TV and movies often portray farming as a quiet and simple life: milking cows, feeding chickens, and tending to neat rows of vegetables planted by hand.<\/p>
But that romantic vision couldn\u2019t be further from reality: Today\u2019s agriculture industry is meticulous, high-risk and intimately tied to global economics and politics<\/a>. In a word, it\u2019s complicated.<\/p> The farming industry is rapidly evolving to address 21st century challenges like a booming population and climate change. And with the onset of gene editing, drones<\/a> and other high-tech solutions offering big opportunities, tomorrow\u2019s agricultural professionals are guaranteed to look nothing like they do today.<\/p> No one knows exactly how agriculture will change in the next century \u2014 some researchers are betting on bugs<\/a> as future crops! The best way to adapt to change is to be well prepared for the field, but not all schools are on the cutting edge of the new green revolution.<\/p> When choosing among agriculture programs, however, prospective students need to look beyond innovation. They must also consider a host of other factors, such as affordability, the level of personal attention from instructors and career potential.<\/p> To help future leaders of agriculture make the right decision, LawnStarter compared 76 colleges and universities with agricultural sciences programs across 12 key factors, demonstrating their selectivity, academic quality and value for money.<\/p> Which schools will grow the next generation of ag professionals to keep the rest of us well fed and growing, too? Read on for the results.<\/p> Table of Contents<\/h3>