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Agriculture

​​​​agriculture.jpgA diverse array of career opportunities can be found within the Agriculture​ sector. Locally, job prospects exist in fields ranging from animal science and livestock management, to cash crop production and agri-business management, to agricultural equipment sales and service. Graduates of the Specialist High Skills Major Program in Agriculture possess the knowledge and skills to pursue any number of these opportunities.

The Agriculture Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program provides students with the opportunity to specialize their academic studies, earn certifications and qualifications, and plan their career pathway while they are still in high school. The SHSM Program involves a number of components that provide students with a better understanding of the Agriculture industry, the opportunities that it offers, and the skills needed for success within the sector.  

​The Agriculture SHSM Program consists of five required components:​

1. Bundled Cre​dits

Students will complete nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits related to their sector of interest, some of which are supplemented with contextualized learning activities (CLA) that frame the subject of study within the context of the Agriculture sector. ​

​Credits

​​Apprenticeship 

(Grades 11-12)

​College (Grades 11-12)

​University (Grades 11-12)

​Workplace (Grades 11-12)

​Major Credits Including at least one Grade 11 and one Grade 12 credit 

​4 

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​4

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​4

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​4

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​English (Including a CLA)

​1

​1

​1

​1

​Mathematics (Including a CLA)

​1

​1

​1

​1

​Business or Science (Including a CLA) 

​1

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​1

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​1

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​1

One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit

​Co-Operative Education​

​2

​2

​2

​2


2. Certification and Training​

​​Three Compulsory Certifications ​ ​

​Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – Includes AED 

​Standard First Aid 

​Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System – Generic ​

​​Three Elective Certifications ​ ​ ​

​Animal First Aid 

​Basic Electrical Safety 

​Chainsaw Safety 

​Compass/Map/GPS 

​Customer Service

​Equipment Operation Safety 

​Fundamentals of the Combine – Level One 

​GPS in Farming

​Grain Grading 

​Hazardous Atmospheres and Confined Spaces

​Herbicide and Pesticide 

​Hydraulics – Basic 

​Infection Control 

​Large Animal Handling 

​Leadership Skills

​Lift Truck Safety

​Livestock Medicine ​

​Livestock Production

​Lockout / Tagout

​Nutrient Management ​

​Personal Protective Equipment – Agriculture 

​Principles of Drainage

​Safe Lifting

​Sector-Specific Vehicle Operation and Safety​

​​Seed Saving

​Small Engines Maintenance

​Soil Testing Techniques

​Theory of Combine Settings and Adjustments – Level Two

​Tractors and Other Self-Propelled Equipment

​Transgenic Plant Identification

​Vehicle Lift Safety

​Weed and Pest Identification

​Working at Heights​


3. Career Exploration

Students will explore opportunities in their chosen sector through experiential learning and career exploration activities (field trips, guest speaking engagements, job shadowing). 

​4. Reach Ahead Experiences

Students will participate in experiences aligned with the student’s post-secondary plans. 

5. Sector-Partnered Experience

Students will complete a sector-partnered contextualized learning experience.

SHSM Program Recognition

  • Students who successfully complete a SHSM program receive:

  • An OSSD designated with an embossed red seal;

  • A SHSM record documenting their certification/training achievements;

  • Formal recognition on their Ontario School Transcript.  

Career Pathways

The Agriculture SHSM Program may be right for you if you are interested in careers similar to the following:​

​​Apprenticeship

​College

​Arborist
Blacksmith
Farm Equipment Technician
Fruit Grower
Horse Groom
Livestock Herdsperson
Parts Person  

​Agriculture Equipment Salesperson
Customer Support Representative
Farmer and Farm Manager
Greenhouse Technician
Technical Sales Specialist
Veterinary Assistant
Winery and Viticulture Technician  

​University

​Workplace

​Agricultural Business Consultant
Agricultural Inspector
Agronomist
Animal Scientist
Bio-Resource Management Specialist 
Soil Scientist
Veterinarian

​General Farm Worker
Greenhouse Worker
Harvesting Labourer
Mechanic Assistant
Pet Groomer and Animal Care Worker
Specialized Livestock Worker

For more information about the Agriculture SHSM program, contact your high school Guidance Counsellor.