HORT 1100 Syllabus

Subject Code

HORT

Course Number

1100

Course Title

Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture

Prerequisites

Provisional admission

Corequisites

Terms Offered

Credit Hours

Course Description

This course introduces the fundamentals of small scale agriculture with a sustainable approach. The course emphasizes an industry overview, history and foundation of sustainable practices, management and fertility of soils, pest management, and economic and marketing theory and practices.

Course Outcomes

Management and Fertility of Soils

  • Discuss the soil food web.
  • Discuss bacterial-based compost and soil.
  • Discuss fungal-based compost and soil.
  • Discuss the importance of microorganisms in a sustainable system.
  • Describe different methods of composting.
  • Explant the purpose of soil sampling.
  • List the steps for collecting and submitting soil samples for testing.
  • Describe methods for improving soil structure.
  • Describe the use of cover crops in soil building.

Weed Management

  • Identify weed control methods.
  • Define cover crops living mulches, catch crops, and forage crops.
  • Explain the importance of cover crops living mulches, catch crops, and forage crops.
  • Identify warm importance of cover crops living mulches, catch crops, and forage crops.
  • Identify cool importance of cover crops living mulches, catch crops, and forage crops.
  • Explain incorporating cover crops into production crops.
  • Discuss limitations of cover crops.

Insect and Disease Management

  • Compare and Contrast traditional insect and disease control systems to sustainable systems.
  • List components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
  • Identify pre-planting and prevention strategies.
  • Describe methods of scouting for pests.
  • Correctly identify the pest and list potential remedies.
  • List 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines of pest and disease defense.
  • Evaluate timing strategies to control insects and disease.

Sustainable Agriculture Economic and Marketing Theory and Practices

  • Discuss planning, budgets, and recordkeeping.
  • Describe case studies and related business plans.
  • Develop a plan for a market farm.
  • Discuss direct markets, marketing methods, and strategies.
  • Discuss Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA), Farmer's Markets, internet marketing, Farm to Table.
  • Examine alternative marketing methods.
  • Assess an appropriate mix of marketing tools for the small farmer.
  • Identify opportunities in agri-tourism.