The School of Food and Agriculture at the University of Maine offers a Bachelor of Science degree in sustainable agriculture that provides students with the scientific background and hands-on experience to promote farming practices that are both ecologically and economically sound. The program is designed for students interested in working in the growing field of ecologically-based agriculture in areas of production, research, and education. The B.S. degree in sustainable agriculture can also be used as preparation for postgraduate study in a variety of disciplines.The program emphasizes: how to build soil tilth and fertility through rotations, multiple cropping and nutrient recycling; how to protect water quality and human health by decreasing the need to use synthetic agrochemicals; how to manage crop pests and livestock diseases with integrated, ecologically sound strategies; how to create a strong, diversified agriculture that is stable through market and weather fluctuations.