Small Farm

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.

1. 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

1. Program Goals and Objectives: must address a valid transfer, workforce preparation, basic skills, civic education, or lifelong learning purpose.

1. 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.

1. 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

1. 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.

1. 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

1. 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

n/a

Annabelle Rodrigeuz at Cabrillo College and she had no objections.