Thursday, December 6, 2012

Online Courses


As the farm is winding down for the winter, you may be looking for some eduational experiences.  Here are a few from eXtension.org.

The "Integrated Pest Management for Organic Crops" curriculum was developed with support from the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program (PDP), with Clemson University as the Lead Institution. The project goal is to incorporate of principles and practices of sustainable agriculture in training provided to agricultural professionals in the Southern Region.
Specific objectives are:
1.     Create 8-12 high quality, contemporary educational products to deliver state of the art knowledge about sustainable agriculture in the Southern Region
2.     Integrate these products into the overall Extension education system in the Southern Region through the Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project (CECP) and Southern SARE
For information contact Dr. Geoff Zehnder - Professor of Entomology and Coordinator IPM and Sustainable Agriculture Programs, Clemson University.  ENROLL in this course.

Strategic Farm/Ranch Business Planning and Marketing is a self-directed course designed to help agricultural professionals work effectively with their clients and develop research and education programs that address agricultural sustainability. This course is the second in a series that is aimed at:
o   helping clients critically assess their future
o   walking clients through the goal setting process
o   finding resources to help clients evaluate new ideas
o   providing guidance to clients on developing business and marketing plans
o   fostering critical thinking and offer risk management advice
o   helping clients prepare to meet with lenders to seek financing alternatives
o   advising about farm transfer and retirement options
o   promoting an appreciation of sustainable farm business management principles
For more information contact David Chaney, DEC Education Services, at chaneyd@comcast.net; or Kim Kroll, Associate Director USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, at assoc_dir@sare.orgENROLL in this course.

Sustainable Agriculture: Basic Principles and Concept Overview is a self-directed course designed to help agricultural professionals work effectively with their clients and develop research and education programs that address agricultural sustainability. This course is the first in a series that is aimed at helping you answer these questions:
o   What is sustainable agriculture?
o   What does it mean for farmers, ranchers and communities?
o   How does it relate to my role as an educator or researcher?
For more information contact David Chaney, DEC Education Services, at chaneyd@comcast.net; or Kim Kroll, Associate Director USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, at assoc_dir@sare.orgENROLL in this course.

o   Course Content Specialists: Alice Formiga
Organic Seed Production is a self-directed course designed for producers with some seed production experience, seed industry professionals, and extension professionals. This course will provide practical field-based knowledge and present current research on organic seed production practices. Topics covered: This course will cover the fundamentals of seed production for onions, beets and chard, brassicas, carrots, and wet seeded crops. It will also cover climatic requirements for seed crops, important diseases, and seed quality. For more information contact Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance, at jared@seedalliance.org
Course Subject Matter Specialists
o   Jodi Lew-Smith, High Mowing Seeds: Seed Diseases
o   John Navazio, Organic Seed Alliance: Which Crops for Your Climate, Beets and Chard, Carrots
o   Joel Reiten, Seeds of Change: Onions, Brassicas, Seed Quality
o   Don Tipping, Siskiyou Seeds: Lettuce, Wet Seeded Crops
o   Shelly Solomon, Leaping Frog Films: Videographer
o   Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance: Online Tutorial Developer

Cost: $25.00
A Novel Strategy for Soil-borne Disease Management: Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation is a self-directed course designed for organic producers, extension educators, researchers and ag professionals who would like to apply for one CCA credit by watching a 75-minute eOrganic webinar recording followed by an exam and questionnaire. Participants in this course will learn about recent research from Carol Shennan of the University of California-Santa Cruz and David Butler of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, about how to perform anaerobic soil disinfestation and its potential for use in soil-borne disease management. When you register, you will be able to access the course for 48 hours. For more information contact Alice Formiga with Oregon State University at formigaa@hort.oregonstate.edu
Course Subject Matter Specialists
Carol Shennan
David Butler
o   Teacher: Ricky Yeargan
Contacts:
o   Kaitlyn McClelland kmcclelland@uky.edu
o   Josh Renaker jrenaker17@uky.edu
o   Ricky Yeargan ricky.yeargan@uky.edu
ENROLL in this course.
This module will provide a link that takes you to the beef website for the University of Nebraka-Lincoln. At this website you will take a closer look at the endocrinology and physiology of the estrous cycle of beef cattle. There are also illustrations to help aid in the learning of these areas.
ENROLL in this course.
o   Teacher: Steven Newman
Introduction to Small Scale Commercial Greenhouse Production is a blended course designed for county extension agents and new greenhouse professionals. Participants to the course will enhanced their knowledge base of starting and operating a commercial greenhouse enterprise. Certificates of completion will be provided. For more information or to enroll contact Steven Newman, with Colorado State University Extension, at Steven.Newman@Colostate.edu or at (970) 491-7118.

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