SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – They call themselves C2A3, or Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement. They’re a group of nine, two-year colleges in five states that offer various studies in agriculture.

The C2A3 collaboration was formed to provide more ongoing education, training and demonstration projects for future farm producers and agricultural service providers to improve soil health, long-term productivity, resilience and sustainability. All C2A3 member institutions have college farms where they can implement conservation practices to educate and inform students and producers.

Clark State College in Springfield, a founding member of the C2A3, recently announced a $9 million initiative with the USDA to create a national agriculture center for two-year colleges and connect more students to those career paths.

Through this new initiative, Clark State and the other eight schools will have access to more resources and get help in building partnerships with local, state and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices. As part of the agreement, C2A3 will also become a national hub for two-year agriculture education to develop programming and curriculum that can be replicated across the country.

The other C2A3 schools are Illinois Central College (East Peoria, Ill.); Ivy Tech Community College (Lafayette, Ind.); Richland Community College (Decatur, Ill.); Northeast Iowa Community College (Calmar, Iowa); Lake Area Technical College (Watertown, S.D.); Northcentral Technical College (Wausau, Wis.); Central Lakes College (Staples, Minn.) and Northeast Community College (Norfolk, Neb.).

“C2A3 schools will increase student interest in agriculture, natural resources and conservation, with a focus on preparing students for USDA jobs,” said Astrid Martinez, director of the Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance division with NRCS. “This is an important step in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

Clark State offers certificates and associate degree programs in precision agriculture and precision agriculture technician. The programs prepare students for careers such as farm operators, agriculture engineers, irrigation technicians and agronomists by covering essential topics like soil science and fertility, pests, yield mapping, remote sensing, geographic information and data analysis. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to identify nutrient deficiencies, develop agricultural business plans and analyze data from precision agriculture platforms.

“As agriculture increasingly relies on technology, the demand for professionals skilled in implementing geospatial technologies like GPS and GIS continues to grow,” said Arly Drake, associate professor of agriculture at Clark State. “Clark State’s precision agriculture program provides these critical skills, promoting efficient resource use and contributing to sustainable farming practices.

“What makes precision agriculture different from agriculture is the capability to gather information on a specific plant or animal and create the best plan for their success based on data and research. With precision mapping, a soil test map, a yield map, a drainage map and a topography map can all be placed accurately using GPS coordinates. Using this data, producers can develop fertilizer, plant population, pest control and equipment recommendations for each part of the field.”

Proposed projects as part of the agreement include artificial intelligence and precision livestock, crop drainage and irrigation management, soil quality, field and pasture renovation and cover crops, water quality, pond and wetland management, silvopasture management, and urban agriculture.

The C2A3 consortium will also create student internship and leadership opportunities to network with USDA employees. Additionally, it will cover travel expenses for faculty and students to attend an annual conference, allowing them to stay at the forefront of practical experiences and knowledge.

“The rapid growth of technology in agriculture requires colleges to be nimble and respond quickly to changes within the industry,” said Tracy Kruse, C2A3 executive director. “This alliance will support colleges and provide them with the tools to rapidly respond to the workforce needs within agriculture.”

Drake agreed, adding that agriculture is quickly growing and adopting new technologies each year.

“Agriculture has always been technology based, but it is quickly growing and adopting new technologies each year,” Drake said. “Clark State is proud to be at the cutting edge of initiatives that support innovation in farming and allow us to cultivate a sustainable future for agriculture in Ohio and beyond. By using real-life examples of conservation in classroom and land labs in our program, students can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application and be well-prepared for careers in agriculture.”

Dr. Adam Parrillo, dean of business and applied technologies at Clark State, said the agriculture consortium is important so community colleges across the Midwest can align efforts for greater recognition of their unique situation in the educational landscape.

“Each institution brings a different mixture of capabilities and capacities which enhances the opportunities for intellectual growth,” Parrillo said. “Clark State gets to put our institution on display and celebrate our region from an ag perspective.”