Small Farmer Training Program

pg电子官网状态's Small Farmer Training Program will prepare students to start and operate their own farms or serve as a farm manager of existing farms. Also for those interested in working in agriculture, it will offer a better understanding of farm operations to work in non-profits or farmer assistance and promotion organizations.

Click Here to 注册 for the Small Farmer Training Program

Topics included in curriculum:

• Soil and Fertility Management (soil prep and management to promote long term soil 健康)
• Vegetable and Fruit Production (Beginning with cole crops then progressing to spring and summer fruits and vegetables and closing out the season with cover crops)
• Herb Production (Herbs primarily for culinary purposes)
• Crop Planning and Scheduling (when to plant certain and how to get multiple crops with successive planting)
• Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling and Food Safety (Food safety standards specifically that apply to farms, Food Safety Modernization Act)
• Transplant Production (How to produce plants to be used on farm)
• High Tunnel Production (Utilizing solar heat to extend the growing season)
• Direct and Wholesale Marketing (How to market fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, restaurant and wholesale distributors)
• Developing a 业务 Plan (Create a layout of how the farm will operate, startup cost, products to be produced, where sales will occur)
• Enterprise Budgeting (A look into individual crops, cost to produce, potential profit, risk vs profit analysis)
• Equipment Usage and Maintenance (How to properly maintain and use common equipment 用于农场)
• Pest Management (Insect, Weed, Fungus)
• Chemical Handling and Application (Equipment Calibration, chemical mixing and proper 应用程序)
• Irrigation (Drip irrigation systems, Fertilizer injection and overhead watering with 水卷)
• Crop Rotations (Proper crop rotation to lower disease and pest pressure and to improve soil quality through crop selections)
• Farm Specific Financials (Farm specific loan programs and financing options for farms)

Topics will be covered in multiple ways:

• 讲座
• 研究
• 亲自动手的
• 农场参观
• 行业 Expert Presentations
• One on One Instruction
• Attending Area Agriculture Informational Meetings

谁应该参加??

• High School graduates looking to begin farming
• Those seeking a second career
• Gardeners looking for more in-depth program
• Those looking to create a hobby farm
• Those who want a different career path and work for themselves
• Anyone interested in a better understanding of fruit and vegetable production

时间:
Program will run spring to fall to allow program participants to take part in a complete growing season from soil preparation to winter crops on the pg电子官网状态 Farm.

类格式:
Class will be offered both as a traditional classroom lecture and lab time during the day and in a hybrid format, with lectures placed online and labs available on campus in the evening in order to fit most anyone's schedule.

完成后:
After completing the course, assessments are can be taken to receive college credit hours that can be applied toward an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Agriculture/Horticulture.