Agriculture Courses
Designed for Latino orchard employees at a supervisory level. Includes basic instruction
in Spanish emphasizing technical terminology in English in many facets of tree fruit
production; basic math, practice in reading, writing, speaking and listening in English
based in horticultural topics; and presentations of subjects concerning everyday life
and citizenship.
Designed for Latino employees who have satisfied all the requirements of the first-year
program (AGRI 005). Offers in-depth instruction in tree fruit production, applied
English terminology and math. Includes presentations of subjects concerning everyday
life and citizenship. Prerequisite: AGRI 005 or instructor's signature.
Intensive IPM program prepares Latino orchard employees as pest management scouts.
Instruction, mostly in Spanish, emphasizes English terminology. Includes study of
pests, field sampling techniques, pest management basics and record keeping. Includes
basic math, reading, writing, speaking and listening in English, and discussion of
everyday life and citizenship.
Taught in Spanish, this course introduces the principles and practices of farm management,
including goal setting, developing a record-keeping system, cash flow, farm financial
statements, balance sheets, budgets, personnel management, laws and regulations, legal
forms, and food safety. Prerequisites: basic command of the English language.
Taught in Spanish, this course introduces the production and management of wine grapes
and their juices. Includes plant physiology, canopy management, soils, irrigation,
plant nutrition, thinning, harvest, storage, marketing and vineyard financial management.
Prerequisites: basic command of English language.
Taught in Spanish. Offers more in-depth information about the production systems and
management of wine grapes and their juices. Includes site selection and vineyard establishment,
soils, pests and irrigation management, human resources, vineyard business plan, marketing
and whole farm ecosystems. Prerequisites: basic command of English language.
Intensive technical instruction to prepare Latino vineyard employees as pest management
scouts and to introduce them to basic vineyard economics and management. Instruction
is mostly in Spanish, emphasizing terminology in English. The purpose of this course
is to prepare students for mid-management and management positions.
Introduction to modern agricultural industries, history, management philosophies,
and challenges. Course topics include: food crop production, sustainable resource
management, global food demands, and economics. Students will be provided an opportunity
to research and explore their career interests and create a strategy for their professional
future in agriculture.
Introduction and exploration of the theory and practice of safe operation, maintenance,
service and repair of most small engines for agricultural applications. Instruction
will also include employment and careers in agricultural mechanics.
Introduction to horticulture studies. Instruction includes: its history and philosophy
and core topics in pomology, olericulture, floriculture, viticulture, propagation,
growing systems management and strategies. Course will provide students the necessary
skills and experiences to explore meaningful career paths in horticulture.
This course provides hands-on opportunities and experiences through organized class
activities and projects for fall agricultural practices including: greenhouses, gardens,
orchards, vineyards and native landscapes. Ag Labs I, II, and III can be taken in
any order.
This course provides hands-on opportunities and experiences through organized class
activities and projects for winter agricultural practices including: greenhouses,
gardens, orchards, vineyards and native landscapes. Ag Labs I, II, and III can be
taken in any order.
This course provides hands-on opportunities and experiences through organized class
activities and projects for spring agricultural practices including: greenhouses,
gardens, orchards, vineyards and native landscapes. Ag Labs I, II, and III can be
taken in any order.
Explores the significant aspects of modern agricultural systems, mechanization and
sustainable technology industries. Instruction will include such topics as cropping
and food processing, power and delivery, mechanics, maintenance and repair, soil,
water, air conservation and employment and careers in agricultural technologies and
related industries.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the agricultural disciplines of the plant
science world. Instruction includes plant classification, plant anatomy, physiology,
and propagation; the interactions of soil, water and temperature; and dynamic plant
science subjects such as genetic engineering and biotechnology.
This course is designed to introduce students to soil science, the formation of soils,
its classification, physical and chemical properties, soil fertility, life in the
soil and plant nutrition. Instruction will introduce students to the impact healthy
soils have on plant and animal communities and the ecosystems of our state.
Schedule and participate in industry-related activities that enhance leadership capabilities.
With guidance from an instructor, students develop a written plan outlining the anticipated
leadership experiences and complete a portfolio detailing the completed experiences
with a self-assessment of the leadership qualities gained. Out-of-pocket fees/expenses
may be required. Prerequisites: instructor's signature.
Classification, morphology, anatomy, growth and development, ecology and management
of arthropod, weed, disease and vertebrate pests and their natural enemies. History
of pest management that includes development of IPM strategies and tactics and how
they are utilized in ecologically-based pest management programs.
Lecture and lab oriented class emphasizing the use of integrated pest management (IPM)
in horticulture situations of the Pacific Northwest. Identification and biology of
insects, mites, diseases, and weed pests that affect plants. Hands-on experience with
current methods for monitoring and managing major pests.
Develops an understanding of basic plant morphology and physiology emphasizing horticultural
science and fruit tree crops. Topics include form and function of plants, plant metabolism,
plant growth and development, reproduction, techniques of fruit tree improvement,
and plant/environment interaction.
Introduction to the horticultural principles and practices used in deciduous tree
fruit production and orchard management. Topics include cultivars, root stocks, climate
and environment, orchard systems, orchard establishment, pruning and training, flowering,
pollination, fruit set, fruit growth and thinning, fruit maturation, harvest and storage,
hardiness, and acclimation.
Introduction to basic concepts of soil science, plant nutrition and water management.
Topics include soil formation and development, soil structure and composition, physical
properties of soils, soils mineralogy, soil chemistry, soil fertility, fertilizers,
irrigation management, and plant, soil and water relationships.
In-depth studies of principles and practices of deciduous tree fruit production in
the Northwest, including: fruit maturation and ripening, indexes of maturity, harvesting,
fruit tree acclimation, hardiness, fruit anatomy, cultivar identification, rodent
control, and orchard floor management.
Principles and practices of deciduous tree fruit production in the Northwest, including
pruning, formation and renovation of bearing trees, care of non-bearing trees, rootstocks,
inter-stems, dwarf fruit trees, tree structure, growth, orchard systems, orchard establishment
in new and old sites.
In-depth studies of principles and practices of deciduous tree fruit production in
the Northwest. Includes flower bud initiation and development, pollination, fertilization,
pollinizers, fruit set and development, thinning and alternate bearing, frost control,
fruit tree propagation, and summer pruning.
In this course, learn to grow and harvest vegetables, fruits and herbs organically.
Learn to prepare and sell produce to local organic markets. Prerequisites: AGRI 261
and AGRI 263 recommended.
In-depth study of organic plant nutrition. Emphasis will be on how essential nutrients
affect plant growth and development and food production, including the inter-relationships
between organic nutrients and soil fertility. Composting and soil building practices
will be emphasized. Prerequisites: AGRI 261 recommended.
Examination of social, economical and ecological consequences of the modern, industrial
agriculture paradigm. Topics include history of agriculture, worldviews, the sustainability
concept, alternative agriculture systems, world food systems, agro ecology, ecological
economics, biotechnology, local food systems and the geography of hunger.
Intended to continue providing authentic experiences in the world of work by applying
knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a working environment. An expanded
portfolio of learned experiences will document the specific abilities gained through
working cooperatively in a business. Variable credit. Prerequisites: instructor's
permission.