ASM graduates manage people, money, and machines. They excel at management, marketing, and customer service by applying their knowledge of agri-production and agri-processing technology, business management, communications and computer skills. Positions filled by ASM graduates are those that bridge the gap between engineers and the users of engineered systems. The program is designed for students whose interests lie in the application, operation, and management of the equipment (power & machinery), natural resources (soil & water), or commodity handling and processing elements of the agricultural industry. Students majoring in ASM often also obtain a minor in business or another discipline.

     The assets of physical systems used in the production and processing of agricultural products are estimated to be over $400 billion. The value of the manufactured inputs delivered annually to support production and on-farm processing is $22 billion. Thousands of companies and agencies perform a wide range of services in delivering these physically-oriented inputs to nearly two million farms and ranches and thousands of processing facilities which comprise the agricultural production and processing system. These companies and agencies require employees who can respond to changing customer needs.