The Small Farm Operation and Management Certificate is intended for students interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the area of crop production. Students will learn the foundation skills for farming and agriculture business from the ground up. Students will learn in an actual small farm production environment with a focus on organic production systems. Students may use this emphasis as a foundation to start their own business or obtain skills and knowledge to work in industry. This certificate contains all the required major coursework for an AS in Agriculture with an Emphasis in Agriculture Small Farm Operation and Management.
Several courses in the Small Farm Operation and Management emphasis are held off-campus at the ALBA Facility, 1700 Old Stage Road, Salinas.
Enrollment and Completer Projections for Level 1 Certificate Courses
Course Name and Number | 2014-2019 Enrollments | 2014-2019 Retention | 2014-2019 Success |
---|---|---|---|
ABT‐58 – Agriculture Laws and Regulations | 343 | 89% | 77% |
ABT-66 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | N/A | N/A | N/A |
ABT-83 – Integrated Pest Management Principles in Plant Pathology | 49 | 84% | 67% |
ABT‐90 – Soil Science | 663 | 84% | 67% |
ABT‐92 – Plant Science | 635 | 78% | 60% |
ABT-98 – Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition | 143 | 78% | 66% |
ABT‐99 – Cooperative Work Experience | 162 | 85% | 68% |
ABT‐57 – Agriculture Computer Applications | 233 | 90% | 84% |
BUS‐43 – Business Information Systems and Info Literacy | 791 | 81% | 66% |
BUS‐50 – Introduction to PC Applications | 255 | 82% | 65% |
BIO-59 – Biological Research Methods | 8 | 100% | 100% |
Upon successful completion, a student should be able to:
describe and employ current growing practices in California Agriculture.
distinguish and propose inputs and controls needed to produce a consistently healthy crop.
prepare and deliver business documents and use math skills in appropriate form, format, and language essential for career success in a small farm setting.
demonstrate professional and personal development of work habits and safety practices.
1. Certificates of Achievement Narrative
Program Goals and Objectives: must address a valid transfer, workforce preparation, basic skills, civic education, or lifelong learning purpose.
Catalog Description: The Small Farm Operation and Management Certificate is intended for students interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the area of crop production. Students will learn the foundation skills for farming and agriculture business from the ground up. Students will learn in an actual small farm production environment with a focus on organic production systems. Students may use this emphasis as a foundation to start their own business or obtain skills and knowledge to work in industry. This certificate contains all the required major coursework for an AS in Agriculture with an Emphasis in Agriculture Small Farm Operation and Management.
Several courses in the Small Farm Operation and Management emphasis are held off-campus at the ALBA Facility, 1700 Old Stage Road, Salinas.
Program Requirements:
Required Major Courses:
Course Name and Number | Units |
---|---|
ABT‐58 Agriculture Laws and Regulations | 3 |
ABT‐90 Soil Science | 3 |
ABT‐92 Plant Science | 3 |
ABT-94 Agriculture Enterprise Project | 2 |
ABT‐99 Cooperative Work Experience | 1-3 |
ABT‐57 Agriculture Computer ApplicationsORBUS‐43 Business Information Systems and Info LiteracyORBUS‐50 Introduction to PC Applications | 3-4 |
ABT-101 Organic Vegetable Production | 1.5 |
ABT-102 Organic Field Production Methods | 1.5 |
ABT-103 Ag Planning and Recordkeeping for Small Farmers | 1.5 |
ABT-104 Ag Business Development for New Organic Farmers | 1.5 |
ABT-105 Marketing Opportunities and Growth for Organic Farming | 1.5 |
ABT-130 Introduction to Food Safety | 1.5 |
Subtotal: 24-27 units
Restricted Major Electives, Group A (select two courses):
Course Name and Number | Units |
---|---|
ABT-95 Introduction to Small Fruit Science | 3 |
ABT-96 Vegetable Crop Production | 3 |
ABT-97 Vineyard Production and Management | 3 |
ABT-98 Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition | 3 |
Subtotal: 6 units
Restricted Major Electives, Group B (complete 3 units):
Course Name and Number | Units |
---|---|
Recommended Group B Major Electives (choose one): | |
ABT-41 Pesticide Applicator Certification Training | 3 |
MFGT-70 Introduction to Mechanized Agriculture orMFGT-71 Agricultural and Industrial Equipment Operation orMFGT-75 Agricultural Machinery Management | 3 |
Group B Major Electives to meet specific student needs: | |
ABT-80 Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food | 3 |
ABT-81 Integrated Pest Management Principles in Entomology | 3 |
ABT-82 Integrated Pest Management Principles in Weed Science | 3 |
ABT-83 Integrated Pest Management Principles in Plant Pathology | 3 |
ABT-93 Product Processing & Cooling | 3 |
ABT-160 Introduction to Agriculture | 3 |
ABT-131 Agricultural Practices for Food Safety | 1.5 |
ABT-135 Introduction to Food Microbiology | 1.5 |
Subtotal: 3 units
Total Major Units: 33-36 units
Required Math and English Classes for Certificate:
MAT-106 Integrated Mathematics 3 units
ENG-102 Composition and Reading for Career and Technical Education 3 units
(Higher level math and English courses can also be used to meet this requirement. Students who plan to earn an Associate’s degree and/or transfer should take the math and English courses required for the degree or transfer level.)
Total Units: 39-42 units
Master Planning: This certificate aligns with the mission statement of the college which is, “Focusing on the education and workforce development needs of communities in the Salinas Valley, Hartnell College strengthens communities by providing opportunities for students to reach career and/or academic goals (associate degrees, certificates of achievement, transfer to four-year institutions) in an environment committed to student learning, achievement and success.”
According to numbers provided by the USDA, agriculture and food related industries contribute $1.053 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product and provide 21.6 millions full- and part-time jobs. Annually, agriculture contributes $4 billion to Monterey’s economic output and supports 76,000 jobs. This certificate was designed to train students to enter the workforce with the skills that they need to enter the agriculture industry.
Enrollment and Completer Projections:
Enrollment and Completer Projections for Level 1 Certificate Courses
Course Name and Number | 2014-2019 Enrollments | 2014-2019 Retention | 2014-2019 Success |
---|---|---|---|
ABT‐58 – Agriculture Laws and Regulations | 343 | 89% | 77% |
ABT-66 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | N/A | N/A | N/A |
ABT-83 – Integrated Pest Management Principles in Plant Pathology | 49 | 84% | 67% |
ABT‐90 – Soil Science | 663 | 84% | 67% |
ABT‐92 – Plant Science | 635 | 78% | 60% |
ABT-98 – Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition | 143 | 78% | 66% |
ABT‐99 – Cooperative Work Experience | 162 | 85% | 68% |
ABT‐57 – Agriculture Computer Applications | 233 | 90% | 84% |
BUS‐43 – Business Information Systems and Info Literacy | 791 | 81% | 66% |
BUS‐50 – Introduction to PC Applications | 255 | 82% | 65% |
BIO-59 – Biological Research Methods | 8 | 100% | 100% |
Current Program Completers
Program Awards | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS-T Agriculture Business | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | |
AS-T Plant Science | ||||||
AS Agriculture with area of Emphasis | ||||||
CoA Agriculture Business | ||||||
CoA Agriculture Production | ||||||
CoA Food Safety |
Place of Program in Curriculum/Similar Programs: The Agriculture program currently offers three certificates and three degrees as follows:
Award | Units Required |
---|---|
Certificate of Achievement – Agriculture Business | 27-31 |
Certificate of Achievement – Agriculture Production | 27-30 |
Certificate of Achievement – Food Safety | 12 |
Associate of Science Degree - Agriculture with an Area of Emphasis | 60 |
AS-T Agriculture Business | 60 |
AS-T Plant Science | 60 |
The introduction of new certificates to the current agriculture program is intended to offer students more specialized options specifically tailored to the student’s interest and job aspirations.
Required Major Courses:
Course Name and Number | Units |
---|---|
ABT‐58 Agriculture Laws and Regulations | 3 |
ABT‐90 Soil Science | 3 |
ABT‐92 Plant Science | 3 |
ABT-94 Agriculture Enterprise Project | 2 |
ABT‐99 Cooperative Work Experience | 1-3 |
ABT‐57 Agriculture Computer ApplicationsORBUS‐43 Business Information Systems and Info LiteracyORBUS‐50 Introduction to PC Applications | 3-4 |
ABT-101 Organic Vegetable Production | 1.5 |
ABT-102 Organic Field Production Methods | 1.5 |
ABT-103 Ag Planning and Recordkeeping for Small Farmers | 1.5 |
ABT-104 Ag Business Development for New Organic Farmers | 1.5 |
ABT-105 Marketing Opportunities and Growth for Organic Farming | 1.5 |
ABT-130 Introduction to Food Safety | 1.5 |
Subtotal: 24-27 units
Restricted Major Electives, Group A (select two courses):
Course Name and Number | Units |
---|---|
ABT-95 Introduction to Small Fruit Science | 3 |
ABT-96 Vegetable Crop Production | 3 |
ABT-97 Vineyard Production and Management | 3 |
ABT-98 Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition | 3 |
Subtotal: 6 units
Restricted Major Electives, Group B (complete 3 units):
Course Name and Number | Units |
---|---|
Recommended Group B Major Electives (choose one): | |
ABT-41 Pesticide Applicator Certification Training | 3 |
MFGT-70 Introduction to Mechanized Agriculture orMFGT-71 Agricultural and Industrial Equipment Operation orMFGT-75 Agricultural Machinery Management | 3 |
Group B Major Electives to meet specific student needs: | |
ABT-80 Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food | 3 |
ABT-81 Integrated Pest Management Principles in Entomology | 3 |
ABT-82 Integrated Pest Management Principles in Weed Science | 3 |
ABT-83 Integrated Pest Management Principles in Plant Pathology | 3 |
ABT-93 Product Processing & Cooling | 3 |
ABT-160 Introduction to Agriculture | 3 |
ABT-131 Agricultural Practices for Food Safety | 1.5 |
ABT-135 Introduction to Food Microbiology | 1.5 |
Subtotal: 3 units
Total Major Units: 33-36 units
Required Math and English Classes for Certificate:
MAT-106 Integrated Mathematics 3 units
ENG-102 Composition and Reading for Career and Technical Education 3 units
(Higher level math and English courses can also be used to meet this requirement. Students who plan to earn an Associate’s degree and/or transfer should take the math and English courses required for the degree or transfer level.)
Total Units: 39-42 units
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