The ULM Agribusiness Program is dedicated to training students for productive and successful careers in the US Food and Fiber Industry.
Our program is uniquely situated to provide our students with the training in business that is crucial for success in today’s agriculture Industry. ULM’s Agribusiness Program truly puts the business in Agribusiness. Our students take courses in traditional agribusiness areas such as commodities marketing, farm management, and agricultural economics, as well as several business courses taught by ULM’s renown College of Business faculty. If you are ready to earn a degree that will make you stand out from the pack, ULM’s Agribusiness Program is the right choice for you.
Agribusiness involves the production, commercial processing, and marketing of food and fiber products. Because this food and fiber system accounts for over 22% of our nation's economic output and 20% of the total U.S. work force, the agriculturalist of tomorrow must be knowledgeable in a diversity of disciplines in order to meet the challenges facing the agricultural industry. As an Agribusiness graduate, you will have acquired knowledge in marketing, finance, management, agricultural production and processing methods, international trade, environmental aspects, technological improvements, consumer preferences, and demographic changes. Each one of these areas has opportunities for employment either locally or nationally/internationally.
Making sure your program is the right financial investment is an important part of the search process.
COST & FINANCINGThe ULM Agribusiness Program strongly encourages students to participate in internships as they are completing their education. Internships provide students the opportunity to explore different career options while they are still in school. Additionally, they provide students with valuable experience that will make them more marketable to employers. In past year, approximately 40% of the students in the Agribusiness program have participated in an internship. It is very common for students to receive job offers from the firms they intern with.
Additionally, through the Agribusiness Program’s location in the College of Business, students are able to earn college credit hours while they are participating in an internship experience. This is a great advantage for students as it allows them to gain valuable work experience and complete the requirements for their degree at the same time.
Some of the companies our students have interned with include:
• Syngenta
• Winnfield Solutions
• Helena Chemical
• Delta Bank
• Weevil Crop Consulting Inc.
• Black Gold Farms
• Goldmine Plantation
• The LSU Ag Center
• Knight Consulting Services
• The Richland Parish Tax Assessor’s Office
Additionally, many of our students play instrumental roles in their family farms. Furthermore, many of our students begin to operate their own farming enterprises while they are pursuing their education.
Most of the faculty members in the program have national and international experience that helps them bring a global perspective to the class. Students have the opportunity to do research in labs and in the field.
Take part in hands-on learning through experiential learning opportunities using agricultural facilities to complement coursework.
With a relatively small faculty, and a low student-to-teacher ratio, students are guaranteed individualized attention.
Develop relationships with Agribusiness professionals and determine a specific area of focus within agribusiness.
ULM’s Agribusiness Program is home to a chapter of the Delta Tau Alpha National Honors Society. Delta Tau Alpha is an honors society for students majoring in agriculture at non-land grant institutions. DTA stands for Dedicated to Agriculture, the organization’s mission is to “recognize scholarship and leadership in agriculture.”
According to the national DTA Organization, “The Honor Society of Delta Tau Alpha (DTA) promotes and recognizes scholarship and leadership accomplishments of agricultural students while emphasizing character development, enhancing undergraduate preparation for professional positions, and joining with other agricultural student’s organizations in the promotion of agriculture.”
Additionally, the national organization also states the purposes of DTA are:
1) To promote and recognize high standards of scholarship, leadership, and character among agricultural students.
2) To encourage and foster high ethical standards of agriculture and professional positions held by agricultural students.
3) To band together a group of outstanding students who by scholastic accomplishment, service, and upholding high character standards have been recognized for these traits and are capable of recognizing these traits in others. 4) To promote the profession of agriculture.
5) To render service and to cooperate with the student bodies and the agricultural divisions of the respective institutions.
ULM’s DTA chapter takes the mission of the national organization to heart. Our members promote agriculture at a variety of events on and off campus. Our chapter is actively involved in many social activities such as tailgating and our annual holiday party. The group often takes trips to attend quiz bowls and the National DTA convention. This is a wonderful organization for the best and brightest students in the Agribusiness program.
With a degree in agribusiness, students can pursue the following careers:
• Farm Management
• Chemical and Seed Sales
• Banking and Finance
• Commodities Marketing
• Graduate School
• Consulting
• Crop Protection/Production
• Natural Resources Management
• USDA positions
• Natural Resources Conservation Service positions
• Risk Management
• Education
• Agriculture policy
• Agricultural Law
• Cattle and grain buying
• Grain and Cotton merchandising
The Agribusiness curriculum has recently been through a redesign to incorporate additional courses in agronomic areas. This redesign was developed with members of ULM agribusiness steering committee. This committee is composed of leaders from various agribusiness’ in the area. Follow the link below to see which courses you will be taking to earn your degree. (Degree Plan)
Agribusiness faculty continually look for ways to engage our students outside of the classroom. We believe that this is a special time in a student’s life and to enjoy the offerings of the University as well as experiences gained from working jointly with members of the Agribusiness community is important.
Encouraging students to participate in field experiences such as internships, agricultural field days, AgExpo, national conferences and research projects is essential to providing each student the opportunity to determine which area of Agribusiness is right for them. Students may also be invited to become members of the Agribusiness Honor Society, Delta Tau Alpha, which helps to develop a national network of Agribusiness professionals.
There are many opportunities available for Agribusiness students to receive scholarships while they complete their education. The Agribusiness program awards over $10,000 per year to students in the program. Additionally, there are other scholarships available from outside sources for students that are majoring in Agribusiness.
ULM Foundation Scholarships:
Agriculture Scholarships from Outside Groups:
Additionally, there are more than 1800 scholarships available for FFA members wishing to major in agriculture. More information can be found here.