon rely on. We hope to develop a management practice to extend the period when threatened runs of salmon can benefit from these fields, increase the habitat quality and enable the fish to willingly enter/exit the fields. There are many technical challenges that are being addressed through pilot-scale implementation and adaptive management over a period of years.

Q. What is your organization’s role in the project and why did you choose to get involved?

A. Rypel: It takes science, hard work and collaboration to get the pieces in place so we can move forward. We are finding ways to get the salmon on the fields, have them rear and get safely out. Our UC Davis team works on questions like how to drill holes and notches in rice boards to allow fish safe passage. We’ve done fish tracking studies and piloted technology and web applications to measure dissolved oxygen in real time and transmit those data into a website so managers can monitor temperature and oxygen conditions in the fields. If fields begin to develop harmful conditions, we have protocols to pull the boards and evacuate the fish. We are researching to show that this practice benefits the fish. These issues are important when you are working with an endangered species.

A. Buttner: The California rice industry is known as the Environmental Crop due in part to the focus on providing habitat enhancement for wetland-dependent species in the Pacific Flyway. CRC decided to work on using rice fields to help salmon recovery after early scientific work by California Trout (CalTrout) and UC Davis demonstrated that the reactivation of the historic floodplain is a vital element to salmon recovery and may be suited to provide a high-quality habitat for salmon.

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This project changes the narrative around the role that productive agriculture has in achieving environmental outcomes. It creates a positive impact on the salmon, and a new opportunity for the rice industry to deliver environmental benefits alongside its crop. This is a powerful example of how agricultural groups, non-profits and companies like Syngenta can work on important challenges.

Ben Sacher Syngenta State Affairs Lead

Q. How do your organizations collaborate on the project?

A. Rypel: It takes a village. The CRC has had major success with conservation programs and with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They know the growers and their issues and economics. We identify critical science needs and design studies to answer key questions. This is important when we work through concerns from regulatory and resource agencies. UC Davis students are engaged in the work; we are training the next generation to solve problems that are collaborative, innovative and community-oriented. NRCS helped start this program and addresses concerns as they arise. Our agency partners are generous and patient — they help us see the regulatory side and provide insight into their stakeholder concerns and public mandates. Some agencies have their own scientists who help us. None of this is possible without partnerships with private industry — including the rice growers and sponsors like Syngenta. I give Syngenta a lot of credit for having the vision to see what we are trying to achieve. It is probably the most exciting science project I have ever been a part of, and the support of our project sponsors, especially Syngenta, continues to enable that.

A. Buttner: CRC is leading the overall effort with the centerpiece being two grants provided to CRC by the NRCS, which committed nearly $1.2 million. This funding requires 1:1 matching partner contributions in the form of in-kind technical assistance and/or financial contributions. This is where Syngenta’s commitment comes in as they contributed about half of these required matching funds or about 25% of the total project costs thus far. This major contribution, combined with others (see: Salmon.CalRice.org), enabled CRC to move forward.

Q. Why are stewardship projects, in general, important for organizations, universities and companies to get involved in?

A. Rypel: Humans have a major impact on ecosystems, and we need to accept that humans are mostly in charge. This leads to some interesting places, like thinking through the kinds of ecosystem services we value and exploring ways to harmonize farming with ecosystems. That’s the future, and the kind of work we should do more of. Having institutions with diverse missions collaborate toward these solutions is exciting, and I am proud to be part of it.

A. Buttner: We know the potential for rice to provide significant environmental benefits and be an important food source. Our growers participate by implementing stewardship practices on their farms. Often the costs are shared by the beneficiaries of these positive outcomes through the Farm Bill Conservation Title and other state and federal programs.

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Q. What do you hope to achieve at the end of this habitat restoration project?

A. Rypel: We are aiming for a conservation practice for NRCS that incentivizes rice growers to participate in salmon conservation. I hope we boost the salmon populations as they are some of the most interesting and important animals in California, and on Earth. They deserve saving.

A. Buttner: We hope to have a proven program option our growers can enroll in to provide a high-quality salmon habitat for struggling salmon runs in the Sacramento Valley. This would be a great complementary program to our many existing programs that offer management practices to benefit waterbirds, which are also highly reliant upon California rice fields.

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Impactful innovation doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and partnerships between industry and academia lead to big advances. That’s why Syngenta collaborates with universities to trial its new chemistries, study existing chemistries, talk with growers at field days, and, of course, hire excellent students produced by top ag universities.

Great Chemistry Together

John C. Palumbo, Ph.D., extension entomologist at the University of Arizona, has partnered with Syngenta for decades. “I have always looked at new chemistry for Syngenta, and I have been fortunate that they are always bringing new products along the way,” Palumbo says. “They completely support my research, they share their expertise, information, and provide as much as they can in the compounds, formulations and rates. I always feel in-the-know,” he says.

That partnership helped Syngenta with its development of products having new modes of action, such as the coming-soon PLINAZOLIN® technology, currently under registration review by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). For more than six years, Palumbo worked with the Syngenta team, including Elijah Meck, Ph.D., technical product lead at Syngenta, to help develop this technology.

“It will be a new mode of action in the foliar space that will control many different insects and mites and will help manage resistance,” Meck says.

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Meck writes trial protocols and works with local Syngenta R&D scientists who send the protocols to university partners to begin research — but that’s only the beginning. The trials rigorously test chemistries for the safety and efficacy of crops. “I will visit trial sites to get perspective on how our products are performing,” Meck says. “I ask a lot of questions: Did they observe anything new or unusual? How is the product performing in their view? How might it fit in the marketplace with other available products?”

Meck says partnerships between industry and universities also benefit growers in terms of the insights they gain about practical successes and challenges. “We want good relationships with universities and extension services and want their honesty about what our products can and can’t do. Growers are better served when they understand all these things.”

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I have always looked at new chemistry for Syngenta, and I have been fortunate that they are always bringing new products along the way. They completely support my research, they share their expertise, information, and provide as much as they can in the compounds, formulations and rates. I always feel in-the-know.

John C. Palumbo, Ph.D. Extension Entomologist, University of Arizona

Future Generations

Aaron Hager, Ph.D., extension weed scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, dedicates his time to helping farmers manage weeds, examining herbicide application programs in the field and advising masters- and Ph.D.-level students. He has professional relationships with some Syngenta employees dating from when they were in college together. In 2009, he received a question from one of them about a photo of a waterhemp plant uninjured from a postemergence herbicide. “I ended up visiting the field with Syngenta and agreed there was something going on there,” Hager says. “This became the first instance in the world of confirmed resistance to HPPD inhibitors. When UI weed scientists brought our data to Syngenta, they funded our work with the largest single grant in the history of the University of Illinois weed science program.”

Hager says the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been turning students into weed science professionals since the 1950s. His and his peers’ goal is to provide a well-rounded experience for students, preparing them for their future roles in the ag industry.

Seth Strom is a Syngenta field R&D scientist in Monticello, Illinois. Hager was Strom’s Ph.D. advisor and, along with his co-advisors, is who Strom credits with molding him into a well-rounded weed scientist. Strom’s dissertation was a collaborative project with Syngenta, but working in field trials sponsored by different agricultural companies gave him a broad view of the weed science world. Strom also met different people and saw their various scientific approaches at the professional meetings Hager encouraged him to attend. “I’m still applying that knowledge to my current role as a field rep,” Strom says. “That base was really helpful, and accepting a position with Syngenta was like going home for me.”

Syngenta agronomy service representative Kevin Scholl earned both a bachelor’s degree in ag business and a master’s degree in crop science/agronomy from the University of Illinois. Now Scholl uses information from university extension to guide his customers’ decisions about herbicide selection, application and weed resistance management. “They’re a really valuable resource for the state and our customers,” Scholl says.

Supportive Partners

Syngenta finds another opportunity for university collaboration through funding endowments such as the Janis McFarland CERSA Internship Endowment at North Carolina State University. The endowment supports undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), helping them gain real-world internship experience in the crop science regulatory field.

There’s no shortage of partnership opportunities, and no limit on how they impact future agricultural innovations.