Describe and illustrate plant structures and their purposes as they relate to crop production.
Differentiate between male and female reproductive structures in plants and animals and discuss their importance.
Engage in an argument from evidence to prove that biological and behavioral factors influence reproductive success in organisms.
Examples: pheromones, hormones, coloration, mating rituals
Explain how agriculturalists manipulate genetics to ensure reproductive success in plants and animals.
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about advancements in genetic technology and how genetics influence agricultural production.
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain how agricultural crops and animals are classified by physical characteristics, organized into levels of taxonomy, and identified by binomial nomenclature.
Examine and interpret data to assess plant and animal adaptations that influence production in agriculture.
Investigate and explain how agricultural crops and animals reflect diversity or lack of diversity in their ecosystems.
Compare and contrast cultivated croplands, pastures, and natural ecosystems to determine biodiversity within each setting.
Construct an explanation of the interdependence of organisms within ecosystems.
Analyze and critique changes in ecosystems and their populations caused by agricultural processes.
Incorporate safety procedures in handling, operating, and maintaining equipment; utilizing materials and protective equipment; maintaining a safe work area; and handling hazardous materials and forces.
Demonstrate effective workplace and employability skills, including communication, awareness of diversity, positive work ethic, problem-solving, time management, and teamwork.
Explore the range of careers available in the field, investigate their educational requirements, and demonstrate job-seeking skills including resume-writing and interviewing.
Demonstrate digital literacy by using digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically.
Participate in a Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) to increase knowledge and skills and to enhance leadership and teamwork.
Participate in Supervised Agricultural Experiences and/or work-based, experiential, and service learning.
Gather and analyze authoritative information about employment trends in agricultural engineering and present findings in written or graphic form.
Create an evidence-based explanation of ways engineering applications of physics are used to solve issues associated with production agriculture.
Example: agriculture technology, agriculture facilities, agriculture equipment, engines, circuits, voltage, levers, pulleys, wheel and axles, inclined planes, belts driven systems, precision agriculture
Apply the scientific method in deriving engineering solutions for current agriculture issues.
Design a biosystems engineering plan to convert biological materials, including agriculture waste, to useful products.
Using components of physics, design and assemble a model of a mechanism to aid in harvesting or processing agricultural products.
Examples: simple machines, crop harvesters, agriculture conveyor systems, animal and plant processors
Construct an explanation describing the interactions of the major biological principles used within agriculture, biosystems, and engineering.
Examples: genetic engineering, GMO, disease diagnosis, nanotechnology, biofuels, biofertilizers, kinetics, biocatalysts, biomechanics, mass and heat transfer
Investigate, analyze, and design an engineering solution to common biological issues affecting production agriculture.
Design a project plan for an agricultural engineering project, outlining a strategy for working within a given set of parameters, constraints, and resources.
Examples: budget, timeline, safety considerations, strategies to minimize adverse environmental impacts
Identify various Geographic Information System and Global Positioning System applications and explain their uses in precision agriculture.
Examples: precision agriculture management zones, crop water and drought areas, crop imaging, land correlation to crop yields, yield map cleaning and management, drainage analysis and tile mapping, crop data analysis, soil darkness mapping, suitability modeling, and slope angle and accuracy
Use data from geographic information systems to make recommendations for use, management, development, and equipment for a rural plot and an urban plot of land, providing graphic and textual evidence to support each recommendation.
Analyze, map, and disseminate data from geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) portraying a drainage map of a specified region.
Cite specific evidence from findings of mapping systems.
Propose changes to drainage and irrigation systems based on data obtained from geographic information systems and global positioning systems.
Justify recommendations against accepted soil erosion control practices based on data obtained from geographic information systems and global positioning systems.
Describe the relationships between concepts of hydrostatics, kinematics, and dynamics of fluid flows as they are applied in agricultural industry irrigation systems.
Research agricultural buildings and facilities that meet industry benchmarks for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Collect observations on the costs and benefits of energy efficient and environmentally sustainable structures and make recommendations to conserve energy and decrease operational cost, developing claim(s) with specific evidence from research.
Create a detailed construction plan for an agricultural facility suitable for a designated site, using natural systems and renewable energy where possible.
Examples: plans for conserving energy, material resources, and environmental impact
