A Review on Agricultural Academic Safety and Biosecurity Curriculum Standards

Abstract

<b><sc>Abstract.</sc></b> This study compares select state and The National Council for Agricultural Education (AFNR) Agricultural Education standards with a specific focus on both agricultural safety and agricultural biosecurity. The overall aim of this study is to identify shortfalls or inconsistencies in education. Agricultural education programs have typically included outcomes and objectives that are expected for students across competencies or standards. These competencies are usually designed with leadership qualities and innovation for their success and vary in the content. Some areas notably more absent in agricultural safety include standards in agricultural biosecurity. External education programs, like FFA and 4-H, have aided in a greater understanding of leadership and agricultural topics, but additional training can grow off of these qualities to bring a sense of leadership into health and safety. The state standards that were reviewed included five highly engaged agricultural producing states, California, Indiana, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, along with the national standards from AFNR. The academic agricultural safety standards fluctuated from state to state and had little consistency, even in some of the most agriculturally involved states. AFRN and Wisconsin had agricultural safety standards which constituted around 25% of the overall agricultural standards; however, in most other states, the overall agricultural safety standards fall well below 25% of overall agricultural standards. There remains a need for effective agricultural safety and health youth training and competencies that could be administered with the use of extension programs or in agricultural classrooms to meet this gap in education.